The Gordon River is an extensive river system on the southern tip of Vancouver Island that contains multiple sections of high quality whitewater. San Juan River San Juan River is a stream in British Columbia and has an elevation of 7 metres. Documented declines in abundance and increasing fishing pressure on the Gordon, Nahmint, and Heber Rivers raised conservation concerns for these summer steelhead populations. As a general rule, rainbow trout fishing picks up (usually) in mid-March when the temperature rises and spring weather sets in, with hatches continuing through June. Our hike in fishing spots are an adventure of their own. Around Cowichan, there is of course the “Fly Fishing Capital of Canada”, the Cowichan River, in addition to Lois Lake & Pete’s Pond. Interestingly, the regulatory definition of fly fishing varies by location, with our neighbours in Washington going as far as outlining allowable lines, reels and even nets. Those waters of Subarea 20-1, Area 21, Subarea 121-1 that lie inside a line that: begins at 48°37.350'N 124°45.847'W Vancouver Island then to 48°37.000'N 124°46.800'W in water then to 48°34.500'N 124°41.500'W in water then to 48°35.100'N 124°40.774'W Vancouver Island then following the Vancouver Island shoreline to the beginning point Some of the other activities enjoyed at this Port Renfrew lake include hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, sightseeing, wildlife watching, camping and suntanning. Toward the Courtnenay/Comox area, options are the Puntledge River, or nutrient rich Wowo Lake which provides good access to large trout. On waters where gear restrictions are not in effect, most of us still gravitate toward our fly rods as our choice way to cast a line. COPPER CREEK CW. Kwi:sidok’wa? 2017 to 2019. We offer gear fishing and for those anglers looking for a challenge, fly fishing is the way to go. The B.C. I live and breath steelhead fishing Vancouver Island (I'd say eat too but I practice catch and release!) 4 coho per day in the aggregate, only 2 of which may be greater than 35 cm and those 2 must be hatchery marked. Rivers Inlet Sportsmans Club BC Salmon Fishing Lodge, British Columbia, Our remote fly - in location 300 miles north of Vancouver B.C. Spring (king) salmon: 20-35 pound salmon regularly caught, with a few 40 pound giants caught each year. 6-12. In the Campbell River & Sayward region, designated fly fisheries include the easily accessible Farewell Lake as well as Campbell River, Adam River and Tsitika River. In our opinion the best time to fish Vancouver Island is in the winter, because that's when I like to catch steelhead. Around Port Alberni, flies are cast exclusively on the upper Nahmint River, the Taylor River and Lizard Pond. It's an Island Thing - Fly fishing on Vancouver Island - Duration: 6:59. The West Coast Trail is a 5-7 day backpacking route through the Pacific Rim Park on the west coast of Vancouver Island. However, access is available to South Island and South West Island areas where rivers like the Sooke, Gordon and Harris creek provide quality steelheading opportunities. COURTENAY RIVER. iGuideBC2043 Mable RdShawnigan Lake BCiguidebc@gmail.com250.508.1079. Vancouver Island is home to some fantastic river fly fishing. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Artificial fly only opportunities near Nanaimo include Healy (Panther) Lake (limited-access), Henry Lake & Rowbotham Lake and the Nanaimo River, above “Second” lake. Sea-run cutthroats are found almost year-round in the estuaries but are most abundant during the spring and fall. The lake is known for its spectacular freshwater fishing in the spring, fall and winter, when anglers can be challenged by rainbow, cutthroat and Dolly Varden trout. Vancouver Island Fishing Regulations Changes as of April 1, 2017 highlighted. For your Cowichan Lake to Port Renfrew leg you could look at Cowichan Lake. On the West Coast, options include the hike-in “Anderson Lake”, as well as the Caycuse River and upper Gordon River (when open). Guided tours of the “White Ridge” caverns and the underground river are available, or the cave system can be independently explored by even casual cavers. Side By Side 2,267 views. No fishing for salmon. rEGION 1 - Vancouver island The Management Unit boundaries indicated on the map below are shown only as a reference to help anglers locate waters in the region. Angler, Outdoor Writer/Photographer and Island Angler's Fly Fishing Columnist 18 rivers on Vancouver Island are partially regulated as “fly fishing only”, 5 having “artificial fly only” zones. Kayaking the Triple Crown of the Gordon river at a low flow on Vancouver Island. Tenkara Rods – Fly Fishing Japanese Style, Island Angler, June 2018, Page 7, http://www.facebook.com/TimberWestForestCorp/, Backroads, Backpacks & Fly Rods, BC Outdoors Magazine, Nov/Dec 2020. For your Cowichan Lake to Port Renfrew leg you could look at Cowichan Lake. Vancouver Island kids have long known about another form of shore fishing that can occupy them for hours on end. government has closed rivers and streams to fishing on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands after raising the drought rating to its highest level. Things to do in Port Renfrew (other than fishing): Wildlife watching: see bears, eagles, seals, and elk! Tł’oqwxwat’ – a summer fishing village on the Gordon River … 20 minutes from the Marina in Logan Creek – Camper Creek, up to 1.5 hours to Nitinat Narrows (June-Sept).. Coho (silver) salmon: acrobatic fighters up to 15 pounds with a few over 20 pounds, minutes out of Port Renfrew Marina (Sept-Oct). Whether you’ve never set foot in a cave or have decades of experience in the subterranean world, Vancouver Island is an adventurer’s dream with caves galore to explore. Gordon River Stump Circumference: 40ft Diameter: 13ft Species: Redcedar Valley: Gordon River, Port Renfrew area, Vancouver Island Estimated Date Cut: March 2010 Photographer: TJ Watt. All wild trout, steelhead and char must be released from Region 1 streams. Lizard Lake: Another unique feature of Lizard Lake is the large 80 -100 foot boardwalk pier extending out from the shore.From the pier, extended out on the lake, people can fish, swim and launch canoes. On “artificial fly only” lakes, as early as March, fishing a chironomid, long fluorocarbon leader and strike indicator brings trout to the fly like bees to honey. For more information about fly fisheries on Vancouver Island, including specific fly restricted areas and dates, check the 2017-19 B.C. These fly fishing only opportunities, are available all over Vancouver Island, from the Sooke River in the south, to the Benson and “Link” Rivers in the North. An artificial fly is “a single pointed hook that is dressed only with fur, feathers, hair, textiles, tinsel and/or wire and to which no external weight or external attracting device is attached. Victoria Peak, Vancouver Island's second largest mountain at 7200 feet is the headwaters of … The reason for introduction of fly only gear restrictions on certain waters is as a conservation measure to maintain quality, sustainable fish populations and opportunities by increasing the survival rate of released fish (as well as those that are not caught due to increased challenge to the angler) and decreasing incidental catch of spawning salmon, in turn reducing the impacts of recreational fishing. Just a few years later Gordon met Betty (Mary) Walker who quickly became the love of his life and he ended up marrying in 1957. Floats, sinkers or attracting devices may not be attached to the line when fishing is restricted to fly fishing only”. As you can see on the tide chart, the highest tide of 2.76m was at 7:32 am and the lowest tide of 1.63m was at 3:24 pm. Pacheedaht Beach is exactly what you would hope for in a Vancouver Island, west coast beach. Salmon Limits, Openings and Closures. Port Renfrew fishing weather. Toward Tofino is the Toquart River, or toward Gold River, the Heber River, Buttle Lake tributaries or the hike-in Elk River all provide excellent sport for the fly aficionado. Summer steelhead can be found June through October and their winter counterparts December through April. Gordon spent many years working in the Gordon River logging camp where he operated the largest CAT machine on Vancouver Island, he built many roads in the area and was the survivor of a major logging accident. These pools are productive in steelhead, with very little pressure due to their remote locations. The drive on the West Shore highway on Vancouver Island is a getaway to ... of 144 people that’s rich in history for logging and fishing. The West Coast Trail Bus picks up and drops off passengers at Victoria, Sooke, Port Renfrew, Gordon River, Mesachie Lake, Honeymoon Bay, Nanaimo, Nitinat, Pachena Bay, and Bamfield. For more precise ... ASH RIVER 1-7 No fishing from Dickson Lake to signs 200 m below Lanternman Falls, Dec 1-Apr 30 The 5 specifies of Pacific salmon are in the river systems at varying times July to December. Two or more hooks tied in tandem is not permitted. For up to date information from Island Timberlands, Western Forest Products and Timber West Corp. about private logging roads, including public access, hours, rules and notifications, visit http://blog.islandtimberlands.com, http://www.wfproadinfo.com & http://www.facebook.com/TimberWestForestCorp/. allows our guests to fish for trophy sized king (chinook), silver (coho), as well as halibut, lingcod and yelloweye rock fish (red snapper) only five minutes from the lodge. You can have an amazing fishing adventure using Port Renfrew as a starting point to the Gordon and Caycuse Rivers. Wild steelhead fish on Vancouver Island are catch and release only, hatchery fish can be kept and retained with your BC fishing license. We hike from pool to pool looking to catch a fish of lifetime. Mills Landing is a private oceanfront cottage resort located on the edge of Barkley Sound. Fifty pounders have been taken at Jack Point. Where not outwardly regulated, there are many more crystal clear waters with easily spooked trout where the fly angler has a distinct advantage. 1-6. On Vancouver Island lakes, 9 rainbow trout containing lakes are managed as fly fisheries, with most regulated as “artificial fly only”. We start by navigating various logging roads which wind through our lush coastal forest, possibly catching a glimps of wildlife such as beers, black tail deer, wolves or maybe even a cougar, before hiking down to a pool full of wild steelhead. Port Renfrew Fishing Adventures - Halibut and Salmon Fishing - Wildlife Watching - West Coast Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada Port Renfrew Fresh Water Fishing Casual anglers can catch cuthroat trout at the mouth of San Juan River by casting with a spinner or can catch rainbow trout in Fairy Lake or Lizard Lake with worms or powerbait imitation salmon eggs. I have guiding rights to several river systems and lakes on southern Vancouver Island. When gear is restricted to artificial flies only, floats and sinkers may be attached to the line”. Hi Alex, It's Glenn here from the Vancouver Island Visitor centre on the east coast of the Island.. September fishing in the rivers in the area you are visiting can be slow due to low water. Hi Alex, It's Glenn here from the Vancouver Island Visitor centre on the east coast of the Island.. September fishing in the rivers in the area you are visiting can be slow due to low water. As seasons shift and a new fishing year begins, thoughts move to warmer weather, longer days, spring hatches and adventures to come. The most significant tributaries in the watershed include Braden, Bugaboo, Loup, and Hauk/Hinne Creeks. Gordon River Road, Port Renfrew, B.C ... Unbelievable fishing on Vancouver Island for those seeking the finest saltwater fishing getaway. – a fishing camp located at the mouth of Harris Creek on the San Juan River. Vancouver Island Steelhead Fishing on the Gordon, Harris, Caycuse and San Juan Our hike in fishing spots are an adventure of their own. Following the autumn salmon spawn the Cowichan turns into some of the best sport fishing on Southern Vancouver Island. The Fishing Grounds. Access to many of these remote lakes can be a challenge with rough, overgrown, private and deactivated gravel roads, washouts and gates. Water levels, time of year and your physical condition are all important considerations before choosing a river to best suit your needs. Port Renfrew Marina & RV Park | 250-483-1878 | info@portrenfrewmarina.com 7505 Gordon River Rd | Open May 1 - oct 14, 2018 Click here to see Vancouver Island South (Jordan River)'s tide chart for the week And some of these steelhead are big, we catch steelhead upwards of 20lbs! Tłołasiʔ - the “flat” at Fairy Lake was a summer fish camp where salmon were dried. Anglers from around the world travel to the island's fruitful waters to catch trout and salmon in abundance. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. This proposal is intended to reduce fishing pressure on vulnerable populations and increase consistency with other West Coast summer steelhead closure periods. CAYCUSE RIVER 1-3 Fly fishing only above and including Hatton Creek CHASE RIVER 1-5 ∂age restriction (see page 5) CHEMAINUS RIVER 1-5 Closed all year from Copper Canyon Falls downstream 100 m to signs No fishing upstream of Bannon Creek∑, Dec 1-June 30 CHICADEE LAKE π 1-6 Electric motors only CLAUD ELLIOTT CREEK 1-10 Closed all year Mills Landing offers accommodation, moorage, fishing charters, whale watching, nature adventures, and marine tours of the Broken Group Islands near Bamfield. In B.C., waters specially regulated as a fly fishery are designated as either “artificial fly only” or “fly fishing only”. Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis. The resident brown trout and rainbow trout come out of the cowichan lake to feed on the salmon eggs. View all posts by Kristy V. Webster. Set in one of Vancouver Island’s sunniest valleys, this area boasts the highest average annual temperature in Canada. Moving north, the Little & Big Qualicum rivers hold a trio of trout species. They are hungry and eager to bite! Unfortunately, although there is still plenty of great fishing, many runs have been badly damaged by logging, pollution, and overfishing. Vancouver Island has a number of rivers and lakes which are designated as fly only fisheries by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. One thing that defines fly fishing is that it is about more than just the fish – for most, it simply comes down to the feeling. Butch's Moorage: on Gordon River in the Pacheedaht Reserve. We start by navigating various logging roads which wind through our lush coastal forest, possibly catching a glimps of wildlife such as beers, black tail deer, wolves or maybe even a cougar, before hiking down to a pool full of wild steelhead. from a fishing boundary sign at the end of Maple Street downstream to the fishing boundary sign at the cement block. These fly fishing only opportunities, are available all over Vancouver Island, from the Sooke River in the south, to the Benson and “Link” Rivers in the North. Anglers looking to fish the summer runs of steelhead beginning end of may into the summer months of June July and August should know that it’s largely dependent on water levels and can change daily. The Pacheedaht Campground is a beautiful, and often bustling campground, quite close to the Gordon River trailhead for the West Coast Trail. This campground brought on nostalgia, as we camped beside the Gordon River, exactly where I camped nearly 40 years ago when I was setting off to hike the West Coast Trail. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Traditional economic activities such as logging and fishing are … If you're serious about having the Steelhead fishing trip of a lifetime, look no further than these Vancouver Island Steelhead Fishing charters. When winter hits Vancouver Island my Steelhead fishing passion turns into a full time obsession. In the following months the steelhead activity starts to increase with the largest runs of steelhead entering the river in January and peaking February & March. The middle section of the river, usually just referred to as the Middle Gordon, is certainly the most challenging stretch of the whole river, and it is perhaps one of the most high quality class IV-V runs in the whole southern island zone. The tide is currently rising in Vancouver Island South (Jordan River). (1997) estimated the mean annual discharge to be 28.5 m3/s based on discharge records from 6 other gauged rivers on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Almost every dock, wharf or marina on the coast harbours a summer population of fat perch – mostly shiners and pile perch. There is no Water Survey Canada gauging station on the Gordon River, however, Lightly et al. According to the B.C Freshwater Fishing Synopsis, the definition of fly fishing is “angling with a line to which only an artificial fly is attached. Moorage, boat ramp, beach camping nearby. G rizzly bear watching is always a tourist attraction at Knight Inlet about 80 kilometers north of Campbell River. These lakes are best fished March through June and again in fall, with a later spring start and earlier fall end the further north and higher elevation you go. San Juan River is situated in Pacheena Indian Reserve 1, northeast of Harris Cove. In 2017 the prices were $110 Victoria to Pachena Bay, $90 Port Renfrew to Pachena Bay. Most Island rivers are also home to resident coastal cutthroat trout. For most of this distance, the Gordon is a galloping torrent between tight canyon walls. Beach walking: long sandy beach from Gordon River to San Juan River; Swim at Lizard Lake-- yes, there are lizards (newts actually). Angler, Writer, Photographer & Island Angler's Fly Fishing Columnist. the river. It's an amazing fly fishing opportunity during October thru early December. ?a?aqwaxtas – a village on the north site of Fairy Lake. Our cedar cottages are fully self-contained and very comfortable. On the West Coast, options include the hike-in “Anderson Lake”, as well as the Caycuse River and upper Gordon River (when open). Port Renfrew, British Columbia, Canada on the west side of Vancouver Island is an association of neighbourhoods spread out along the San Juan harbour, San Juan and Gordon river estuaries and Highway 14. 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