Freshwater Fishing

Kitimat River has plenty of fish stocks 12 months of the year with some of the finest steelhead, salmon, and trout fishing in British Columbia! 

 

Rivers in Northwest BC have their own personalities and fishing the meandering Kitimat River offers a unique, quiet serenity and a much needed change of pace. Spring is when steelhead are abundant, which average 8 to 12 pounds. A little later in the season and through the summer is when the powerful chinook salmon get up to 40 pounds.

Freshwater Fishing

Kitimat River has plenty of fish stocks 12 months of the year with some of the finest steelhead, salmon, and trout fishing in British Columbia! 

 

Rivers in Northwest BC have their own personalities and fishing the meandering Kitimat River offers a unique, quiet serenity and a much needed change of pace. Spring is when steelhead are abundant, which average 8 to 12 pounds. A little later in the season and through the summer is when the powerful chinook salmon get up to 40 pounds.

Freshwater Fishing Seasons

 

See below tips and relevant information to plan your freshwater fishing adventure in Kitimat:

Year-round

Trout fishing is bountiful 12 months out of the year.

January - February

What’s Good
Cutthroat and dolly varden are the recommended catches.

 

Water Conditions
Due to winter weather, the Kitimat River will generally be low and clear. 

 

What Else is Good?
Small lures, spinners, flies and bait are all worth trying when fishing for trout. 

March - May

What’s Good 

Steelhead fishing is great from March through April, albeit irregular, peaking in May. 

 

Note: Only Hatchery steelhead fish may be kept because they are products of the Department of Fisheries & Oceans (D.F.O.) Hatchery.

 

Hot Tip 

Chinook (sprint) salmon enter the river late May!

June

What’s Good 

Chinook salmon fishing is the recommended catch although success varies during the first two weeks of the month. Chinook fishing improves in the third week of June and usually continues until the end of the month.  

 

Water Conditions

The Kitimat River is higher now than earlier in the year and can rise very quickly with snow melting, if temperatures rise. 

 

Hot Tip 

Popular chinook salmon lures include Kitimat #65 and #80 and the larger sized spin-n-glos. Large gooey-bobs are also worth trying!

July

What’s Good 

While many fish enter the river on each high tide during this time, Chinook peaks during the first week of July – a month known for good fishing.

 

Dark fish start to show up in catches after the middle of the month. Many pink and chum salmon are also found in the river in July. Late in the month, the occasional early coho is caught.

 

Straggling chinook can still be caught, but it is illegal to kill these fish after July 31.

 

Water Conditions

Fluctuations are expected in July as a result of both snowmelt and rain.

August

What’s Good 

Coho fishing is staggered until the middle of the month when the first good runs begin entering the Kitimat River. Fishing improves steadily towards the end of August, particularly with coho. 

 

Water Conditions

The Kitimat River is generally low and clear during this time. Good rainfalls later in the month will raise the river and bring in fresh runs of coho with every high tide.  

 

Hot Tip

Fishing is best when the river begins to drop and clear after a period of rain.

September

What’s good: 

Coho runs peak in the Kitimat River at the beginning of the month and fishing for these salmon remains excellent through the end of September. During this period, coho starts to darken in colour.  

 

Water Conditions

Generally clear throughout most of this month, though heavy rain at the end of September will raise the water levels and many of the coho will leave the main river and head up their spawning tributaries.

October

What’s Good 

If the heavy rain has not yet 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!

 

Water Conditions

Heavy rains during this period can muddy the river, which makes fishing difficult.

November - December

What’s Good 

Trout fishing remains good during these months and throughout the entire year. There is still a slight chance to catch a coho. 

 

Water Conditions

The Kitimat River is usually fairly high and dirty.

Fishing Hot Spots in Kitimat