Chilcotin River

River Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Crown Land (Free)

About this spot

Chilcotin River is a river located in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast 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 Chilcotin River

Chilcotin River is in fishing Region 5 (Cariboo). 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.

Chilcotin River · MU 5-12, 5-13, 5-14

No Fishing upstream of Chilko River, Apr 1-June 30
No Fishing downstream of Chilko River, Oct 1-June 10
No trout/char under 30 cm downstream of Chilko River
No hooks greater than 15 mm from point to shank, Oct 1-May 31; bait ban
No angling from powered boats
Downstream of Chilko River: Class II water Oct 1-May 31 and Steelhead Stamp mandatory Oct 1-May 31 (if opened for fall or spring fishing; see Notice on page 42)

Region 5 daily quotas

Trout/char: 5, but not more than 1 over 50 cm, 2 from streams, 1 Dolly Varden/bull trout and 2 lake trout. Release all steelhead, lake trout Oct 1-Nov 30, and bull trout from streams Aug 1-Oct 31.
Bass: 0 quota, closed to all fishing
Burbot: 5
Kokanee: 5 (none from streams)

All Region 5 quotas, closed and aerated lakes →

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.