Over 400,000 anglers enjoy fishing on lakes, rivers, and streams throughout British Columbia. The popularity that recreational freshwater fishing enjoys may compromise not only the experience anglers are seeking, but also contribute to decline of some fish stocks, impact fish habitat and
increase conflicts between anglers.
Respect fish and treat them humanely. Keep fish immersed in water until you identify the species and its size. Help Ministry of Environment look after our fisheries by limiting your catch to your needs and never exceeding the legal limit. "Let them go, let them grow," and
practice "catch and release" when appropriate or required.
Protect the environment. Each aquatic ecosystem is complex and unique. Prevent transfer of aquatic species or weeds from one water body to another. Never contaminate water bodies or shorelines with litter. For tips about how to dispose of fish wastes properly, see Angling Tips in Bear Country.
Practise courtesy toward other anglers and respect their rights. Share the water with other users. Practise good angling etiquette by:
moving around a water body in patterns appropriate to your gear and local conditions;
when in a boat give a wide berth to wading anglers, other boaters and swimmers;
leaving adequate room between other anglers and yourself, especially flyfishers.
Respect public and private property. Always ask permission before entering private property, including Indian Reserve land. Leave natural areas as you found them, keep campsites clean and be careful with campfires.
Support fishing regulations and obey the law. Regulations are set to manage fisheries now and for the future and are based on the best scientific advice available. Acquaint yourself with daily quotas, size and possession limits, tackle and bait restrictions, and seasonal
closures.
Use the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline to report violations 1-877-952-RAPP (7277): We can all help ensure that those who break the law do not spoil future angling opportunities for everyone. For more information, see Report All
Poachers and Polluters (RAPP).
For more information on angling practices on specific waters, you may wish to contact a local angling club or tackle shop.
Releasing Fish – The Gentle Way
There is a growing trend among anglers to catch and release, unharmed, a part of their allowable catch. As well, more restrictive regulations on specific waters can severely limit the angler's allowable harvest. A fish that appears unharmed may not survive if carelessly handled, so please
abide by the following:
Play and release fish as rapidly as possible. A fish played for too long may not recover.
Keep the fish in the water as much as possible. A fish out of water is suffocating. Internal injuries and scale loss is much more likely to occur when out of water.
Rolling fish onto their backs (while still in the water) may reduce the amount they struggle, therefore minimizing stress.
Carry needle-nose pliers or haemostats (surgical pliers). Grab the bend or round portion of the hook with your pliers, twist pliers upside down, and the hook will dislodge. Be quick, but gentle. Single barbless hooks are recommended, if not already stipulated in the regulations.
Any legal fish that is deeply hooked, hooked around the gills or bleeding should be retained as part of your quota. If the fish cannot be retained legally, you can improve its chances of survival by cutting the leader and releasing it with the hook left in.
If a net is used for landing your catch, it should have fine mesh and a knotless webbing to protect the fish from abrasion and possible injury.
If you must handle the fish, do so with your bare, wet hands (not with gloves). Keep your fingers out of the gills, and don't squeeze the fish or cause scales to be lost or damaged. It is best to leave fish in the water for photos. If you must lift a fish then provide support by
cradling one hand behind the front fins and your other hand just forward of the tail fin. Minimize the time out of the water, then hold the fish in the water to recover. If fishing in a river, point the fish upstream while reviving it. When the fish begins to struggle and swim normally,
let it go.
Releasing White Sturgeon
The majority of white sturgeon populations in British Columbia are listed under the federal Species at Risk Act and thus are not open to angling. Since populations in the Lower and Middle Fraser River are relatively healthy, they are able to support exciting world class white
sturgeon fisheries. However, these populations are still vulnerable to impacts from angling, habitat destruction, pollution and salmon net fisheries and they are still provincially and nationally listed as endangered. White sturgeon can live for multiple decades so impacts or injuries can
be long lasting. As such all sturgeon angling in the province is catch and release only, and will likely be more closely managed in the future.
Indications are that catch and release sturgeon angling is a low impact activity. However, to minimize harm to fish, extra care and attention must be taken to ensure their health and survival and maintain this treasured fishery. Please abide by the following capture and handling
practices:
Make sure that your tackle is heavy enough to handle these very large fish. Play and release fish as rapidly as possible. A fish played for too long may not recover.
Only barbless hooks are permitted while sturgeon angling in the province. In addition, you should carry long needle-nose or surgical pliers, or a special hook remover. Grab the bend or round portion of the hook with your pliers, twist pliers upside down, and
the hook will dislodge. Be quick, but gentle.
A fish that is deeply hooked, hooked on or near the gills, or bleeding profusely has a much lower chance of survival once released. You can improve its chances by cutting the leader and releasing the fish with the hook left in. The line will rot and the hook
will drop out in a short time.
Leave the fish in the water wherever possible. A fish suffocates when it’s out of water, and is also more at risk of internal injuries due to its own weight, especially if it is large (greater than 1.5 m in length). Take the time to hold the fish in
the water to recover. Point the fish upstream into the current while reviving it. When the fish begins to struggle and swim normally, let it go.
If you must handle a fish, then do so with care. Keep your fingers away from the gills out of the gill plates, and don't squeeze. If you want photographs, then leave the fish in the water if it’s a larger fish. A smaller fish can be supported by
cradling it underneath and behind the front fins and just forward of the tail. Have your camera ready so the fish is only briefly disturbed.
Take care and be gentle to help maintain this amazing fishery and allow these gentle giants of the Fraser to live another day.
Lower Mainland Mailing/Location Address:
Ministry of Environment
Environmental Stewardship Division
10470-152 Street
Surrey, B.C. V3R 0Y3
Telephone: 604 582-5222
Facsimile: 604 930-7119
Rotational Angling
Courtesy and Common Sense – Enjoying the Experience and sharing the Opportunity.
As angling pressures increase because of population growth, expanding recreational time and improved access to our rivers and streams, the need for courtesy and an angling code of conduct has become more evident.
"Rotation angling" is a system designed to encourage everyone on a stretch of river to fish sequentially through it, whether wading or from a boat. It was designed to allow each angler an equal opportunity to spend some time in the prime pools and riffles. Simply stated, it means starting
at the head of a pool or run and following the immediate downstream angler at a courteous distance, with everyone progressing at a reasonable pace.
While rotation angling is not applicable to all waters and conditions, it has become an accepted practice on many of our Classified Waters.
The basic rules are:
Avoid entering the water downstream of another angler who is already fishing, unless invited to do so;
Leave adequate room between the downstream angler and yourself but do not remain stationary unless no one is following you;
After catching a fish, step out of the line and return to the head of the pool, or start of the line;
If you are not sure about the local etiquette, avoid any problems by first inquiring about the procedures from the anglers already on the water.
Rotation angling is a system, which can work well regardless of gear type, so long as each angler respects the others' methods.
Co-existing with Spawning Salmon
Angling opportunities provided for some species of fish (e.g., trout, char, whitefish) may have negative impacts on holding or spawning salmon in the same river system. In many cases, angling for salmon is prohibited during times when angling for other species remains open. Anglers can
minimize disturbances or incidental hooking of salmon by adopting these simple voluntary measures:
Gear Selection
Use fishing gear which will effectively avoid hooking salmon. For example, use fly fishing gear with a floating line and a dry fly. Sinking lines or spoons are not recommended as spawning salmon can be easily foul hooked. If the target species is smaller than the spawning salmon, use of a
light tippet is a good added measure.
Bait Selection
If bait is allowed, avoid using bait types which aggressively attract salmon. Using bait such as worms, grasshoppers or other insects will effectively avoid salmon yet attract other species such as trout and whitefish.
Wading the River
Concentrate angling activity in areas of the river where salmon may be less prevalent. For example, avoid deep pools where salmon are holding prior to spawning. Also, avoid areas of shallow water where you observe concentrations of spawning salmon and their redds (gravel
“nests”). Salmon redds are generally between 1-2 square meters in size and may be recognised by the appearance of clean looking gravel which is loose and soft underfoot, as opposed to firmer and darker gravel nearby. When newly formed, redds will appear to be a depression with
a mound of gravel on the downstream side. Eggs will be buried in the mound of gravel and for several metres downstream. Walking on the redds may kill buried eggs, so please avoid them entirely. With the cooperation of knowledgeable anglers, it is often possible to maintain angling
opportunities which might otherwise be eliminated to protect vulnerable fish. Please adjust your angling techniques accordingly.
THE BASIC RULES ARE:
Avoid entering the water downstream of another angler who is already fishing, unless invited to do so;
Leave adequate room between the downstream angler and yourself but do not remain stationary unless no one is following you;
After catching a fish, step out of the line and return to the head of the pool, or start of the line;
If you are not sure about the local etiquette, avoid any problems by first inquiring about the procedures from the anglers already on the water.
River Boating Etiquette and Safety
For your safety and the enjoyment of everyone using the river, please:
Keep boat launch areas clear so that all boaters have equal access.
Don't mix alcohol and boating. You will need your best reflexes to keep you, your boat and other stream users safe. It's illegal to operate a boat while impaired.
Limit your speed (particularly when entering corners) to avoid collisions with other boaters, anglers, swimmers and hidden obstacles.
Respect the Universal Shoreline Speed Restriction
(10km/hr within 30m of the shore).
Be careful when boating at dawn and dusk, or in other conditions of limited light or visibility.
Refrain from running your boat through water being fished by others. Go slowly or drift by anglers along the shoreline. Be considerate of others.
Avoid sensitive habitats such as shallow water, spawning areas, and wildlife nesting or foraging areas.
Give animals crossing the river the space and time to do so. It's illegal to harass wildlife.
Pack out your garbage. Old fishing line, litter, fuel and oil damage fish habitat, endanger aquatic life and reduce water quality.
