2026 best fishing for sturgeon and salmon fraser river valley bc
Here is our overview for the Best river fishing times for 2026 in the Fraser River Valley and Squamish River both located 1 hour from Vancouver, British Columbia.
Southwest British Columbia offers some of the world’s best and unique river fishing! Anglers can pursue the hard fighting massive and legendary White Sturgeon and Salmon or Trout.
There’s always something to pursue and hook up with plus the fun times just hanging with friends and family on our covered jet boats or casting from the banks of our beautiful rivers!
SCROLL DOWN FOR DETAILS ON THE BEST TIMES FOR STURGEON AND SALMON
Our Tour Locations:
Most of our Fraser River tours depart from Mission BC and we will go fishing anywhere from Maple Ridge to Chilliwack but we do offer some flyfishing trips in Squamish during the Autumn
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 <<
>> 2021 Great Photos <<
2026 Fraser River BC Sturgeon Forecast
Location: Fraser River BC from Chilliwack downstream to Mission-Maple Ridge
Timing: Mid March to late November and with good winter fishing options too.
Fraser River Sturgeon are well known for their epic jumps
2026 Sturgeon Fishing on the Fraser:
When does the Fraser open for fishing in the spring? Well typically Sturgeon fishing starts to really pick up around March 15-21 and then slows down during the cold winter months of Dec – early March.
In regards to Sturgeon numbers and sizes every year just gets better due to the 100% catch and release program that started in 1994. 2026 should not disappoint, key times will be later in March, April, July, and then August to mid November.
LATE SEASON BONUS: MOST PEOPLE CONSIDER THE SEASON OVER BY NOVEMBER 1 BUT FISHING IS SPECTACULAR RIGHT UP TO NOV 30!
Looking for that 10 foot plus river monster? Think July 10 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 or so 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.
Want to join our newsletter?
Scroll to the footer and sign up!
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, located in 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 Fraser River. Follow us and stay up to date!
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins
Error: There is no connected account for the user silversidesfishing.
- 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. Sales tax and licenses not included.
10 hr Sturgeon Charter
– May 1 to Oct 7 –
FOR THE HARDCORES!
Includes all premium Big Game tackle & waders.
Trips depart from Mission, BC – World Sturgeon Capital.
During intense heat we will only do 8hr
1 – 2 ppl 1350
3 persons 1450
4 persons 1550
*** Popular ***
8 hr Sturgeon Charter
– March 16 to Dec 7 –
Includes all premium Big Game tackle & waders
Trips depart from Mission, BC – World Sturgeon Capital.
1 person 995
2 ppl 1095
3 ppl 1195
4 persons 1295
*** SAVE $$$ ***
6hr Winter/Spring Sturgeon Charter
– Dec 8 to March 15 –
Includes all premium Big Game tackle & waders.
Trips depart from Mission, BC – World Sturgeon Capital.
1 to 2 people 825
3 people 925
4 people 1025
6hr Sturgeon Charter
– Limited Availability –
– March 16 – December 7 –
Includes all premium Big Game tackle & waders.
Trips depart from Mission, BC – World Sturgeon Capital.
1 – 2 ppl 875
3 ppl 975
4 ppl 1075
2025 Fraser River Valley Freshwater Salmon Forecast
 
1. Mainstem Fraser River and it’s tributaries in the Chilliwack to Maple Ridge area
 
Species: Chinook(King), Coho, Chum, Pinks
It’s Pink Salmon year – fun for everyone!
Pink Salmon
‘Odd’ yrs only – September
FRASER RIVER PINK SALMON RUN FROM EARLY TO LATE SEPTEMBER:
Pink Salmon will return again in 2027 and should be excellent.
BONUS: During the Fraser River Pink Salmon run you can expect insanely good Sturgeon fishing!
Fraser River Pink Salmon fishing requires the use of our 21 – 22 ft jet boats.
How to catch Fraser River Pinks
Casting lures, twitching jigs or fly fishing are the top 3 methods.
>> Recent Blog Articles <<
>> Multi day packages with lodging are very popular for our Fraser River Salmon or Sturgeon fishing.
Coho Salmon Forecast for 2025
Peak Time: September 15 to November 7
FRASER RIVER VALLEY COHO:
Coho Salmon returns have been rather solid for some years now and the return in 2026 should be amazing.
Fraser Valley Coho salmon start showing up in good numbers by the 2rd week of September and start dwindling in numbers around mid November. However they have been taken as late as January.
Coho are suckers for spinners and spoons. However they are also rather easy to catch when fly fishing or twitching jigs. If you wanna try fly fishing it is pretty much essential that you are reasonably experienced. 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 October 1 to November 10. Run sizes have been fairly good over the past decade so we don’t expect much change here for 2026.
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(based on availability).
Retention: Squamish River Coho are mostly wild and thus opportunities for harvesting is limited.
2025 Chum salmon
Peak Time: October 7 to November 21
FRASER RIVER VALLEY CHUM:
What to expect for 2026 Chum Salmon returns:
It’s always difficult to predict Chum salmon returns. However there’s always enough to provide good action, even if it’s catch & release.
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. 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!
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 a lot 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, but don’t plan a guide here after Nov 15.
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.
2025 Chinook Salmon
Peak Time: September 1 to October 7
FRASER RIVER VALLEY CHINOOK BEST TIMES FOR 2025:
Fall Chinook returns to the Fraser River Valley have been excellent for years so we expect 2026 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. We are hoping 2026 will be great due to healthy numbers of them in the nearby ocean.
They are best caught using big spinners and spoons at some key tributary mouths like the Vedder-Chilliwack River or Harrison River. In the mainstem Fraser most anglers will use Spin-glows.
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 can be 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. These fish are tough to get, even for experts. It’s more about the surroundings here.
