Nanaimo River

River Vancouver Island Crown Land (Free)

About this spot

Nanaimo River is a river 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 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 Nanaimo River

Nanaimo River 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.

Nanaimo River · MU 1-5

No Fishing July 15-Aug 31
No Fishing from power line crossing at “Bore Hole” upstream to fishing boundary signs at the mouth of Boulder Creek
No Fishing from the Cedar Road Bridge upstream to the Hwy 19 bridge, Sept 1-Oct 15
No Fishing upstream of the Hwy 1 bridge, Dec 1-May 31
Artificial fly only upstream of the westernmost of the two Nanaimo Lakes, known locally as “Second” Lake, including tributaries
Engine power restriction on parts - 7.5 kW (10 hp)

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 →

Nearest snow station: Heather Mountain Upper (1,190 m, 46 km away), 20 cm on November 2.

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.