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[Rodney]

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 yields 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 conditions such as water clarity and level for all anglers.

Throughout the season, members will post up water condition updates so everyone can be alerted if condition is not ideal. Please feel free to post updates in this thread after your trips. We can all benefit from each other's updates and save gasoline and cost of our season. Please do not request for updates. All posts that request for updates will be removed.


Fishing regulations

Regulations 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 licence. You must purchase a steelhead conservation surcharge if you wish to fish for steelhead (even if you only intend to catch and release). Freshwater angling licence and conservation surcharges can now be purchased online.
• The daily quota of steelhead is one hatchery marked fish, 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 for the day and mark your catch on your licence 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.
• 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 31st and closed from June 1st to 30th.

Fish species and identifications

While 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 so you do not accidentally retain a fish that is not opened for retention.



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 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. All wild rainbow trout must be released.



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. All bull trout must be released.



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. All wild cutthroat trout must be released.



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.


General etiquettes

When fishing for steelhead in a stream, it is considered rude to start just downstream from another angler who is already fishing. When approaching a run, always start from the head of it and work your way down so other anglers can have a chance to try it too. If other anglers are already fishing at a spot where you want to fish, then you should either move to a different spot or talk to them first. More likely than not, other anglers do not mind having you joining them.


2014/2015 steelhead brood collection program

Information to come.


Additional readings

• Short Floating Tactic Explained
• Float fishing with a spinner
• Float depth adjustment for river fishing
• Proper catch and release technique
• General etiquettes

Additional help

Your local tackle stores in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley provide excellent additional resource.

Berry's Bait and Tackle Fred's Custom Tackle

Pacific Angler Sea-Run Fly & Tackle

[chris gadsden]

Visibility poor, 10 inches yesterday afternoon and is raining now as it did overnight. Could be a tough steelheading season.

[NothingToSnagAbout]

Thanks, very informative for a newb, still a little confusing about retention, though. Seems like a surefire rule is only keep something that's missing an adipose? Also, how far downstream are you no longer considered to be downstream of somebody else?

[Nicolas The Fisherman]

Conditions will likely remain poor until this time next week at the very earliest. Forecasters are reporting that there will be a drop in the temperature with a chance of some snowfall starting around Tuesday/Wednesday of next week (I'll believe it when I see it though ) Until then, it's basically a rain event every day this week.

[Fish or cut bait.]

NTSA,  Veddar allows you to retain one hatchery(clipped) Steelhead then you are done for the day.
Other rivers allow 2.
Some, notably the Capilano, there is NO retention at all! (hatchery or wild)
Please check the regulations for the river you plan on fishing and be certain of your identification of the fish before you kill it.

Good luck.

[clarkii]

Thanks, very informative for a newb, still a little confusing about retention, though. Seems like a surefire rule is only keep something that's missing an adipose? Also, how far downstream are you no longer considered to be downstream of somebody else?

Hatchery Rainbows and Steelhead are Adipose clipped (no adipose) to indicate they are hatchery fish.  You can retain those as they are laid out in the regulations for. If any trout/char (Bull trout) has an adipose, release it. 

As per etiquette
One run is the general rule, Ie. If someone is working through one  run jumping below them in that run is considered bad taste, but if there is a run below the one they are fishing it is fair game.  That being said use your best judgement, if someone is at the tailout (end of the run/pool), it might be best to file in behind/ask if they are going to fish through it.  It also gets a little messy when you have people camp in one spot and not moving through.

I will throw in a quick note.  There might be some fly-fishers out who are trout fishing.  Generally they work upstream, so just be aware if you meet someone going the other way.  Most of us are usually pretty aware of the situation that we will leave before that might become an issue.

[Dave]

Thanks, very informative for a newb, still a little confusing about retention, though. Seems like a surefire rule is only keep something that's missing an adipose?

Not quite ... although you are unlikely to encounter one at this time of the year, Cultus Lake sockeye are adipose clipped.

[Burbot]

Should be no retention for Steelhead period anywhere.

[dobrolub]

That water graph is making another crazy jump.

[Noahs Arc]

Should be no retention for Steelhead period anywhere.

  Clipped steelhead are put there to be taken by anglers.

[mvelasco]

Hatchery Rainbows and Steelhead are Adipose clipped (no adipose) to indicate they are hatchery fish.  You can retain those as they are laid out in the regulations for. If any trout/char (Bull trout) has an adipose, release it. 

As per etiquette
One run is the general rule, Ie. If someone is working through one  run jumping below them in that run is considered bad taste, but if there is a run below the one they are fishing it is fair game.  That being said use your best judgement, if someone is at the tailout (end of the run/pool), it might be best to file in behind/ask if they are going to fish through it.  It also gets a little messy when you have people camp in one spot and not moving through.

I will throw in a quick note.  There might be some fly-fishers out who are trout fishing.  Generally they work upstream, so just be aware if you meet someone going the other way.  Most of us are usually pretty aware of the situation that we will leave before that might become an issue.

Yes thank you for posting this! Although I don't mind gear guys letting me know they are going to pass me when I swing flies I appreciate the common courtesy!also you don't need to wade out very far in table top runs.ive hooked a fish while dangling the fly 10 feet to the left of angler.

[milo]

Should be no retention for Steelhead period anywhere.

Huh? Do you realize the implications if your suggestion were implemented?

Since you made such a bold statement, I would like to hear the rationale behind it.

Once I read your reasoning, I will tell you why I think that a blanket catch and release rule would represent the beginning of the end of our sport.

[joshhowat]

Huh? Do you realize the implications if your suggestion were implemented?

Since you made such a bold statement, I would like to hear the rationale behind it.

Once I read your reasoning, I will tell you why I think that a blanket catch and release rule would represent the beginning of the end of our sport.

Speaking of bold statements.

[John Revolver]

Should be no retention for Steelhead period anywhere.

Huh? Do you realize the implications if your suggestion were implemented?

Since you made such a bold statement, I would like to hear the rationale behind it.

Once I read your reasoning, I will tell you why I think that a blanket catch and release rule would represent the beginning of the end of our sport.

Could you please just tell us?  thank you.

[dobrolub]

Perhaps have a poll then. I agree with milo, it'll be the beginning of the end.

There is no point in hurting fish (or even causing the stress) if you don't retain it. There is no justification to that.