BC Freshwater, Province of BC, not DFO

Find your lake or river

Type a name, "Vedder River," "Alouette Lake," whatever you're headed to, and get its specific rules directly. No region to pick first. Searching 1,209 named waterbodies with a published exception to the province-wide default rules.

You need a licence before you fishLakes, rivers & streams (trout, char, kokanee): get a BC freshwater fishing licence (Province of BC).

Not listed here yet? Only waterbodies with a published exception to the default regional rules are searchable. If your water isn't found, the region's standard limits apply.

Looking for salmon in a river or stream, not trout, char, or kokanee? Salmon stay under DFO's federal licence even in fresh water, so see DFO's river salmon rules instead.

Browse instead of searching

Every one of the 1,209 waterbodies above, grouped by region, plus what to actually throw at each species once you get there.

Species & bait tipsVancouver IslandLower MainlandThompsonKootenayCaribooSkeenaOminecaPeaceOkanagan

Current closures & advisories

Skeena Steelhead Recreational Fishery Update – 2026 Season (PDF, 151KB)
Recreational Fishing Opportunities in Skeena Watershed: Gitxsan Closure Notice Update (PDF, 215KB)
Fraser River Sturgeon Closures (PDF, 725KB)
Provincial Fisheries Management: Drought Response Plan (PDF, 1MB)

Built from Government of Canada (DFO / ECCC) and Province of BC public data. This is a plain-language summary, not the regulation itself. Always confirm at the linked source before you fish. Back to Arnold's Outpost