Elk River

River Kootenay Rockies Crown Land (Free)

About this spot

Elk River is a river located in the Kootenay Rockies area of British Columbia. This waterbody sits on British Columbia Crown land open to anglers holding a valid BC fishing licence. British Columbia's rivers and streams provide excellent fishing for Pacific salmon, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout.

Location

Fish Species

No species reported for this spot yet.

Winter fishing on Elk River

Elk River is in fishing Region 4 (Kootenay). 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.

Elk River (upstream of Elko Dam) (upstream of Elko Dam) · MU 4-2, 4-23

Bait ban, June 15-Oct 31
Trout/char catch and release June 15-Oct 31: from Lower Elk Lake to Forsyth Cr, from Line Creek Bridge to CPR Bridge at Sparwood, from Hwy 3 bridge at Hosmer to the northern Hwy 3 bridge at Fernie, and from the bridge at Morrissey to Elko Dam
All other parts: trout/char daily quota = 1 (none under 30 cm), June 15-Oct 31
Bull trout catch and release
Electric motor only - max 7.5 kW
Class II water when open, including tributaries

Elk River (downstream of Elko Dam) (downstream of Elko Dam) · MU 4-2

Trout/Char daily quota = 1 (no cutthroat under 30 cm, no bull trout under 75 cm) and bait ban, June 15-Oct 31
Electric motor only - max 7.5 kW
Class II water when open, including tributaries

Region 4 daily quotas

Trout/char: 5, but not more than 1 rainbow or cutthroat trout over 50 cm, 2 from streams and 1 bull trout (Dolly Varden) of any size.
Bass: 0 quota, closed to fishing (see tables for exceptions)
Burbot: 2
Crayfish: 25

All Region 4 quotas, closed and aerated lakes →

Nearest snow station: Morrissey Ridge (1,860 m, 33 km away), 6 cm on November 5.

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.