Downstream of 66 Mile Trestle · above the Sandy Pool boundary sign the river opens for catch and release; below it there is no fishing at all from Sep 1 to Nov 15 · Region 1 freshwater
Limits and restrictions
✕ May not be kept5
✕Chinook Closed.
Sockeye Closed.
PinkClosed
WhenSep 1–Jul 14
KeepNone: catch and release only
no fishing below the Sandy Pool sign Sep 1–Nov 15
✕CohoClosed
LaterNov 16–Dec 31: 1/day
LaterNov 1–Nov 15 above the Sandy Pool sign: 1/day
no fishing below the sign Sep 1–Nov 15
✕ChumClosed
To be determined by DFO
closed unless announced
Across this region, not just this water
Daily
4/day all species of Pacific salmon, tidal and fresh waters combined
Annual bait ban in effect in all streams of Region 1 as follows: All streams in Region 1 except: Quatse River; Somass River; Sproat River; Stamp River downstream of "Girl Guide Falls" (approximately 275 m upstream of the mouth of Beaver Creek), unless otherwise described below.
Downstream of 66 Mile Trestle. The rules change at the Sandy Pool boundary sign: above it the river opens for catch and release most of the year, below it there is a long autumn closure, and coho retention starts on different dates either side.
Map of Vancouver Island's salmon rivers from 66 Mile Trestle downstream. Status: Cowichan River closed. Other waters are shown for context only.
1.0×
Closed to salmon (broken outline) Open (see species & limits) Other waters (context) River gauge (tap for level and flow)
Timing
When you may fish, as opposed to what you may keep. Sun times are for this water, today.
No time-of-day closure listed for this water in the regulations we watch, so the sun times above are for planning rather than a rule. Openings still run only on the dates the limits state.
A fishery notice outranks the regulation table when the two disagree.
No fishery notice has named this water in 2026. The feeds are watched on the same schedule as the regulation tables.
Almanac
A day back and two ahead on one clock. Pressure is observed and stops at Now; future rain is ECCC's HRDPS weather model, and the moon is astronomy. Not a fishability call.
A timeline of moon phase, observed rain and observed barometric pressure across a day back and two ahead. Tide turns, river levels and pressure trend are also given in text on the water pages and map callouts.
Licence
What you need on this water
BC freshwater licence (Region 1) + conservation surcharge stamp to retain salmon. Check the Region 1 table for gear rules and closed stretches before you go. VERIFY
