Between early December and late April, the Chilliwack River offers a productive winter steelhead fishery for both local and visiting anglers around the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland. While other nearby systems also provide such a fishery, the Chilliwack River tends to yield more success due to the amount of fish being produced by the Chilliwack River Hatchery. This thread has several objectives:
- To provide valuable information such as fishing techniques, regulations, fish identification and other related information for first-time anglers who wish to participate.
- To provide updated river condition such as water clarity and level for all anglers
Fishing regulationsRegulations for the steelhead fishery differ slightly to the fall salmon fisheries in BC, so please familiarize by going through the
BC Freshwater Fishing Regulation Synopsis from time to time if unsure. For the Chilliwack River, anglers should be aware of these regulations. Please report violators by phoning 1-877-952-RAPP (7277).
- You must have a valid freshwater angling license. You must purchase a steelhead conservation surcharge if you wish to fish for steelhead (even if you only intend to catch and release).
- You can only keep one hatchery steelhead, which can be identified by the absence of the adipose fin and the presence of a healed scar. Once you retain your hatchery steelhead, you must stop fishing and mark your catch on your license immediately.
- All wild steelhead must be released with care by keeping the fish in the water at all time.
- All chinook salmon must be released between January 1st and May 31st. Anglers may encounter early chinook salmon occasionally in the winter steelhead fishery, so please be aware of the differences between a chinook salmon and a steelhead.
- Please be aware of the new upper no fishing boundary by reading this fishery notice.
- The river section above the Vedder Crossing is closed from May 1st to June 30th.
- The river section below the Vedder Crossing is only opened to flyfishing from May 1st to May 31st. All (wild and hatchery) rainbow and cutthroat trout are required to be released during this period.
Fish species and identificationsWhile the primary target species is steelhead in this fishery, several other species may also be encountered. It is important to know the morphological differences between these species.
Steelhead's life history is similar to pacific salmon's. It is a variation of rainbow trout, which has an ocean phase. Unlike pacific salmon, steelhead may not die liek pacific salmon after spawning. Size range of steelhead from the Chilliwack River ranges between 6lb and 15lb, while bigger fish have often been recorded every season.
Several identification keys can be used to recognize a steelhead. Its white gum and tongue, lack of teeth behind the tongue. Once arrived from the ocean, its body is silver with heavily spotted back. Its tail is spotted from top to bottom and it is not forked. During spawning phase, pink and red colourations become apparent on the gill plates and across the body. Below are additional photos that may assist you.
Resident rainbow trout can also be caught while targeting steelhead. Unlike steelhead, they are typically under 18 inches in length or 2lb in weight. Only hatchery rainbow trout can be kept.
Bull trout are often encountered while targeting steelhead and they are required to be released. Their size ranges between 1lb and 10lb. Bull trout can easily be identified by its white and pink spots across the body. Their mouth is large and extends way behind the eyes. The end of their pelvic fins is often white.
Coastal cutthroat trout travel in schools. Several identification keys can be used to differentiate them from rainbow trout. Their body and tail are heavily spotted from top to bottom. An orange slack can be found on the bottom side of the gill plate. Their size typically ranges between 8 and 20 inches. Only hatchery cutthroat trout can be kept.
Mountain whitefish belong in the salmonid family. While their body is similar to a minnow, one can easily identify them by locating the adipose fin. Their mouth is small and protudes slightly. Their size typically ranges between 8 and 20 inches.
2009 steelhead brood collection programInformation to come.
Additional readingsAdditional video clipsAdditional helpYour local tackle stores in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley provide excellent additional resource.
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Topic: 2009 Chilliwack River steelhead fishery information & water condition updates (Read 186264 times)