Freshwater fishing regulations in B.C.
Last updated on August 27, 2025
All freshwater sport fishing regulations in effect in British Columbia (except for salmon fishing and fishing in National Parks) are published every two years as the Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis. Become familiar with these regulations before going fishing.
On this page
- Freshwater Fishing Regulation Synopsis
- Angler updates
- Regional synopsis information and in-season regulations changes
- Provincial Fisheries Management: Drought Response Plan
Pull the plug! It’s the law!
Effective May 17 2024 In B.C. it is now illegal to transport your watercraft with the drain plug still in place.
- Before transporting a boat or other watercraft, owners/operators must remove the drain plug and drain all water on dry land including all internal compartments such as ballasts, bilges, and live wells.
Why is this important? Whirling Disease has been detected in Yoho National Park in B.C. and containment and prevention is critical.
- To help stop the spread of whirling disease before moving a boat or any equipment between water bodies, be sure to Clean Drain Dry.
- ‘Pull the Plug’ is one element of Clean, Drain, Dry and it requires all drain-plugs on vessels to be pulled before moving from the waterbody.
Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis
Printed copies of the synopsis are available from:
Angler updates
- Recreational Fishing Opportunities in Skeena Watershed: Gitxsan Closure Notice Update (PDF, 136KB)
- Skeena Steelhead Recreational Fishery Update – 2025 Season (PDF, 117KB)
Regional synopsis information and in-season regulations changes
Select your region of interest by choosing from the tabs below. These documents may contain references to previous ministers or ministries responsible for wildlife at the time of publication. Periodic transfer of authority for natural resource management may not be reflected in these documents.
General information
Wildfire notice: Stay up to date on regulation changes and vehicle/access restrictions during wildfire season. While planning your angling trip please visit fire bans and restrictions for the most up to date information.
Provincial level Synopsis Section (PDF, 381KB)
Note: These changes are in addition to the published regulations unless noted otherwise here. Be sure to check the published regulations as found in the online version of the 2025 to 2027 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis (PDF, 24MB).
| Water | In-season correction/change | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
Region 1 Synopsis Section (PDF, 1.2MB)
Note: These changes are in addition to the published regulations unless noted otherwise here. Be sure to check the published regulations as found in the online version of the 2025 to 2027 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis (PDF, 24MB).
| Water | In-season correction/change | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Cowichan River | No Fishing | July 4, 2025 to August 31, 2025 |
| Heber Creek |
No Fishing upstream of top of lower canyon, located 1.3km upstream of the Gold River confluence November 1 to September 14 No Fishing downstream of top of lower canyon, located 1.3km upstream of the Gold River confluence Fly fishing only downstream of Saunders Creek to the top of the lower canyon, located 1.3km upstream of the Gold River confluence, when open |
August 27, 2025 |
Region 2 Synopsis Section (PDF, 699 KB)
Angler updates
Note: These changes are in addition to the published regulations unless noted otherwise here. Be sure to check the published regulations as found in the online version of the 2025 to 2027 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis (PDF, 24MB).
| Water | In-season correction/change | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Fraser River | Rescind the “No Fishing for trout in the Fraser mainstem upstream of the CPR Bridge at Mission from September 1 to November 15, excluding tributaries, sloughs, Jesperson’s Side Channel, Herrling Island Side Channel and Ruby Creek Side Channel” closure | May 16, 2025 |
| Chilliwack Lake, Upper Pitt River |
The Bull Trout Reward Tagging Program in Chilliwack Lake and Upper Pitt River listed on page 21 of the 2025 - 2027 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis ended in 2023 and $100 reward tags are no longer being issued |
August 13, 2025 |
Region 3 Synopsis Section (PDF, 608KB)
Note: These changes are in addition to the published regulations unless noted otherwise here. Be sure to check the published regulations as found in the online version of the 2025 to 2027 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis (PDF, 24MB).
| Water | In-season correction/change | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
Region 4 Synopsis Section (PDF, 479KB)
Note: These changes are in addition to the published regulations unless noted otherwise here. Be sure to check the published regulations as found in the online version of the 2025 to 2027 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis (PDF, 24MB).
|
Water |
In-season correction/change |
Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander Creek (upstream of the easternmost Hwy 3 bridge) |
Clarification: Michel Creek classified licence required for non-resident anglers |
August 27, 2025 |
| Alexander Creek (downstream of the easternmost Hwy 3 bridge) |
No Fishing September 1 to October 31 Trout/char daily quota = 1 (none under 30 cm) and bait ban, June 15 to August 31 Bull trout catch and release Class II water when open, including tributaries – Michel Creek classified licence required for non-resident anglers |
August 27, 2025 |
|
Cadorna Creek |
Clarification: Elk River classified licence required for non-resident anglers | August 27, 2025 |
|
Fording River (downstream of Josephine Falls) |
Clarification: Elk River classified licence required for non-resident anglers | August 27, 2025 |
|
Forsyth Creek |
Clarification: Elk River classified licence required for non-resident anglers | August 27, 2025 |
|
Duncan River |
Rescinding “No Fishing on Duncan River tributaries downstream of Duncan Dam” and increasing RB quota from 0 to 5. Exemption from spring closure |
April 4, 2025 |
|
Hellroaring Creek |
Clarification: St. Mary River classified licence required for non-resident anglers | August 27, 2025 |
|
Kaslo River |
Rescinding “No Fishing from downstream of Keen Creek to boundary signs at river mouth at Kootenay Lake Upstream of Keen Creek: trout/char release” and including a bull trout daily quota = 2 (any size)
|
April 4, 2025 |
|
Keen Creek |
Rescinding “No Fishing downstream of falls approximately 6 km from Kaslo River)” and including a bull trout daily quota = 2 (any size)
|
April 4, 2025 |
|
Lardeau River |
No fishing downstream of fishing boundary signs at Trout Lake outlet, to fishing boundary signs approximately 600m downstream near the confluence of Mobbs Creek Exempt from spring closure (April 1 to June 14), exempt from trout/char release (November 1 to March 31) Rainbow trout daily quota = 5 (any size), bull trout daily quota = 2 (any size)
|
April 4, 2025 |
| Lodgepole Creek (downstream of falls near the km 26 post on Lodgepole Road) | Clarification: Wigwam River classified licence required for non-resident anglers | August 27, 2025 |
| Lodgepole Creek (upstream of falls) | Class II water when open, including tributaries - Wigwam River classified licence required for non-resident anglers | August 27, 2025 |
|
Morrissey Creek |
Clarification: Elk River classified licence required for non-resident angler | August 27, 2025 |
|
Perry Creek |
Clarification: St. Mary River classified licence required for non-resident anglers | August 27, 2025 |
|
Quinn Creek |
Clarification: Bull River classified licence required for non-resident anglers | August 27, 2025 |
Region 5 Synopsis Section (PDF, 669KB)
Note: These changes are in addition to the published regulations unless noted otherwise here. Be sure to check the published regulations as found in the online version of the 2025 to 2027 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis (PDF, 24MB).
| Water | In-season correction/change | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
Region 6 Synopsis Section (PDF, 1.6MB)
Recreational Fishing Opportunities in Skeena Watershed: Gitxsan Closure Notice Update (PDF, 136KB)
Skeena Steelhead Recreational Fishery Update – 2025 Season (PDF, 117KB)
Note: These changes are in addition to the published regulations unless noted otherwise here. Be sure to check the published regulations as found in the online version of the 2025 to 2027 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis (PDF, 24MB).
| Water | In-season correction/change | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
Region 7A Synopsis Section (PDF, 718KB)
Note: These changes are in addition to the published regulations unless noted otherwise here. Be sure to check the published regulations as found in the online version of the 2025 to 2027 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis (PDF, 24MB).
| Water | In-season correction/change | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
Region 7B Synopsis Section (PDF, 416KB)
Note: These changes are in addition to the published regulations unless noted otherwise here. Be sure to check the published regulations as found in the online version of the 2025 to 2027 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis (PDF, 24MB).
| Water | In-season correction/change | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Peace River | No fishing between Peace Canyon Dam and Hwy 29 Bridge | May 2, 2025 |
Region 8 Synopsis Section (PDF, 818KB)
Note: These changes are in addition to the published regulations unless noted otherwise here. Be sure to check the published regulations as found in the online version of the 2025 to 2027 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis (PDF, 24MB).
| Water | In-season correction/change | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
Provincial Fisheries Management: Drought Response Plan
The updated 2025 Provincial Fisheries Management: Drought Response Plan (PDF, 1MB) is available for download.
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