Our Spring fishing report of Vancouver BC focuses on our three local trips; fly fishing for trout and steelhead, saltwater fishing for salmon and fishing on the Fraser River for white sturgeon. You’ll find some excellent opportunities for a variety of trips during March, April and May. You don’t have to travel far, there’s ample fishing within an hour of Vancouver and great salmon fishing right from the city! March and April are two of our most popular months for guided fly fishing trips, with beautiful river conditions and good fishing for Bull trout and Spring steelhead. Below you’ll find a monthly Vancouver fishing report for the months of March, April & May.
MARCH
SPRING FISHING IN VANCOUVER
March fishing is always depending on what kind of Winter we are emerging from. Warm Winters usually make for better Spring fishing. With cold Winter conditions rivers levels will be low but March can change all that. The warming temperatures the Winter’s snow begins to melt and river levels begin to rise. You can expect fly fishing on the Squamish River to improve every week throughout March. Once Vancouver area rivers begin to ‘green up’, meaning the start getting some colour and height, winter-run steelhead are more interested in entering from the ocean. This usually starts in mid February. Saltwater salmon fishing is good, there’s some solid action near Bowen Island and Howe Sound. Chinook salmon in the 6-12 pound range are the norm and Spring months offer consistent salmon fishing. The March sturgeon fishing report is improving river conditions on the Fraser River is making for better catch rates.
- River fishing for bull trout improves as local rivers rise.
- Improved fishing for steelhead on the Squamish & Vedder rivers.
- Chinook salmon fishing is consistent in Howe Sound.
- Sturgeon fishing picking up with more consistent fishing.
APRIL
SPRING FISHING IN VANCOUVER
One of our favourite months for fishing around Vancouver and the south coast of British Columbia. In April you’ll find the best Spring river conditions, bigger salmon on the ocean and some serious sturgeon fishing on the Fraser River. The salmon fishing report focuses on fishing Howe Sound and the southern Gulf Islands for chinook salmon in the 8-20 pound range. Hooking multiple keeper fish each day is common in April and only gets better as we move into May. April sturgeon fishing is getting better each week of the season. The Fraser River is on the rise and sturgeon are becoming increasingly active, on the feed after the cool Winter months. The Vedder River east of Vancouver is seeing the most consistent numbers of wild and hatchery steelhead. Local lakes usually have their ice coming off and trout fishing for rainbows and cutthroats is turning on. The Squamish & Cheakamus rivers near Squamish BC are seeing the peak run of winter steelhead in April and good bull trout fishing. April has it all, a great month for a Vancouver fishing trip!
- Steelhead & trout fishing are in their primetime month.
- Local saltwater fishing is seeing some bigger salmon.
- Building sturgeon activity on the Fraser River.
- Top timing for fly fishing near Vancouver.
MAY
SPRING FISHING IN VANCOUVER
Lots to report for fishing near Vancouver in the month of May. Saltwater salmon fishing is usually excellent all month long, with bigger chinook salmon being caught in great numbers. Fly fishing on local rivers will be solid until rivers “blow out”, more on that below and sturgeon fishing starts heating up. May’s best bet for a fun local trip is a saltwater Vancouver salmon fishing charter. The southern Gulf Islands and Thrasher Rock will offer the best salmon fishing in BC at this time, with bigger chinook salmon (10-20 pounds) foraging heavily on anchovies and herring. The best part about May is how nice the weather is, we’re at Summer’s doorstep and daily temps are in the 20+ degree range! You can expect good fly fishing for steelhead and bull trout as long as the local rivers keep in good shape. As we move into May the temperatures on BC’s south coast are warming by the week, meaning more snow is melting. That snow melt goes directly into the rivers and they can rise quickly on warm days with high freezing levels. Sturgeon fishing is good all of May, but the Fraser River is also on the rise. Best to be fishing from Chilliwack or Agassiz during this time, the sections of river in this area offer the most forgiving fishing through high water conditions.
- Gulf Islands & Thrasher Rock salmon fishing is very consistent!
- Good river levels for fly fishing until mid May.
- Late May river conditions can be too high for good fishing.
- Sturgeon fishing cranks up on the Fraser River.