* You may buy as many One Day and Eight Day Licences as you need, but only one Annual Licence.
•• Fee reduction not available. Regular licence required.
All licence fees except Annual Licence for the Disabled include a surcharge for the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund.
Shuswap Lake includes the main body of Shuswap Lake, Little Shuswap Lake, South Thompson River between Shuswap Lake and Little Shuswap Lake, Seymour, Anstey and Salmon Arms and Mara Lake.
* Your basic licence must be validated with a salmon conservation stamp to keep a salmon of any legal size or species (other than kokanee) from non-tidal waters. A stamp is not required if you intend to release all salmon caught. You must
record your retention of adult chinook salmon on the back of your basic angling licence.
•• Annual Classified Waters Licence not available.
All annual licences are valid for the current licence year, April 1, 2007 – March 31, 2008, commencing on date purchased.
Prices are subject to change. G.S.T. is not included.
Basic and supplementary licences and stamps are not valid in National Parks (except for Pacific Rim National Park Reserve during the 2007-08 season).
If you are a B.C. resident:
Your Classified Waters Licence may be purchased from a provincial licence vendor. It is an annual licence. This means you can fish on any Class I or Class II water in the province during the year the licence is valid.
If you are a non-guided "Non-Resident" or non-guided "Non-Resident Alien" angler:
Your Classified Waters Licence for Class I or Class II waters may be purchased from a provincial licence vendor. It is sold on a per diem basis and is date and water specific. Although anglers may purchase as many Classified Waters Licences as they wish, each licence must not exceed 8
consecutive days.
EXCEPTION: Non-Resident Aliens may only purchase one classified waters licence for the Dean River. Non-guided "Non-Resident Aliens" wishing to fish the Classified section of the Dean River from Crag Creek to signs 500m above the canyon must enter the Dean River Draw.
If you are a guided "non resident" or a guided "non resident alien" angler:
Your Classified Waters Licence for Class I or Class II waters must be purchased directly from a licenced angling guide. It is sold on a per diem basis and is date and water specific. Although anglers may purchase as many classified waters licences as they wish, each licence must not
exceed 8 consecutive days.
EXCEPTION: Non-Resident Aliens may only purchase one classified waters licence for the Dean River.
The classified waters of B.C. are forty-two (42) highly productive trout streams. These streams are classified as either Class I or Class II and are listed in the Water Specific Tables for each Region or a listing is provided
in the Wildlife Act under the Angling and Scientific Collection Regulation[PDF 43KB]. The Classified Waters Licensing System was created to preserve the unique fishing opportunities provided
by these waters, which contribute significantly to the province's reputation as a world class fishing destination.
All anglers required to buy a basic Angling Licence must also purchase a Classified Waters Licence before fishing on a stream during the period when it is classified:
This licence is required in addition to the basic angling licence and any other stamps required by regulation.
Also note that a steelhead surcharge stamp is required at all times when fishing for steelhead, or when fishing classified waters during the period when steelhead are known to be present. The specific times when a steelhead licence is mandatory are listed in the Water Specific Tables for
each Region.
The QWS is a provincial initiative that brings staff and stakeholders together in a process that maintains and enhances the best of the best of British Columbia’s world class wild fisheries.
The strategy is an active partnership between anglers, angling guides and Ministry staff. Funded completely through the fees paid by anglers and guides, the QWS has an annual budget of approximately $350,000 which supports projects across the province. QWS projects have been carried out
annually on a number of the premier wild trout and steelhead streams in the province. These range from angler use information acquisition studies on rivers such and the Dean, Cowichan and Thompson, as well as major management and planning initiatives.
Information gathered on a number of East Kootenay streams provided the valuable data necessary for the subsequent East Kootenay Angling Management Plan, a plan that encompasses seven major systems and is providing the additional regulatory mechanisms necessary to maintain world class
westslope cutthroat and bull trout fishing.
An ambitious undertaking of the QWS is the development of a watershed level Angling Management Plan for the Skeena Region. Faced with increasing angler use and significant concerns from stakeholders and resource managers, the
Ministry is applying the process developed under the QWS to provide a comprehensive management plan to address existing and future use issues on the Skeena River and its many important tributary streams.
The process for the Skeena includes extensive consultation at the local, regional and provincial levels and will bring together stakeholders in a decision making forum to balance the many diverse interests associated with the Skeena’s unique, world class wild steelhead fisheries.
Dean River Draw
All anglers are required to buy a Classified Waters Licence to fish the classified portions of the Dean River (see Region 5 table[PDF 1.26MB] for specific areas and dates). There are no
limits on the number of days which a Canadian resident may fish the classified portions of the Dean River. A Non-Resident Alien (someone who is not a resident of Canada) is allowed only one Classified Waters Licence for the Dean River, and may only fish one classified portion (Class I or
Class II) of the Dean River for a maximum of 8 consecutive days per year regardless of whether guided or unguided.
A non-guided Non-Resident Alien wishing to fish the Dean River from Crag Creek to signs 500m above the canyon must enter an annual limited entry draw held in March. (Please note that the Dean River below signs in the lower canyon is a Class I Water and classified from June 1 to September 30. This section is NOT included in the annual Dean River Draw.)
Applications for the draw can be obtained by writing to the address below. You can also download the form below:
For more information about the draw, please contact:
Dean River Draw
Fish and Wildlife Branch
Ministry of Environment
PO Box 9363, STN PROV GOVT
Victoria B.C. V8W 9M2
Phone: 250 387-9589
If you are 16 years of age or older
You must have a valid basic licence to sport fish for any species of fish in non-tidal waters (including salmon).
You must purchase appropriate supplementary licences and stamps.
You must carry your licence while sport fishing and, if asked, produce it for inspection by a Conservation Officer, Fishery Officer, RCMP constable, Park Ranger in a park, or an Officer under the Wildlife Act .
If you are less than 16 years of age
Youth Exemption
If you are under 16 and a resident of B.C.:
you may sport fish without any licence or stamp;
you do not need to be accompanied by a licence holder;
you are entitled to your own quota of fish.
If you are under 16 and a non-resident of B.C.:
you do not require any licence or stamp to sport fish, but you must be accompanied by a person (resident or non-resident) who has the appropriate licences and stamps;
any fish you keep must be counted as part of the catch and possession of your accompanying licence holder;
if you want to catch and keep your own quota of fish, you may buy a licence and any necessary supplementary licences and stamps.
Definition of B.C. Resident, Non-Resident, and Non-Resident Alien
B.C. Resident means:
your primary residence is in British Columbia, AND
(a) you are a Canadian citizen or a landed immigrant, AND
have been physically present in B.C. for the greater portion of each of 6 calendar months out of the immediately preceding 12 calendar months,
OR
(b) you are NOT a Canadian citizen or a landed immigrant, but have been physically present in British Columbia for the greater portion of each of the immediately preceding 12 calendar months.
Non-Resident means:
you are not a “resident,” but (a) you are a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant, OR (b) your primary residence is in Canada, AND you have resided in Canada for the immediately preceding 12 months.
Non-Resident Alien means:
you are neither a “resident” nor a “non-resident.”
Where and How to Purchase a Licence
On September 6, 2007, the B.C. Government launched a new e-licensing service to make it easier than ever for anglers to purchase recreational fishing licences. This web site allows individuals to purchase and pay online for a
Freshwater Fishing Licence for recreational purposes. You can also buy a recreational fishing licence:
from one of the many fishing licence vendors throughout B.C.;
To find the location of the Government Agent office closest to you, refer to the Blue Pages in a phone directory or go to our search page. For calls within B.C., call Enquiry BC toll free at 1-800-663-7867 and request to be
transferred to the closest Government Agent for assistance, if required.
Angling Licence Fee Reduction Program for Disabled Residents of B.C.
In this program, any British Columbia Resident who is severely and permanently disabled may apply for a Non-Tidal Angling Licence at the reduced fee of $1.07. Note: Licences are not required for anglers under 16 years of age.
The fee reduction is for the annual Non-Tidal Angling Licence ONLY. It does not entitle the applicant to a reduction on Conservation Surcharge Stamps or the Classified Waters Licence.
Application Form
An application form is available for download[PDF 57KB], or forms may be obtained from
Service BC Offices throughout the province, or from the Fish and Wildlife Branch in Victoria.
Fish and Wildlife Branch
Ministry of Environment
PO Box 9363, STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, B.C. V8W 9M2
To qualify, an applicant must submit documentation confirming that he/she is in receipt of one of the benefits listed in Part B of the application. If this documentation cannot be provided, then Part C must be completed by a practicing registered physician or nurse.
Individuals may purchase future licences by presenting an expired licence purchased at the reduced fee to any licence vendor. If a licence becomes lost, stolen or destroyed, eligibility can be confirmed by contacting any Government Agent Office or the Fish and Wildlife Branch in
Victoria.
Further information is available from any of the Government Agents or by calling the Fish and Wildlife Branch, Ministry of Environment, in Victoria at 250 387-9589 or 250 356-7048. Note: no refunds will be made on licences purchased at the full price.
Lost Licences
What to do if you lose your licence:
A duplicate licence must be obtained prior to resuming fishing.
Do not attempt to buy a new licence. You are only allowed one annual angling licence per year.
Go into any provincial Government Agent Office or Licence Vendor (use our search page to find the location and phone number) and request a Statement of Loss of Licence form.
the number and species of fish retained under the authority of all conservation surcharge stamps attached to the lost licence
Pay the fee for a duplicate licence ($10 for a basic annual licence, classified waters licence or conservation surcharge stamp for steelhead or non-tidal salmon, $1 for a basic annual licence for a senior citizen or person with a disability). There is no Habitat Conservation Trust
Fund surcharge on a duplicate licence.
Note that duplicate licences are not available for the One or Eight Day Licences, or conservation surcharge stamps for Kootenay Lake rainbow trout, Shuswap Lake rainbow trout, or Shuswap Lake char.
