Fishing Tips

Fresh Water Fishing on the Kitimat River

Fishing Update

JANUARY - FEBRUARY

Fishing for cutthroat and dolly varden is usually good during these months. Due to the winter weather, the river will generally be low and clear. Small lures, spinners, flies and bait are all worth trying when fishing for trout. Furthermore, trout fishing can be done throughout the year.

MARCH - MAY

Steelhead fishing usually begins in March on the Kitimat River. Although success can be irregular in this month, it gradually improves late in March and through April. Late April experiences good runs of steelhead entering the river, with many good-sized fish taken at this time. The run of steelhead peaks at the beginning of May and remains strong until the middle of the month. Spawning begins at the end of April.  By the end of May, many kelts are heading back to sea.

JUNE

Although a few chinook (spring) salmon enter the river in late May, June is the best time to begin angling for these fish. Success can vary during the first two weeks of the month, but fishing picks up quickly when a run comes through. Chinook fishing improves in the third week of June and usually continues until the end of the month.  Popular chinook salmon lures include Kitimat #65 and #80 and the larger sized spin-n-glos. In addition, large gooey-bobs are also worth trying. Two very popular fishing spots are the pumphouse pool by the Fish Hatchery and the lower dyke pool by the Riverlodge Recreation Centre. The river is higher now than earlier in the year and can rise very quickly with snow melt if temperatures rise.

JULY

With many of the fish entering the river on each high tide, the run of chinook peaks during the first week of July. Fishing for Chinook is very good throughout the month of July, but dark fish start showing up in catches after the middle of the month. Many pink and chum salmon are found in the river in July. In recent years, chum and pink salmon have been legal to take. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans makes the announcement as to when this area is open for chum and pink salmon via public notices. Late in the month the occasional early coho are caught. The river will tend to be fishable during July, but is still subject to fluctuations due to snow melt or rain.

AUGUST

During August, the occasional straggling chinook will still be caught, although it is illegal to kill these fish after July 31. Some of these fish are very large, with a few late runners reaching sixty pounds or more. Coho fishing is staggered until the middle of the month, when the first good runs begin entering the river. Fishing improves steadily towards the end of August and the chances of catching coho are very good during the last week of August. The Kitimat River is generally low and clear throughout August. Good rainfalls later in the month will raise the river and bring in fresh runs of coho with every high tide. The fishing will be the best when the river begins to drop and clear after a period of rain.

SEPTEMBER

The coho run peaks in the Kitimat River at the beginning of the month and fishing for these salmon remains excellent until the middle of September. Success is still prominent towards the end of the month, but many of the coho are starting to darken in colour. A heavy rain at the end of September will raise the water level and many of the coho will leave the main river and head up their spawning tributaries. The river is generally clear throughout most of this month.

OCTOBER

If the heavy fall rains have started, then coho can still be caught in the main river. Most of the coho are now dark, but the occasional silver one can still be taken. Trout fishing is still very good in October, but heavy rains will muddy the river and make fishing difficult, if not impossible.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER

Trout fishing remains good during these months and throughout the entire year. There is still a slight chance to catch a coho. The river is usually fairly high and dirty.

** Note: Please refer to the current issue of the Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis and the current Freshwater Salmon Supplement prior to any fishing activity and
in regards to transporting/exporting fish.

KITIMAT RIVER BANK CAMPING AND VEHICLES

Please be considerate of others and help protect the environment. The Kitimat River from the Haisla bridge to the lower dyke on the east side and from Haisla bridge upstream to Goose Creek on the west side has, over the years,
provided a wonderful opportunity for both visitors and community residents to experience world class salmon fishing and river bank camping. Such positive experiences have lead to conflict among users for the scarce river bank
resource nearest the water’s edge.

To increase opportunity for everyone and reduce conflict, Mayor and Council have reviewed the competition for the resources and, in cooperation with the Provincial Ministry of Environment and the Federal Department of Fisheries, seek to protect the area 30 metres (100 feet) from the water’s edge from all forms of camping and the parking of motorized vehicles. The intention of this initiative is to encourage people to cooperate and be considerate of others. To inform users of the protected area, signs will be placed along the river bank and at critical entrance points.

As well, please pack out all garbage. Do not litter and do not empty out holding tanks in camp areas. Thank you for cooperating and enjoy your visit to the Kitimat River.