Cowichan River

[Derby]

Good afternoon, Cowichan-Gulf Islands SFAC members.



I am writing to inform you of an unexpected change to the recreational fishing regulations in the Cowichan River. As many of you know, the Cowichan River in the recent past has suffered from poor water quality in the peak summer months due to a variety of factors. I have been advised by the Province of BC that water quality has deteriorated quite rapidly over the last handful of days. High pH, ammonia levels, combined with increasing water temperatures, are creating a challenging environment for trout and salmon in the river, and conditions are expected to worsen over the coming days and weeks. As a result, the Province is looking to initiate the summertime fishing closure early this year. Typically, the summer time closure is from July 15 to August 31. The Province will be looking to move the beginning of the closure up so that it begins on or near June 15th. The Department is proposing to mirror this regulation change from the Province for 2025. It is not anticipated that this will significantly affect recreational angling as effort on the river has greatly decreased over the last few weeks.



If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.



Thank you,



Sincerely,



Mark Frisson

Recreational Fisheries Coordinator

East Coast Vancouver Island

Email: Mark.Frisson@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Cell: 236-255-1043

 

[jim morrow]

Well that is terrible news. I will be cancelling my Prov,Park reservations at the cowichan site.

 

[Fins -n- Skins]

There is some talk about tubers and impact they are having on the river. This is a sensitive subject as it’s big business for the town of Lake Cowichan. But it should be River / fish first of course ??

 

[islandboy]

Educate. If you're profiting off tubing, you should be required to educate your clients.

 

[onefish]

would be nice to get people on board with this

 

[Carmanah]

Good afternoon, Cowichan-Gulf Islands SFAC members.



I am writing to inform you of an unexpected change to the recreational fishing regulations in the Cowichan River. As many of you know, the Cowichan River in the recent past has suffered from poor water quality in the peak summer months due to a variety of factors. I have been advised by the Province of BC that water quality has deteriorated quite rapidly over the last handful of days. High pH, ammonia levels, combined with increasing water temperatures, are creating a challenging environment for trout and salmon in the river, and conditions are expected to worsen over the coming days and weeks. As a result, the Province is looking to initiate the summertime fishing closure early this year. Typically, the summer time closure is from July 15 to August 31. The Province will be looking to move the beginning of the closure up so that it begins on or near June 15th. The Department is proposing to mirror this regulation change from the Province for 2025. It is not anticipated that this will significantly affect recreational angling as effort on the river has greatly decreased over the last few weeks.



If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.



Thank you,



Sincerely,



Mark Frisson

Recreational Fisheries Coordinator

East Coast Vancouver Island

Email: Mark.Frisson@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Cell: 236-255-1043

I have been checking the freshwater fishing synopsis in season changes and I have yet to see this posted. Not much angling going on with the warm weather and low water anyway, the highest risk is salmon/steelhead fry.

Also I have not heard an update about the Weir raising/construction since 2024, I have found information about the town of Lake Cowichan updating there sewer treatment which likely wont begin the major upgrades until 2027. These two projects are keystones to mitigating the low warm/polluted water that has plagued the river and major contributor to the fry die off in 2023. The pumps were installed in 2018 I believe and used twice since (good chance they are in service this year) so this has been an issue that has been brewing for a very long time but things like hatchery and sunscreen talk get all the press.

Does anyone have an update on what is going on with that?

 

[Carmanah]

The in-season closure did end up happening on July 4th apparently I just noticed it today. I spend a few days a week on the river hiking with the dog or swimming with the kids and hadn't seen anyone fishing since mid June anyway its very much a tokens closure. No news on the weir still the last info was in 2024. Here is a check news article talking about the low water this year and some things that have been done to help fry survival.

'Critical drought' in Cowichan River sparks fish fears, urgent conservation measures

Officials are sounding the alarm over dangerously low water levels and drought conditions in the Cowichan River.

cheknews.ca

 

[jim morrow]

A buddy was saying he heard bad news about water flow being very bad. any news article?

 

[FueFighter]

I have always wanted to drift fish the river (have a 3 person flycraft) and curious if anyone has a list of locations to put in-take out and some safety info on different sections?

 

[fishinforever]

There’s a few but you’ll wanna go with an experienced angler before you attempt the drift solo if you aren’t familiar with it.

 

[Hart]

I have always wanted to drift fish the river (have a 3 person flycraft) and curious if anyone has a list of locations to put in-take out and some safety info on different sections?

Hire Riverquest charters, very reasonable rates. Incredibly knowledgeable guide(second generation). He can show you the put in and pull outs. How to fish the river. Allot of river if you don’t know the spots they rest, travel etc. And how to navigate it safely.

 

[J-ROC]

I have always wanted to drift fish the river (have a 3 person flycraft) and curious if anyone has a list of locations to put in-take out and some safety info on different sections?

There is a nasty new (ish) section in the section above Skutz Falls, river changed its path last year and has resulted in a series strainers/logjams. The old/safe way is only passable at higher flows, please do not do this section without knowing the hazards. There are also many log jams in the lower. x3 on hiring Riverquest, or other guide, well worth the cash/day to learn a bunch invaluable info.

 

[Carmanah]

There are so many near misses you never hear about on this river I have heard some heroic and almost tragic stories but as already suggested do a few trips with someone else who has experience and/or hire a guide Riverquest is awsome. Also the river is deadly 12 months of the year but its freezing right now and raging a better time to get experience is in the spring when it warms up and flows are much much lower.

 

[Aces]

The Cowichan is not the easiest river to drift in my opinion

 

[onefish]

Looking for any intel on log jams or bad sweepers between stoltz and vimy. I have done a bit of poking around but you can't get to all the river without actually putting a floating craft in the water. Thanks in advance.

 

[Hyde-N-Seek]

Some 1st hand and some hearsay’s

1. Saw Ronnie G. drifted from his place to possibly Sandy on Saturday.
2. Saw a post from Chris A. posted this:
“Ran the Cow from Skutz to Sandy Pool today. Canyon clean. The class 2 part below Stoltz Pool has the usual wood, mostly obvious and avoidable. But there is a nasty riverwide fallen tree cluster about 700 m above Sandy, a bit downstream of the big powerlines. Easy to portage on river-left, not so easy on the right - avoid trying to get out on that crumbly outside bend.” Not sure what he meant though.

Not sure the exact status but am assumed it’s passable. Hoping someone to clarify this?

3. Heard below Sandy is not passable unless you have a raft or pontoon that can be lifted.

Ps, fishing was super slow. Skunked for the day.

 

[onefish]

Thanks for the intel. Will keep my eyes peeled. Also heard from a couple of sources about the jam below sandy. Makes for a pretty short and busy river if everybody is drifting from stoltz to sandy. I sure miss the olden days with the improved river conditions and multiple launching and take out points. So sad it has been whittled down to what we have left now.

 

[Hyde-N-Seek]

Yes, potentially busy with short drift. Hard to beat Ronnie down since he is further down river, and also some pontoons or rafts are launching at the power line to vimmy. It could be a bit of traffic jams at times. Not like the old days, but at least we are fishing lol.

 

[onefish]

First drift in a couple of years. Will see if a couple of old guys still have it or not. Not expecting much fish wise, just nice to get out and about.

 

[onefish]

Well, I will happily give a river condition, hazard report, but there will be no mention of fish caught, or not caught, sorry.