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Freshwater fishing regulations in B.C.

Last updated on June 25, 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 pagelogo of provincial poacher reporting program

2024-25 survey of freshwater recreational fishing in B.C.

Collection period:  June 2025

Collection method:  online survey

Contact: BCRecFishingSurvey@gov.bc.ca

Description: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), in partnership with the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship are conducting a survey of freshwater recreational fishing in B.C. The survey will ask a random sample of individuals who purchased a B.C. freshwater fishing license in the 2024–25 season to report on their fishing activity and expenditures throughout the year. The information provided by respondents will be used to assess the economic and social importance of recreational fisheries to British Columbia.

 

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

Download the 2025-2027 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis (PDF, 24MB)

Cover of the 2025 to 2027 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis

Printed copies of the synopsis are available from:

Angler updates

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.

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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 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).

Provincial level in-season corrections and regulation changes
Water In-season correction/change Effective date
     
 

Region 1 - Vancouver Island (includes Haida Gwaii: WMU 6-12, 6-13)

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).

Region 1 in-season corrections and regulation changes
Water In-season correction/change Effective date
     
 

Region 2 - Lower Mainland   

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).

Region 2 in-season corrections and regulation changes
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 Sept 1-Nov 15, excluding tributaries, sloughs, Jesperson’s Side Channel, Herrling Island Side Channel and Ruby Creek Side Channel” closure. May 16, 2025
 

Region 3 - Thompson 

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).

Region 3 in-season corrections and regulation changes
Water In-season correction/change Effective date
   
 

Region 4 - Kootenay 

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).

Region 4 in-season corrections and regulation changes

Water

In-season correction/change

Effective date

 Duncan River

 Rescinding “No Fishing on Duncan River tributaries downstream of Duncan Dam” and increase RB quota from 0 to 5. Exemption from spring closure

April 4, 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 include a bull trout daily quota = 2 (any size)

 

April 4, 2025

Keen Creek

Rescind “No Fishing downstream of falls approximately 6 km from Kaslo River)” and include 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 – June 14), exempt from trout/char release (November 1 – March 31)

Rainbow trout daily quota = 5 (any size), bull trout daily quota = 2 (any size)

 

April 4, 2025
 

Region 5 - Cariboo 

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).

Region 5 in-season corrections and regulation changes
Water In-season correction/change Effective date
   
 

Region 6 - Skeena 

Region 6 Synopsis Section (PDF, 1.6MB)

Recreational fishing opportunities in Skeena watershed: Gitxsan closure notice update (PDF, 136KB)

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).

Region 6 in-season corrections and regulation changes
Water In-season correction/change Effective date
   

 

 

Region 7A - Omineca 

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).

Region 7A in-season corrections and regulation changes
Water In-season correction/change Effective date
   
 

Region 7B - Peace 

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).

Region 7B in-season corrections and regulation changes
Water In-season correction/change Effective date
Peace River No fishing between Peace Canyon Dam and Hwy 29 Bridge May 2, 2025
 

Region 8 - Okanagan 

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).

Region 8 in-season corrections and regulation changes
Water In-season correction/change Effective date
   

Provincial Fisheries Management: Drought Response Plan

The updated 2024 Provincial Fisheries Management: Drought Response Plan (PDF, 1MB) is available for download.