Cowichan River
- Thread starter winephart
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Fishwhistler
Active Member
Fishwhistler
Active Member
Nice to see a few fish in the river. I walked the trail above Holt Creek. Water a nice colour but a bit high for fly gear. Should have brought the gear. Fished the few runs I could. How things have changed. So much fine sediment filling once gravelled area's. Three boats and a couple other shore anglers had caught nothing. A Harbour seal that went cruising downstream also seemed disappointed. Nice to see some blue sky.
Fishin
Well-Known Member
Not a report, but will be back out there soon! I did fish last weekend, tough conditions on the fly picked off a few small rainbows/browns what I’m really exited about is trying these new trophy Center pin reels I picked up at the boat show met a few guys from the design team appear to be really good quality comparable to the islanders I took the chance on them and picked up 2 will report back asap.
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Fishwhistler
Active Member
Ian wagner
Active Member
why are you dragging wild steelhead up on the rocks keep them in the river
Fishwhistler
Active Member
All my fish are released unharmed and perfectly fine
Well said, "Keep them wet" ........
is that bushing or bearing?
Fishery Notice
Category(s):RECREATIONAL - Salmon
Subject:
FN1156-RECREATIONAL Salmon - Chum - Cowichan River - Region 1 - Opening - Effective November 1, 2024
Effective 00:01 hours November 1, 2024, until 23:59 hours December 31, 2024, the daily limit for Chum Salmon is two (2) per day in the following areas:
-From 66 Mile Trestle downstream to the white triangle boundary sign located in Sandy Pool Regional Park.
Effective 00:01 hours November 16, 2024, until hours 23:59 December 31, 2024, the daily limit for Chum Salmon is two (2) per day in the following areas:
-From 66 Mile Trestle downstream to the tidal boundary.
Variation Order: 2024-RFQ-457 in effect
NOTES AND REMINDERS:
Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in tidal and non-tidal waters of British Columbia.
No fishing is allowed within 100 meters of any government facility operated for counting, passing or rearing fish.
It is illegal to willfully foul hook a salmon. If you accidentally foul hook a salmon in the ocean, it may be retained if the species is open to retention. If you accidentally foul hook a salmon in any lake or stream, including the tidal parts of coastal streams, it may not be retained and you must release it immediately with the least amount of harm as possible.
The term "marked", "hatchery marked", or "adipose fin clipped" means a fish that has a healed scar in place of the adipose fin.
All anglers must have a licence to fish in non-tidal waters in BC. Apply for your BC non-tidal waters recreational fishing licence and non-tidal salmon surcharge at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/...shing/recreational-freshwater-fishing-licence
Anglers are advised to check at: http://bcsportfishguide.ca and https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/...n/fishing-hunting/fishing/fishing-regulations for fishing closures and other recreational fishing regulations and information.
Fishers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery program by labelling and submitting heads from hatchery marked Chinook and Coho Salmon to head depots. The head-off measurement can be used by enforcement officers to assess compliance on size limits if you remove the head from Chinook or Coho. Recovery of microscopic coded-wire tags found inside hatchery marked Chinook and Coho heads provide critical information for coast-wide Salmon stock assessment programs. Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program toll free at 1-866-483-9994 for further information.
Report suspicious activity or violations by email at DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or by calling the 24-hour, toll-free Observe, Record, and Report line at 1-800-465-4336 or 604-607-4186 in greater Vancouver.
The 24-hour, toll-free information line for fishery notices regarding openings and closures is 1-866-431-3474 or 604-666-2828 in greater Vancouver.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please contact the nearest Fisheries and Oceans Canada office or visit our website at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1156
Sent October 30, 2024 at 1148
Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Fishery Notices
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
I hope a coho opening follows in the next few weeks.
fishinforever
Well-Known Member
70 gillnetters in the bay?
Correct me if im wrong
Correct me if im wrong
I see post from a guide on the river mentioning there is a coho opening but I don’t see a fishery notice for that like the chum. I do see it on the general river openings webpage but again the chum one shows up too with the notice attached.
www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Again I wish there was a bit more clarity with this stuff.
Region 1 - Vancouver Island: Recreational salmon fishing limits, openings and closures | Pacific Region | Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Region 1 - Vancouver Island: Recreational salmon fishing limits, openings and closures
Again I wish there was a bit more clarity with this stuff.
Cut Plug
Well-Known Member
Coho opened on Nov 1st as well for 1 per day. It’s now part of the IFMP so no notices are posted. I know, it’s not perfect but don’t shoot the messenger please!I see post from a guide on the river mentioning there is a coho opening but I don’t see a fishery notice for that like the chum. I do see it on the general river openings webpage but again the chum one shows up too with the notice attached.
Region 1 - Vancouver Island: Recreational salmon fishing limits, openings and closures | Pacific Region | Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Region 1 - Vancouver Island: Recreational salmon fishing limits, openings and closures
Again I wish there was a bit more clarity with this stuff.
Cut Plug
Well-Known Member
But, expect Coho to open Nov 1st every year until you hear otherwise. A silver lining? It’d be good to hear comments about that. Especially if you plan to engage in SFAB meeting to discuss an alternative.
Hyde-N-Seek
Active Member
Thanks for that @Cut Plug
Was curious if you know the logics, decisions or stories behind with current regulations of no fishing below Sandy and fly fishing above trestle 66 before Nov 15? I probably missed some of these decisions or discussions previously since I rarely fish for salmon up in the Cowie during the early season. Sure missed those early years…
If anyone is drifting, there is a tree across the river, 1 bend above the old suspension bridge in Bible Camp. You can get around it on the left shallow side, Nainamo side, but there is a big root ball just above it. That tree might have been there last winter? Might have to walk it if the water gets any lower…
Was curious if you know the logics, decisions or stories behind with current regulations of no fishing below Sandy and fly fishing above trestle 66 before Nov 15? I probably missed some of these decisions or discussions previously since I rarely fish for salmon up in the Cowie during the early season. Sure missed those early years…
If anyone is drifting, there is a tree across the river, 1 bend above the old suspension bridge in Bible Camp. You can get around it on the left shallow side, Nainamo side, but there is a big root ball just above it. That tree might have been there last winter? Might have to walk it if the water gets any lower…
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Went poking around today just checking keys, access points etc. All the gate keys remain unchanged. The gates at Vimy Sandy pool and Stoltz were all locked and require keys to access. The pullout at Skutz looked fine at this height, the launch at Stoltz is in a side channel but that is fine. The pullout at Sandy is tiny with a fast current rip just on the outside of the pullout and some small leaning trees upstream of the pullout. Even with the leaning trees trimmed it would be dicey getting into the small pullout at this level. I suggest anyone considering using Sandy pool as a pullout to have a look at the pullout prior to launching to make sure you have the skills to navigate into the pullout. The river had about 18 inches of viz. Saw the odd vehicle kicking about but didn't actually see anybody fishing. From the areas we could see from the road we didn't see any blockages but there are large stretches of river we were unable to lay eyes on. I would feel much better drifting if somebody has intel that the river is indeed clear. And, it was pissing down the whole time we were poking around.
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Vimy is a gong show with this high water as there is only room for one boat and very difficult to see if anyone is parked there from the eddy at the next corner above. I saw some medium size debris moving in the water today so things have probably changed with this bump of water, its a dogs breakfast below sandy pool the new side channel from 2021 high water has expanded is capturing more water then ever and looks like you are playing a game of frogger navigating the main channel into the section shaped like a horseshoe below, at least that is what it looked like from my hike with the dog this morning. No boats just a handful of bank fishermen today stoltz downriver today. We are going to get another good system coming for xmas day.
They can't get that weir expanded fast enough but I guess its only been 70+ years, I have to think that would help control the higher water and not change the river so much its been pretty drastic the last 5-10 years what has happened through the whole system top to bottom.
They can't get that weir expanded fast enough but I guess its only been 70+ years, I have to think that would help control the higher water and not change the river so much its been pretty drastic the last 5-10 years what has happened through the whole system top to bottom.
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