Cowichan River

They still haven't made an announcement.Last year they opened it Nov.1.The year before,Nov.10,and the year before that Nov.15.I was hoping for an opening the first week of the month,but I suspect it will probably be the 15.They will
probably want to see their 160,000 chum escapement before letting us get a crack at it,and the bulk of the run still hasn't moved up yet.
 
Opened today...

Category(s):
RECREATIONAL - Salmon


Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Subject: FN1207-RECREATIONAL - Salmon - Region 1 - Cowichan River - Coho Retention Opportunity

Effective immediately until 23:59 hours December 31, 2014, you may retain one
(1) coho per day (wild or hatchery marked) on the Cowichan River downstream
from the Mile 66 Trestle Bridge to the to the Highway No. 1 Bridge (Silver
Bridge). This is the typical boundary for this opening.

The minimum size limit for retained coho is 25 cm fork length.

This fishery is assumed to have a low impact on chinook salmon. The retention
of chinook salmon is not permitted.

The use of single barbless hooks is mandatory in all streams in Region 1.

All foul hooked (ie: hooked other than in the mouth) must be returned to the
river immediately.

Variation Order Number: 2014-508

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Please refer to the 2013-2015 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis for
further restrictions and information when fishing in the non-tidal waters of
British Columbia, or contact your nearest Fish and Wildlife Office (Nanaimo 751-
3100), or Department of Fisheries and Oceans Office (Duncan 746-6221).

Did you witness suspicious fishing activity or a violation? If so, please call
the Fisheries and Ocean Canada 24-hour toll free Observe, Record, Report line
at (800) 465-4336.

For the 24 hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at (866) 431-
FISH.

Recovery of coded-wire tags from recreational fishers provides critical
information for coast-wide stock assessment. Sport anglers are reminded to
label and submit heads from adipose fin-clipped chinook and coho salmon to
Salmon Head Recovery Depots. Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program at
(866) 483-9994 for further information.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact the nearest Fisheries and Oceans Canada office - Duncan (250) 746-6221.



Fisheries and Oceans Canada Operations Center - FN1207
Sent November 3, 2014 at 16:57
Visit us on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

If you have any questions or would like to unsubscribe, please contact us via e-mail to: OpsCentre@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
 
Herd this was coming down the pipe yesterday and was awaiting the announcement, thanks cut plug for posting.
 
Be right behind you Bags.. Let us know if you hear of any trouble on the flow.. Been a good coho year on the flows already, lets see what the Cowie has to offer ?
 
Category(s):
RECREATIONAL - Salmon


Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Subject: FN1207-RECREATIONAL - Salmon - Region 1 - Cowichan River - Coho Retention Opportunity

Effective immediately until 23:59 hours December 31, 2014, you may retain one
(1) coho per day (wild or hatchery marked) on the Cowichan River downstream
from the Mile 66 Trestle Bridge to the to the Highway No. 1 Bridge (Silver
Bridge). This is the typical boundary for this opening.

The minimum size limit for retained coho is 25 cm fork length.

This fishery is assumed to have a low impact on chinook salmon. The retention
of chinook salmon is not permitted.

The use of single barbless hooks is mandatory in all streams in Region 1.

All foul hooked (ie: hooked other than in the mouth) must be returned to the
river immediately.

Variation Order Number: 2014-508

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Please refer to the 2013-2015 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis for
further restrictions and information when fishing in the non-tidal waters of
British Columbia, or contact your nearest Fish and Wildlife Office (Nanaimo 751-
3100), or Department of Fisheries and Oceans Office (Duncan 746-6221).

Did you witness suspicious fishing activity or a violation? If so, please call
the Fisheries and Ocean Canada 24-hour toll free Observe, Record, Report line
at (800) 465-4336.

For the 24 hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at (866) 431-
FISH.

Recovery of coded-wire tags from recreational fishers provides critical
information for coast-wide stock assessment. Sport anglers are reminded to
label and submit heads from adipose fin-clipped chinook and coho salmon to
Salmon Head Recovery Depots. Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program at
(866) 483-9994 for further information.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact the nearest Fisheries and Oceans Canada office - Duncan (250) 746-6221.



Fisheries and Oceans Canada Operations Center - FN1207
Sent November 3, 2014 at 16:57
Visit us on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

If you have any questions or would like to unsubscribe, please contact us via e-mail to: OpsCentre@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Thanks Cut Plug;)
 
Great, but doesn't the provincial in season regulations have to allow an opening, since they have jurisdiction on non-tidal waters and at present they say "No fishing". As of now there is no in season regulation changes for region 1 or Cowichan River.
I suspect we're OK but there is some grey. Personally I think present regulations, especially DFO is a real can of worms.
 
Herd this was coming down the pipe yesterday and was awaiting the announcement, thanks cut plug for posting.

I didn't hear the details but was in Bucky's this morning sounded like drift boat got in to trouble..So keep an eye out of hazards... Water is ripping right now with rain last way above 1.7... Hopefully we a few dry days coming it will settle it down.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Ripping is right. I drove up from Victoria to check out a couple of holes I fished from the bank last year, but I didn't even put a line in the water. I saw some chum, but no coho. I am sure there are a lot of fish in the system given they had 4,000 coho counted around Oct. 25 or so as I recall, but there were no jumpers and the water visibility is zero.
 
Gonna give it a shot in the morning.One more system showing up tomorrow afternoon and then finally a high pressure
ridge supposed to form.No chum retention but I never keep em anyways.Should be a blast after it drops and clears up.
Can hardly frickin' wait!
 
Subject: FN1210-RECREATIONAL - Salmon - Region 1 - Cowichan River - Chum Opportunities


Category(s):
RECREATIONAL - Salmon

Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Subject: FN1210-RECREATIONAL - Salmon - Region 1 - Cowichan River - Chum Opportunities

Effective immediately until 23:59 hours December 31, 2014 the daily limit for
chum is varied to 2 per day, in the following portion of the Cowichan River:

Downstream from the Mile 66 Trestle Bridge to the to the Highway No. 1 Bridge
(Silver Bridge). This is the typical boundary for this opening.

Chinook retention is not permitted.

The use of single barbless hooks is mandatory in all streams in Region 1. All
foul hooked (ie: hooked other than in the mouth) must be returned to the river
immediately.


Variation Order Number: 2014-514


Please refer to the 2013-2015 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis for
further restrictions and information when fishing in the non-tidal waters of
British Columbia, or contact your nearest Fish and Wildlife Office (Nanaimo 751-
3100), or Department of Fisheries and Oceans Office (Duncan 746-6221).

Did you witness suspicious fishing activity or a violation? If so, please call
the Fisheries and Ocean Canada 24-hour toll free Observe, Record, Report line
at (800) 465-4336.

For the 24 hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at (866) 431-
FISH.

Recovery of coded-wire tags from recreational fishers provides critical
information for coast-wide stock assessment. Sport anglers are reminded to
label and submit heads from adipose fin-clipped chinook and coho salmon to
Salmon Head Recovery Depots. Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program at
(866) 483-9994 for further information.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact the nearest Fisheries and Oceans Canada office - Duncan (250) 746-6221.



Fisheries and Oceans Canada Operations Center - FN1210
Sent November 5, 2014 at 08:49
Visit us on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

If you have any questions or would like to unsubscribe, please contact us via e-mail to: OpsCentre@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
 
The total # of chinook looked something like this, - 4275...2421 adults and 1105 jacks, 224 trapped and trucked and 525 total broodstock. Projected total was 5643, slightly down from last year. The escapement goal is 6500 adults.

Yes Kelly, commercial gillnet opening for chum yesterday, haven't heard how they did yet. There wasn't a huge abundance from the test boats, but with the water conditions being what they are fish don't usually hold and school, they'll just be booking in to the river.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks Gamechanger!

It's a far cry from the old days. I remembered having a great time fishing for springs in the Cowichan years ago.
It really it's sad to see the state of that river these days.

How was the coho and pink count?
Was hoping the pinks stabilized a health run but not looking good?
 
Just a heads up for anybody who bank fishes, it may not be news to some but I threw up, Bible Camp is closed to public river access due to people leaving garbage and other BS.
 
Just a heads up for anybody who bank fishes, it may not be news to some but I threw up, Bible Camp is closed to public river access due to people leaving garbage and other BS.

wow... :( perhaps we can see if there is something we can do?
 
Just a heads up for anybody who bank fishes, it may not be news to some but I threw up, Bible Camp is closed to public river access due to people leaving garbage and other BS.

So another bank spot closed down because of garbage, not many really good spots left....
 
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