Southern Vancouver Island trout fishing close to Victoria?

DerekWhipple

DerekWhipple

Steelhead
I will be in Victoria for a few days next week. It's a family trip, but we all like to do stuff outdoors, so is it worth it to bring a 5 weight, a few nymphs/buggers and fish for some trout? I know the Cowichan is the trout river on the island, is the provincial park decent access?

Any recommended Victoria fly shops for intel would also be appreciated!
 
Not good news for Cowichan. It is closed early. As you may know it is spill over dam and in summer water is hot. I remember one June I went to bike and fish and measured water temps. It was 72F. I didn't even unpack my gear. Biking is good and trail is one of the best to have fun. If you have electric bike could be a blast.


Cowichan RiverNo FishingJuly 4, 2025 to August 31, 2025

For fishing trout I think it is too late. Robinsons in Victora is a good shop and maybe they can give you some ideas. Vancouver Island is a dying trout fishery. Next year come in May or early june.
 
Zoran said:
Not good news for Cowichan. It is closed early. As you may know it is spill over dam and in summer water is hot. I remember one June I went to bike and fish and measured water temps. It was 72F. I didn't even unpack my gear. Biking is good and trail is one of the best to have fun. If you have electric bike could be a blast.


Cowichan RiverNo FishingJuly 4, 2025 to August 31, 2025

For fishing trout I think it is too late. Robinsons in Victora is a good shop and maybe they can give you some ideas. Vancouver Island is a dying trout fishery. Next year come in May or early june.
Click to expand...

Wow, that is a real bummer to hear. Thanks for the tip though. I'll check in with Robinsons.
 
Sorry, Derek, all streams in southern Vancouver Island are closed to fishing for the summer (July 15 to Aug.31), as they have been for several years. We continue to have an ongoing drought here on the island, which results in very low flows and high water temps. High water temps hold less oxygen, and they also increase fish metabolism, which requires them to need more oxygen. Can be a lethal combination. 84,000 fish died in the Cowichan in the summer of 2023. The Cowie's flow is even lower now, much lower than I've ever seen it, hence the early closure referenced by Zoran.

Even before the summer closures, most knowledgeable anglers stopped fishing southern island streams after May.

From the regs:

"Summer closure: No Fishing in any stream
in Management Units 1-1 to 1-6 from July 15-
Aug 31 (see water specific regulations table
for exceptions)."

Regs:

Freshwater fishing regulations in B.C.

BC's freshwater fishing is managed through the Freshwater Fishing Regulation Synopsis which is published every two years and describes fishing opportunities throughout the province. Regional in-season regulation changes provide information to the public regarding changes to fishing...
www2.gov.bc.ca
 
I remember seeing a post, a few years back, of some good SRC action from the beaches up there..
Might look into that..?
 
Thanks for the replies. Didn't have much of a plan so I didn't bring anything. We stayed at a place on the beach, and I ended up watching a a lot of action. Every evening at high tide, I'd see nervous water and fish feeding, so I plan on bringing gear next time (if salmon/cutthroat are open in the saltwater in summer).
 
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