The cowichan river
The Cowichan River flows from Lake Cowichan on southern Vancouver Island, eastward to meet the Salish sea. It is the most nutrient rich river on the island and holds an extremely healthy population of rainbow trout, along with migratory cutthroat and large browns. Coho, Chum, and Chinook salmon return in good numbers each fall, and the winter is host to one of the better runs of wild winter steelhead in southern BC. It is a truly iconic fishery. I grew up fishing this river and it is still my favorite place to be. Many of my best memories are on this river and it continues to teach me something every day. Having the opportunity to share my passion for this beautiful river and its fish with others still has me excited to launch my boat every morning.
spring
Spring might well be my favorite time of year on the Cowichan. The days are finally warm again and the river really comes to life. Bugs are hatching, redwing black birds sing in the willows all day and the newly sprung leaves decorate the banks of the river in vibrant greens. Rainbows are feeding aggressively on caddis, mayfly, and stonefly nymphs and occasionally key in on a march brown hatch for some awesome dry fly fishing. By the end of March, when the salmon fry emerge from the gravel bars, the river’s big brown trout become real predators and a day of streamer fishing is thrilling, action packed, and possibly the fishery I look forward to the most each year.
autumn
Fall in the Cowichan Valley is a magical time of year. The mist rising from the river each morning among the gold and orange maples, vibrant against the deep green of the firs, is something you just must see for yourself. As the days slowly become shorter, salmon flood up the river. First are the Chinook, then the Chum, and finally the Coho, the run lasting all the way from September into early January. While the salmon are on their redds, the trout know it is feeding time. Large rainbows, many in excess of 20 inches, migrate down from the lake to gorge themselves. Cutthroats join them along with the browns, and even the largest trickiest fish become easily fooled by a well-presented fly.
winter
Although winter can be a bit unforgiving at times, it is every bit as beautiful as spring and fall, with light snow often decorating the rainforest and glistening icicles hanging over the river’s banks. Fishing in winter can be extremely rewarding to those who put in a little time and determination. Finally feeling that powerful tug from a wild steelhead, fresh from the ocean, is inexpressibly exciting. The Cowichan is not the easiest river on which to catch a steelhead with a swung fly, but the rewards are worth all the effort. To the die hard trout angler, the winter season can be challenging, but fish hard and you will find that the quality of fish during this time is worth the cold and the slower action. The browns are feeding consistently on stone flies and the larger resident rainbows sport colours that remind one of the famous leopard rainbows of Alaska.