New Angling Regulations for Steelhead Fishing in Skeena Tributaries

[MYKISS]

Hey
It looks like the BC Regulations just got a little more complex if you want to fish in Skeena Tributaries like the Kispiox, Babine, Bulkley Morice rivers etc.

Most of the rivers will have "Resident Only Days" like Saturday or Sunday unless of course you pay for a guide so it will be good for guides
Our rivers here are often dominated by Non-residents in peak times and some complaints about overcrowding i think mostly by the guides were raised that caused these changes. The overcrowding issue only happens when rivers blow out and force anglers to the few sections of rivers that are clean. the example brought up in the working groups to develope these restrictions was this case. I fish many of these rivers and often float through 10 kilometers of river and rarely encounter more that 5 other fishing groups.

Note: non-resident anglers mean anglers from other provinces in Canada plus anglers from countries other than Canada

From what i can tell non-residents will be restricted a set number of angler-days for a specific river. but there are several excellent rivers within minutes to an hour of each other so that will only effect the non-residents who have set up long term camps or residences along the rivers.

these changes will be difficult to enforce unless local river guardians take up the charge but that will increase angler conflicts on the river, from what i can tell there were no restrictions to guides on the key rivers.

On April 1, 2012 the following regulation changes will take effect:

Changes to the classification of some rivers from Class 2 to Class 1;
Extensions to the time period when a ‘Classified Waters Licence’ and a ‘Steelhead Conservation Stamp’ are required;
Increases and decreases to the number of days angling guides may operate on some rivers;
Restrictions to angling guides to distribute effort over the Classified Waters period; and
New times and zones for angling by Canadians only, where foreign anglers will be restricted from fishing.

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/skeena/qws/

[Bram's Place]

I know.
As a NRA (Non-Resident ALIEN!!) I'm aware of the changes. I visit the Skeena Tribs since September 1990 each year for 2 weeks in fall with some friends. Normally we arrive on a Saturday, get our truck, shop some groceries and then we go to our rental cabin. We fish 3 or 4 different rivers during 14 day stay. This year we will arrive on a Sunday, fish for 10 days during our 12 stay and go home. So there will be 1 weekend when we are not allowed on Classified Water.
This means we have to hire the cabin for a shorter period and spend only on 10 days CWII instead of 12. And the truck rental will be shorter.
And we need a little less groceries.
So the total price of such a trip is now some $250-300 cheaper!!

[BCBound]

Gotta love a silver lining.

[sixguns]

Depending on the rivers you want to fish, you can hire a guide for the two days on the weekend and continue fishing.

[mudflap]

Too bad they don't restrict JET BOATS instead of visitors.

[rjb222]

Too bad they don't restrict JET BOATS instead of visitors.

The Skeena is too big of a river for this kind of restriction ie there are many runs that can only be reached by boat. A restriction on using boats would only further the crowding in places that can be fished by walking in.

[mudflap]

The original post (and mine) is about tributaries like the Bulkley. I am not talking about restricting boats such as drift-boats, canoes, and pontoon boats: only jet boats. They are noisy, make wakes for wading fishermen, and I am sure put the fishing off for a while after they pass.

[Bram's Place]

The original post (and mine) is about tributaries like the Bulkley. I am not talking about restricting boats such as drift-boats, canoes, and pontoon boats: only jet boats. They are noisy, make wakes for wading fishermen, and I am sure put the fishing off for a while after they pass.

Couldn't agree more!