The current Fisheries and oceans Salmon Allocation Policy dating to 2018 is undergoing a review to reflect recent court decisions. Proposals have been made to remove the Sport and Recreational sectors priority access to Chinook and Coho and possibly set the Recreational sector to specific allocation which means that once that allocation is deemed to be achieved sport fisheries may be closed. It could see reopening of commercial fishing for coho and chinook in areas that have been closed for many years (ie the Strait of Georgia). The new policy also will very likely effect recreational opportunities in Freshwater.

A Public Discussion Paper has been issued and input from outside the 3 advisory boards is invited. A link as attached below as well as a link to the SFIBC website on the same topic:

FOC Discussion Paper: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/619bf7c1ac6f813814418a02/t/6933cdb473d92158d7bc2bf7/1765002676848/BC+Salmon+Allocation+Policy+Review+Discussion+Paper_05-Dec-25.pdf


Sport Fishing Institute  of BC : https://www.salmonforever.ca/?mc_cid=c1b602e914&mc_eid=1cfce8a56b


 

plus it's closed all fishing from October 15 until July 1 above Othello.

uih I can remember when the season ended Sept 30th but the closure does not start Oct 15 either (though that may have been true at one time)

Quite a complicated set of regs and place names. Here is a direct copy from the current synopsis:


 COQUIHALLA RIVER  2-17
 No Fishing upstream of the northern entrance to the upper most railway tunnel, Nov 1-June 30 (see map on page 24)
 Fly fishing only; bait ban upstream of the northern entrance to the upper most railway tunnel, Jul 1-Oct 31
 No Fishing downstream of the southern entrance to the lower most railway tunnel, Apr 1-Oct 31
 No Fishing at Othello Tunnels from the northern entrance to the upper most railway tunnel to the southern entrance of the lower most tunnel;
approximately 700 m length
 Trout/char (including steelhead) catch and release, bait ban, downstream of the southern entrance to the lower most railway tunnel, Nov

this is very typical for the Coq. and typical to be able to see them. However more often than not it is very hard to get them to strike.


Remember as well above the canyon it is fly fishing only.

plus it's closed all fishing from October 15 until July 1 above Othello.

There was one pool alone that you can see from the highway when driving by that the count in there was 46 fish

this is very typical for the Coq. and typical to be able to see them. However more often than not it is very hard to get them to strike.


Remember as well above the canyon it is fly fishing only.

there are some steelhead fishermen that probably just had an aneurysm reading these posts

That's very good news, assuming it's accurate.

yes it's word of mouth one or 2 times removed from the people who did the count. Mostly these counts don't get published.

Where did you get this information Ralph?

don't recall if this information is published but knowing people inside the ministry and some of the swimmers the information gets talked about. The estimates are wide ranging due to swim conditions that day. There was one pool alone that you can see from the highway when driving by that the count in there was 46 fish. Plus there is no count done of the fish still below the obstruction at Othello and this year there was a number of fish still below it in August when the count was done. Overall it was a very good return for the coquihalla. 

Where did you get this information Ralph?

from a source known to be completely unreliable. LOL!