What a great way to spend four days. The Namgis call the river Gwani. Hotels, lodges, resort properties, bed & breakfasts and budget motels provide beds to fit any visitors budget. Freshwater Fishing on Vancouver Island | Loyal Homes rainbow trout This river has seen some very hard times due to unsustainable logging practices and the steelhead counts were way way down during the 80s and 90s. . Fly Fishing. Having an exciting weekend of adventure with our O, A picture is worth a thousand words See more he, An incredible thing to experience up close! Nimpkish Lake, British Columbia, Canada - LakeLubbers Port McNeill - Tourism Vancouver Island Numerous nearby rivers like the Chemainus, Nanaimo, Little Qualicum, Englishman and Big Qualicum were very popular for winter steelhead fishing. Dry Fly & Sight Fishing for Steelhead & Salmon--Conservation The traditional territory of the 'Namgis people is on the northeastern coast of Vancouver Island, bounded by the watershed of the Nimpkish River and the adjacent marine environment (right).In 1886, the Nimpkish Indian Band ('Namgis First Nation) was allotted a few small reserves totalling less than 600 acres (of . It is of interest that the Gold is managed as a non-hatchery 'catch-and-release' stream and usually produces a catch of 5000 wild steelhead annually. Duncan We were up in Northern Vancouver Island, and I'd been fishing Woss Lake and the Woss River. The Kokish is a great dry fly steelhead river threatened by a "Run of River Hydroelectric Project". Photo: Union of BC Indian Chiefs . Conversely many streams are highly urbanized yet still produce many hundred of wild and hatchery steelhead. For the steelheader Vancouver Island offers unbelievable and unlimited trophy angling opportunity. The dense underbrush in the forest provides little or no area to set up tents. This is the frontier of Vancouver Island, rugged and beautiful. Whether youre photographing the grizzly and black bears or waiting for that elusive shot of a whale breaching, well bring you right to the wildlife hot spots so you can capture all the action. Some are wide and slow moving and many are steep, fast and deep. Youll find large salmon, halibut, ling cod, and more! , and the Kayak to Robson Bight to view killer whales, or watch black bear, deer and river otter from our patio. Experience one of the famed salmon runs and enjoy the natural landscape that British Columbia is protecting and restoring. The Nimpkish river is the largest river on Vancouver island and the legend Roderick Haig-Brown called it The Big One. The provincial Nimpkish River question ? All public lands camping is primitive, with a large number of trails leading from the logging roads to the lakeshore and the surrounding mountains. Pacific Salmon Spawning - Vancouver Island News, Events, Travel Check with the Fish & Wildlife office to obtain current regulations and fish stock status. Fishing - Tourism Vancouver Island The nearly 495-acre Lower Nimpkish Provincial Park protects important natural habitat, including bald eagle nesting areas and habitat for the endangered marbled murrelet, a tree-nesting seabird. It boasts easy access and lots of steelhead. However, in the last few years there has been a dramatic decline in winter steelhead returning to east coast rivers for reasons unknown. There are no facilities available in the park. Contact us for more info. Lower Nimpkish Provincial Park is undeveloped and contains no facilities, but wilderness camping is permitted. The Nimpkish Lake, 25 kilometres in length, attracts canoeists, kayakers and hikers and is popular for recreational fishing. Nimpkish River is located in Northern Vancouver Island, and is the largest river on the Island! Snag a Dolly Varden in Comox Lake or a Steelhead in the Cowichan River, the Fly Fishing Capital of Canada. First Nations - Land Rights and Environmentalism in British Columbia No actual vehicle access to the park exists; visitors must arrive by boat from the boat landing at the Western Forest Product Recreation area near the Nimpkish gas station. Read ourfull disclosure policy. . The first migratory chinooks appear in late May through to August, followed by the sockeye (June to August), pinks (July to August), coho in mid July, northern coho in September, and chum salmon from late August through to October. Winter runs peak late December to late January, but this does vary slightly from year to year depending on conditions. Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Tlakwa Creek area provides vital salmon spawning area and an important winter habitat area for black-tailed deer. Car-top boats can be launched from its sandy beach, a short walk from the road on a Forest Service trail. LakeLubbers will soon offer the ability to advertise a lake vacation rental AND realtors the option to advertise a lake house for sale (or multiple listings). Our interactive Nimpkish Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. 6892 Views 10 Replies 4 Participants Last post by btree, Jan 6, 2013. . Unlike most Vancouver Island Steelhead rivers, this isnt a great river for fly fishing, as its too narrow in most spots until it nears the ocean. Vancouver Island Steelhead rivers are some of the most unique around. There are a few ways to fish this river, and the best way, in my opinion, is by drift boat. Listed as one of BCs top steelhead rivers byBC Outdoor magazine, its definitely one of my favorite Vancouver Island Steelhead Rivers. Visit our LakeLubbers shop for personalized lake apparel, drinkware, home decor items and more! The park can be accessed from the north from the subdivision of Nimpkish Heights, just south of Port McNeill. The impressive Heaven Tree is one of the broadest []. Located on the pristine west coast of Vancouver Island, Moutcha Bay Resort is situated at the mouth of the picturesque Conuma River and only a 40 minute drive from Gold River. Advertising Vancouver Island Steelhead Rivers The water is generally clear, unless its flooding. The North Central Island Region covers a vast area of Vancouver Island and centres around the communities of the Nestled in the rainforests of Northern Vancouver Island, Hidden Cove Lodge is an ocean front, eco-friendly lodge, situated on the Johnstone Strait, 20 minutes from the boardwalk Village of Telegraph Cove. Each community has well organized current sources of information for the visiting angler coordinated by Tourism Vancouver Island. However, due to logjam, launch just west of Kaipit Creek. We make available only the highest quality fly fishing gear at deep discounted prices such as fly fishing rods, fly boxes, waders or wading boots, fly fishing reels, flies, and tackle. Wild steelhead 12 months of the year; over 200 rivers from which to choose, . (250) 746-1425 Concentrate on Richards Channel, Ripple Passage and Bolivar Passage. Lower Nimpkish Provincial Park is located on northern Vancouver Island approximately 5 km south of Port McNeill in the regional district of Mount Waddington. No lodgings are found along Nimpkish Lakes shoreline. A ten-pound Coho's a nice fish, but it's not thatbig. Watch for eagles and wildlife on the shores of the Nimpkish River, or cast a line from a houseboat on Sproat Lake. These were introduced back in the 1930s and they actually took to the system and have survived very well among this ecosystem. The first of the winter run appear September to October but they stay just in the rivers mouth. Many lakes can be reached only by the logging or gravel roads that lead off east and west from Hwy 19. 2023 Tourism Vancouver Island. Two large provincial parks protect portions of the lake and lower river. Marketing Specialists Other popular steelheading rivers in this region include the Quinsam, Heber, Bear and Salmon. The steelhead arent as large as some of the main land rivers, averaging in the 10-15lb range for winter run, but there a few bigger ones lurking around! I decided to move down to the Nimpkish River and try my luck. Those who prefer hot showers and restaurant menus will find plenty to chose from in the area near the coastline. Fly fishing is a great option here as its banks are wide enough to accommodate the long throws. Stop at one of the many tackle shops and marinas in Campbell River for advice on where the fish are biting. North of Campbell River, you'll find good trout and char fishing at Morton Lake Provincial Park. You are allowed to anchor and fish one of the many great spots. Fishermen are warned to be alert for bears who may wish to take their best fly-fishing spot! And it's stunning. Share this Nimpkish Lake article with your fellow LakeLubbers. The majority of the lakes and rivers experience very light fishing pressure due to the isolated nature of the region. As our local anglers are prone to say; "Tight Lines, Silver Smiles and Good Fishing! Walters Cove Resort is a luxurious fishing lodge located in Kyuquot Sound on the remote and rugged northwest coast of Vancouver Island, BC. The river bank is popular for fishing with human anglers and black bears. For the visiting steelheader it is advisable to contact the The Nimpkish River is a river in northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Best way to experience this river ishiring a guideto do a drift. The saltwater fishing in Discovery Passage off Campbell River is legendary. Here you get back to nature with the most amazing fishing, surfing, kayaking, hiking, and camping in British Columbia. The paved road to the north of Vancouver Island travels through some stunning scenery en route to Port McNeill and Port Hardy, the best launch points for anglers fishing the northern half of Vancouver Island. So if youre a fly fisherman or woman make sure to get to the stamp before October, otherwise you might get skunked. Stop and do one of their many amazing hikes if you have the time and desire. Halibut fishing commences in April to June, and continues through the summer to September. Nimpkish Lake is a scenic wonder and a prime destination for windsurfers and fishermen. Blackfish Sound is productive for salmon fishing, offering feeder chinooks throughout the year. prior to fishing to obtain details of these counts and regulations for individual rivers. It has many pristine watersheds with wild populations of steelhead which rarely see an angler or a visitor. Located within the traditional lands of the NamgisKeep scrolling to read more. Steelhead rivers in this area include the largest river on Vancouver Island, the Nimpkish River, supported by good steelheading on the Cluxewe, Keogh, Quatse and Nahwitti Rivers, plus numerous other smaller streams.