Discover the Best freshwater fishing for 2021 for the fraser river valley, vancouver & squamish, British Columbia.
Our corner of British Columbia provides some of the world’s most productive river fishing opportunities! Anglers can pursue the giant legendary White Sturgeon, swing fly’s for Salmon or Trout, cast lures or bobber fish for Salmon!
Our Tour Locations:
Since 1996 our freshwater guided fishing tours cover an area that includes Vancouver, the Fraser River Valley(Chilliwack, Mission, Maple Ridge) and finally Squamish.
Other key articles in our Blog:
>> Top 5 Fly Fishing Spots within 3 hours of Vancouver BC <<
>> Best Times for Sturgeon Fishing the Fraser River BC <<
Read More
Silversides Fishing very own articles, reports and recaps on Sturgeon, Salmon, Steelhead and Fly Fishing for Fraser River Valley & Vancouver BC
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2021 Fraser River Sturgeon Forecast
Location: Fraser River from Chilliwack downstream to Mission-Maple Ridge
Timing: Year round but with several peak times throughout the season
Species: White Sturgeon
2021 Fraser River Sturgeon Fishing forecast
2021 Sturgeon Fishing season will have some excellent opportunities for monster fish!
LATE SEASON BONUS: MOST PEOPLE CONSIDER THE SEASON OVER BY NOVEMBER 1 BUT FISHING IS SPECTACULAR RIGHT UP TO NOV 30!
WHY IT’S SO GOOD: White Sturgeon fishing became 100% catch and release back in 1994 in an effort to protect the species. As fish are NOT allowed to be harvested from the Fraser River they just keep growing. This bodes very well for our clients who experience a success rate of 99% on single day charters and 100% on multi day packages. Hooking several fish per outing is typical.
SOME PEAK STURGEON TIMES TO CONSIDER FOR 2021:
Our Sturgeon season runs 12 months a year but here’s some key times:
MARCH 1 – MAY 1: Eulachons aka smelts are in the Fraser River and Sturgeon are in a frenzy to gobble down these oily snacks. Lots of 4 – 7 footers around with chances at 8 foot plus.
JULY: Very large Sturgeon coming from the ocean are in the Fraser river for the remainder of the year. They need to eat!
AUGUST – SEPTEMBER: The Pink Salmon are returning to local rivers including the Fraser. Very big fish and aggressive feeding equals very sore arms for our guests!
OCTOBER – NOVEMBER: It’s full on Salmon season. This brings in even more big ocean Sturgeon looking for a feast. Expect great Salmon and Sturgeon fishing!
Looking for that 10 foot plus river monster? Think July 15 to Nov 15
GETTING HERE
If you are travelling by plane from outside Canada then you will need to arrive at Vancouver International Airport(YVR). That’s only 1 hour to Mission, BC. For those flying inside of Canada there’s the option to land in Abbotsford(YXX) which is under 30 minutes from Mission.
For the complete run down on the Fraser River Valley Sturgeon fishing season this article is a MUST READ:
>> Best Times for Sturgeon Fishing the Fraser River BC <<
LOOKING TO BOOK A FULLY GUIDED STURGEON CHARTER OR MULTI DAY PACKAGE WITH LODGING?
You will be Sturgeon fishing in the BEST and most PRODUCTIVE section of the Fraser. The Mission – Chilliwack area.
Our Fraser River Sturgeon charters include the finest tackle on the market plus our gov’t certified and insured guides. And our covered and heated 21 – 22 ft aluminum jet boats powered with 5.7 litre engines.
check out our most recent sturgeon catches
This is just a sample of what really happens on the river. Follow us and stay up to date!
- Planning a Multi Day Package?
Get our Fraser River Packages Brochure
Multi Day's Sturgeon and/or Salmon Fishing including Lodging
Sturgeon charter prices
"THE REAL VALUE IS IN THE RESULTS WE CREATE FOR OUR GUESTS!"
Prices are NOT per person except the 1 person rate. 5% Sales tax & licenses not included.
10h Sturgeon Charter
– May 1 to Oct 15 –
FOR THE HARDCORES!
Includes all premium Big Game tackle & waders.
Trips depart from Mission, BC – World Sturgeon Capital.
1 person 950
2 persons 1000
3 persons 1075
4 persons 1150
*** Popular ***
8h Sturgeon Charter
– April 1 to Nov 30 –
Includes all premium Big Game tackle & waders.
Trips depart from Mission, BC – World Sturgeon Capital.
1 person 750
2 persons 800
3 persons 875
4 persons 950
*** SAVE $$$ ***
8h Winter/Spring Sturgeon Charter
– January 15 to March 31 –
Includes all premium Big Game tackle & waders.
Trips depart from Mission, BC – World Sturgeon Capital.
2 persons 745
3 persons 795
4 persons 845
6h Sturgeon Charter
– Year round –
Includes all premium Big Game tackle & waders.
Trips depart from Mission, BC – World Sturgeon Capital.
1 person 610
2 persons 630
3 persons 690
4 persons 750
2021 Trout Fishing forecast for Vancouver BC and Southwest Interior
Locations:
1. Squamish River
1. Upper Pitt River River
3. Interior Lakes
Species: Sea Run Dolly Varden, Bull Trout, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout
Trout Fly Fishing for 2021 around Vancouver BC
our 2021 trout fly fishing will connect you with some of the finest scenery available in the vancouver region
SEA RUN DOLLY VARDEN AND BULL TROUT ON THE UPPER PITT RIVER:
2021 opportunities here will be subject to how big or small the snow pack will be by April.
Upper Pitt River fly fishing for those aggressive sea-run Dolly Varden or resident Bull Trout is best from May 15 to July 7.
For the bigger sea run Dollies(5-12 lbs) anytime from mid May to mid June is best when the river has good flow. This happens when we get milder wetter weather that triggers some snow and glacier melt. This gives the river that sought after glacial blue colour that turns the trout switch on!
Good numbers of Dollies or Bull Trout will be encountered any time during the above mentioned time frame provided the river is coloured. Most of the trout here are in the 2-4 lb range.
We use our custom jet boats to access the remote Upper Pitt River. Yet it’s only about 50 km from the big city as the crow flies. It’s tougher access is due to the surrounding steep mountain terrain which prevents road access. So it’s jet boat or helicopter to access this paradise.
Bull trout on the Squamish River system for 2021
Available November to early May with peak timing late March to April 30.
The Squamish River system is located 50 minutes north of Vancouver via the scenic ‘Sea to Sky’ highway which winds along the coast and is the only way to Whistler’s ski resorts.
Good numbers of spawning Salmon for Fall 2020 should equal good Trout fishing for Spring 2021!
Good numbers of Bull Trout will be encountered any time during the above mentioned time frame provided the river is coloured. This makes the fish come out of their hiding places and feel secure as they feed. Most of the trout here are in the 2-4 lb range.
Fly fishing is how we target the Trout here. The river is well suited for it with long flat runs ideal for easily swinging our proven custom tied trout patterns. Our fave flies here are mostly intruder sculpin patterns or salmon fry for the Spring time. In the Fall/Winter it’s single egg stuff or flesh flies.
stillwater rainbow trout fly fishing for 2021 in bc interior
We provide these trips in May and June
Also known as the Thompson – Nicola region, this area is stuffed with high country lakes full of Rainbow Trout. Most lakes are within 3.5 hrs East of Vancouver but if you want to go further there’s plenty more options. There is in fact more than 20,000 lakes in BC!
The terrain is mostly Pine tree laden with an abundance of wildlife. Most access is by dirt or gravel forestry roads so a 4 x 4 is highly recommended. Lake elevations range from 800 to 5500 feet but the majority of lakes are in the 3500 to 4500 foot range.
Lake chemistry is in favour of Rainbow Trout and Insect life. PH levels are ideal for an abundance of aquatic insects and invertebrates. Chironomids, Dragon flies, Damsels, Leeches, shrimp and more provide the mainstay of food. Therefore these Rainbow Trout can grow rather quickly and reach weights of up to 10 lbs in just 3-4 years.
What methods and equipment do we use?
Fly fishing only for us. Fly rods in the 4 to 6 weight class are perfect. Fishing from shore is not a good option here so we use float tubes or small Jon boats.
The Hatches:
Chironomids aka midges are the mainstay and are available year round but Rainbows feed heavily on them in the Spring to early Summer. After that it’s May fly’s, Damsels, Dragons for the Summer months. For the Fall it’s Water Boatmen, Shrimp and Leeches although the later 2 items can produce at any time during open water season.
2021 Fraser River Valley & Vancouver Freshwater Salmon Forecast
Locations:
1. Mainstem Fraser River and it’s tributaries
2. Squamish River
Species: Chinook(King), Coho, Chum, Pinks
2021 Fraser River Valley and Squamish River Valley salmon fishing
2021 Pink Salmon
July 15 to Sept 25 odd years only
SQUAMISH RIVER PINK FORECAST FOR 2021:
Squamish River Pink Salmon return to the river from early July to early September. They are also known as Humpies. These salmon only return in odd numbered years. The parent generation for 2021 spawned in 2019 in good numbers so we are hopeful that the 2021 return of Pinks will be rather good.
Pinks show up in big numbers and thus are quite easy to catch especially due to their weakness of biting anything pink!
How we catch Squamish Pinks:
On the Squamish River we only target Pink Salmon with a fly rod. It’s rather easy, even for beginners! This is a walk n wade adventure that puts you deep into nature.
Average size for Pinks here is about 5 lbs but we have taken them up to 12 lbs.
FRASER RIVER PINK SALMON 2021:
Available from early to late September
BONUS: During the Fraser River Pink run you can expect insanely good Sturgeon fishing!
Fraser River Pink Salmon fishing is easy just like on the Squamish River except we fish for them from our 21 – 22 ft jet boats.
How we catch Fraser River Pinks:
Methods include casting lures, fly fishing or twitching jigs. Light tackle is the way to go for ultimate fun!
>> Multi day packages with lodging are very popular for our Fraser River Salmon or Sturgeon fishing.
Coho Salmon Forecast for 2021
Peak Time: September 15 to November 15
FRASER RIVER VALLEY COHO:
The 2021 return should be excellent as Coho have been doing great for the past 10 years and show no signs of slowing down!
Fraser Valley Coho salmon start showing up in good numbers by mid September and start dwindling in numbers around late November. However they can be taken as late as January. Peak times for Fraser Valley Coho are September 15 to November 7th.
Coho numbers have been rather solid for the last 10 years and this trend should continue. 2019 returns were very good! Coho are suckers for spinners and spoons. However they are rather easy to catch when fly fishing. We suggest that first timers or rookie fly fishers stick to the lures if you want any success.
Retention: There’s good numbers of hatchery fin clipped Coho in the Fraser Valley so retention is allowed(2 or 4 per day depending on location).
We use our custom jet boats to access the best Coho spots in the Fraser Valley. However fishing is not restricted to the boat. Shore fishing is an option at times.
Locations: Harrison River, Vedder River, Nicomen Slough, Stave River, Fraser River.
SQUAMISH RIVER COHO:
A absolutely gorgeous river to fish on.
Peak time for Squamish River Coho is September 30 to November 30. Run sizes have been fairly good over the past decade so we don’t expect much change here for 2021.
Method: Fly fishing is the preferred method on the Squamish but you are welcome to cast lures or twitch jigs if the fly rod isn’t your thing. Fishing is done by ‘walk n wade’ or float the river by raft.
Retention: Squamish River Coho are mostly wild and thus opportunities for harvesting hatchery or fin clipped fish is limited.
Chum salmon
Peak Time: October 7 to November 28
FRASER RIVER VALLEY CHUM:
What to expect for 2021 Chum Salmon returns:
It’s always difficult to predict Chum salmon returns. However there’s always plenty to provide good action, even if it’s catch & release. The 2017 return(2021’s parents) was fairly good so we are optimistic.
Note: the 2016 Chum return was epic so there’s a good chance that 2020 will be a strong return.
Fraser River Valley Chum Salmon are popular for many of our guests because they are easy to catch and put up a great fight!
Chum Salmon are usually open for harvesting but once in a while a non retention regulation comes into play if numbers are low. If this happens it usually takes place around October 20th, give or take a few days. Catch & release is still allowed. If you are keen on Sturgeon fishing and know that salmon makes good bait don’t worry. We always have a supply.
Numbers of Chum in the tributaries of the Fraser(Stave River for example) can be quite high. Fish will be jumping all around you. It’s possible at times to hook one on almost every cast! The 2020 return will likely be somewhat average which is just fine.
We get Chums rather easily drifting a jig under a float. Chums cannot resist our own hand tied jigs.
SQUAMISH RIVER CHUM:
Run sizes vary widely here from year to year but there’s always enough to make it worthwhile hitting this absolutely gorgeous river.
Squamish River Chum Salmon are later returning than Fraser Valley Chums. Usually they start arriving around mid October and will be available right up to the last days of November.
The preferred method here is fly fishing but drifting a jig under a float will cause some serious damage. Catch & release is typical here but if there’s a strong return there may be a 1 fish retention.
Chinook Salmon
Peak Time: September 1 to October 7
FRASER RIVER VALLEY CHINOOK FORECAST FOR 2021:
Fall Chinook returns to the Fraser River Valley have been excellent for years so we expect 2021 fishing to be great.
Chinook Salmon are also known as Kings. These are the ‘Fall run’ of Chinooks and tend to show up in big numbers in a short period of time. Numbers of Fall Chinooks are usually quite good every year. 2019 was extremely good!
They are best caught using big spinners and spoons at some key tributary mouths like the Vedder-Chilliwack River or Harrison River.
Chinook are the biggest of all the Pacific salmon. We catch ’em up to 40 – 50 lbs but 10 – 20 is normal.
SQUAMISH RIVER CHINOOKS:
Available July – August
This is not a big run of Chinooks but for those looking for a real beautiful setting and hardly anyone around then this is a good option.
Fly fishing is the preferred method here. Better have a 9 or 10 wt fly rod. We certainly do if you want one of our expert Squamish River fly fishing guides.
Sockeye Salmon – Fraser River
Run Timing: June to October
FRASER RIVER SOCKEYE NOT AVAILABLE FOR 2021:
We remember when Fraser River Sockeye Salmon returned every year in massive numbers(10 – 20 million) back in the 90’s. Fishing was epic and too easy! Catching 100 in a half day was not out of the question.
What happened to the Fraser River Sockeye runs?
For this answer we need to turn to science and biology. Not government shills and cons that work in Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans(DFO). Well it is somewhat helpful to recognize that government betrayal of wild salmon has played the main role. But science tells us the biological reason behind these iconic salmon’s demise.
And the number 1 reason for the drastic decline in most Fraser River Sockeye Salmon is…. drum roll please…
Open net salmon farms along the British Columbia coast.
Yes the ones that are located in the ocean and hold millions of disease ridden Atlantic Salmon, a foreign and harmful species for Pacific Salmon. These unnatural factory farms are super breeding grounds for lethal viruses(IHN, PRV etc) and parasites(Sea Lice) that infect wild salmon of all ages as they pass by(closely or not so closely).
Read this Story from CTV News.
What Can You do to help protect BC’s Sockeye Salmon and other wild salmon from this horrible industry?
DO NOT BUY ATLANTIC SALMON. ALSO KNOWN AS: SCOTTISH SALMON, NORWEGIAN SALMON, SKUNA BAY SALMON, ORGANIC SALMON(yes this is farmed salmon fed shit food, toxic chemicals and drugs).
Where is Atlantic Salmon SOLD?
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Sushi restaurants
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Seafood restaurants
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Costco, Walmart etc
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Supermarkets
