The Cowichan River is a world-class fishing river, and even if you’ve never fished it, you’ve likely heard tales of its fabulous fishery. Ward Bond, co-owner of Island Outfitters in Victoria, says that the season begins with steelhead from January through April. “Fly fish with traditional steely flies as well as Intruders and Stone flies. Single hand, Switch and Spey rods are all used. [Try] drift fishing with floats and pink worms, bead eggs and spin and glows. Cast with spoons and steely jigs.” Trout are a year-round favourite. Bond’s fly suggestions are early spring nymphs like March Browns and Hair’s Ears, egg patterns and stones. “Late spring and early summer dry fly fishing gets good with Adams and Hoppers. Fall, as the salmon run, eggs patterns are good.” The Cowichan River also supports a good brown trout population. Bond suggests that Streamers are best in the early spring, moving to dry flies and mouse patterns as the season progresses. Streamers are also the flies of choice for the cutthroat trout, he adds, as are dry flies and nymphs. For some anglers, the highlight of the season are the chum and coho runs in the late fall. Spoons and spinners are good choices for salmon. Fly fishers will want an 8-weight or heavier, and Bond suggests streamers and rabbit patterns. Bond notes that there are several drift-boat access points along the river, but he cautions that it’s extremely important to know the river and its extreme hazards before boating. If you’re unfamiliar, hiring a guide is your best option. There are several date changes in the new regulation guide for the Cowichan River. Make sure you read through the new regulations before heading out on the river. RIVER ACCESS There are many access points to the Cowichan River. Cowichan Provincial Park offers camping and a cartop boat launch. Accommodations are available in the town of Lake Cowichan, and at many campsites nearby.

We got up early to make it to the river before the other Anglers showed up. To get the best spot. The weather was cold but still causing the mist to rise from the water

Cowichan River Re-opening To Angling (Sections)

The conservation measures that were put in place due to low flows and high water temperatures, in the Cowichan River, have been rescinded. Effective October 1, 2015, a portion of the Cowichan River will re-open to angling. Please note: The Cowichan River is open to fly fishing only from the weir in Cowichan Lake downstream to the Mile 66 Trestle (CNR Trestle) as described in the 2015-2017 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis (page 16 has a map). The Cowichan River remains closed to the retention of all salmon species until further notice. Fishers are further reminded that until 23:59 hours November 15, 2015, the Cowichan River is closed to all recreational angling downstream of the Mile 66 Trestle (CNR Trestle), as described in the 2015-2017 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis (page 16 has a map), to the Tidal Water Boundary in Cowichan Bay (The Tidal Water Boundary runs from an orange boundary sign located at the Hecate Boat Ramp to an orange boundary sign located on a piling near Green Point, in Cowichan Bay). Please refer to the 2015-2017 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis for further restrictions and information when fishing in the non-tidal waters of British Columbia.The modified openings work in concert with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, which has announced matching regulations. Source: http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=view_notice&DOC_ID=176613&ID=all

Coho still spawning

From a Jan. 21 post by Parker Jefferson at www.onecowichan.ca: "I have had my feet in the river almost every day for the past few weeks, enjoying our great winter weather and river conditions while pursuing the elusive winter steelhead. The river is very busy again this year with anglers travelling from all over the Island as well as the Lower Mainland and beyond to try to catch and release one of these magnificent creatures. B.C. Outdoors magazine just named the Cowichan one of the top 10 steelhead rivers in the province. "On a recent drift of the upper river I was pleasantly surprised to see several hundred coho salmon still in the river spawning, while trout swam just behind them feasting on any stray eggs that floated by. It is getting very late in the season for coho to be spawning and this is an indication that we have had a very good run this year." More on river temperatures: http://www.onecowichan.ca/water_temperatures

Most using floats and gear

At www.fishtactics.com, Tom Vaida of Island Outfitters posts on the Cowichan River, where rainbow and brown trout fishing is reported to be great: "Rains yesterday caused the water levels in river to rise once again. As of today, it is at 1.44 metres by the lake and 1.55 metres downstream near Duncan. We’ve heard of increasing numbers of steelhead being caught and released in the river recently, mostly in the Riverbottom area. The Riverbottom and Bible Camp area has been the best to fish. For steelhead, good lures to fish are Spin ‘n Glo’s, Corkies, Gooey Bobs and the always reliable Pink Worm. Although many anglers are successful catching winter runs on flies, most anglers chose to use floats and gear. The trout fishing in the mid and upper river is excellent. There are rainbows, cutthroats and resident brown trout that are actively feeding on salmon eggs. Salmon egg imitations are the way go to lures for trout.

Most anglers steer clear of river

From a weekly overview of Island angling from Island Outfitters, www.fishingvictoria.com: Coho fishing is good in most areas with the fish running up to 15 lbs. in size. A few winter springs up to 12 lbs. have also been caught, but the mature spring salmon run is over. Halibut fishing was good this past weekend. Fishing is fair on most lakes in the south Island area as the temperature cools. Remember that all wild trout must be released on all streams in Region 1. Wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake. The lower reaches of the Cowichan River have been closed to all recreational uses until further notice. The trout fishing in the mid and upper river is good to excellent, especially very early in the morning and late in the day, but it really stresses the fish to catch and release them now. Most anglers are staying off the river so as to not stress the trout. Trout fishing was fair on most lakes in the south Island area this past week. Ryan Rock weighed in a 3-lb. 14 oz. rainbow trout caught on a fly in the Duncan area on Saturday. Oct. 6. Bank anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing from shore and right on the bottom. Yellow and Bubblegum have been good colours recently for Powerbait. Fly anglers are fishing Pumpkinheads, Wooly Buggers, Leeches and Micro Leech patterns on full sink fly lines. Trollers have been doing well with a variety of lures. The complete report:http://fishingvictoria.com/fishing-report/fishing-report-week-ending-october-12-2014/

Funds earmarked to save spawners

From a Sept. 5 article in the Cowichan Valley Citizen: North Cowichan has decided to grant the Cowichan Valley Regional District $5,000 to fund a fish salvage operation in the Cowichan River. It may not be needed, but the money is now there to help out if the worst happens and the rains do not come. The current level of flow coming out of Cowichan Lake can only be continued for about another month, if there is no significant rain. “After that, there is no more water,” said Mayor Jon Lefebure. Councillors were reacting on Sept. 3 to a request brought to their regular meeting, driven by the extremely low level of the river, caused by a light snowpack and a hot, dry summer. There is so little water that if the drought continues, the salmon will not be able to traverse the river to spawn without help. - See more at: http://www.cowichanvalleycitizen.com/news/n-cowichan-antes-up-for-fish-salvage-as-river-crisis-mounts-1.1344483

'Bow fishing rates excellent

Fishing for browns is rated as good while the rainbow catches have been excellent on the Cowichan River, reports Tom Vaida at www.fishtactics.com: Water levels on the river are at .7 meters throughout its length. This is a great height for angers wading for trout. The trout fishing in the upper river is good tTho excellent. There are rainbows as well as resident brown and cutthroat trout that are active in the top end right now. Beadhead nymphs are the top producer there and our favorites are the Prince Nymphs, Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ears and Pheasant tails. There are lots of insect hatches during the day now and the dry fly fishing can be excellent if you match the hatch. Lake fishing on southern Vancouver Island is currently rated as generally fair. Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C., meanwhile, continues its spring rainbow stocking of lakes that take a lot of pressure over the summer. Close to 60,000 Fraser-Valley-strain rainbows reared at the Island Trout Hatchery have been released since April into Thetis, Langford, Durrance, Spectacle, Elk, Shawnigan, Mathison, Kemp and Duggan lakes.