Cowichan Lake

Lake Vancouver Island Crown Land (Free)

About this spot

Cowichan Lake is a lake located in the Vancouver Island area of British Columbia. This waterbody sits on British Columbia Crown land open to anglers holding a valid BC fishing licence. British Columbia's crown land lakes support a diverse range of species including rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, kokanee, and northern pike.

Location

Fish Species

No species reported for this spot yet.

Ice fishing on Cowichan Lake

Cowichan Lake is in fishing Region 1 (Vancouver Island). BC has no separate ice fishing season, so the regular rules apply through the ice: the 2025-2027 synopsis lists rules of its own for this water, shown below, on top of the regional quotas.

Cowichan Lake (including Bear Lake) (including Bear Lake) · MU 1-4

Cutthroat No Fishing trout upstream daily quota of the = Quatse 2 (none River over fishway 50 cm); (approximately bait ban and single 1.4 km barbless upstream hook, of Dick Nov Booth 15-Apr Creek), 15 Dec 1-June 15
Speed Bait ban, restriction May 1-Nov on 30 parts (8 km/h), plus overall 10 km/h speed restriction within 60 m of shore

Region 1 daily quotas

Trout: 4, but not more than 1 over 50 cm (2 hatchery steelhead over 50 cm allowed) and 2 from streams (must be hatchery). Release all wild steelhead, all wild trout from streams and all char, Dolly Varden included.
Bass: unlimited
Crayfish: 25
Kokanee: 5 (none from streams)

All Region 1 quotas, closed and aerated lakes →

On the ice anywhere in BC

Ice fish with one line and one lure, artificial fly or other terminal attractor.
You are legally responsible for warning other people of your ice hole.
Remove your ice hut before ice breakup.

Nearest snow station: Heather Mountain Upper (1,190 m, 16 km away), 21.5 cm on November 1.

Source: BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis 2025-2027, matched to this water by name and management unit. Check in-season changes on the same page. No regulation makes ice safe: test it yourself. Ice fishing in BC guide.