Columbia River fishing regulations
Columbia River is a river or stream in Region 4 (Kootenay), management units 4-15, 4-26, 4-34, 4-38, 4-8. Here is what the 2025–2027 synopsis says about it, and the regional rules that apply on top.
Rules for Columbia River
- No Fishing from Revelstoke Dam downstream to Hwy 1 bridge in Revelstoke
- No Fishing from a line between the old Robson Ferry landing and a sign on the south river bank, downstream approximately 950 m to the CPR Bridge, Mar 1-June 30
- Where angling is permitted: EXEMPT from the regional Nov 1-Mar 31 trout/char catch and release and the regional Apr 1-June 14 closure
- Bass daily quota = unlimited
- Kokanee daily quota = 15 from Keenleyside Dam to a line between the old Robson Ferry landing and a sign on the south river bank
- Walleye daily quota = 16 from Keenleyside Dam to the Washington state border
- From Keenleyside Dam downstream to the Washington state border and connected reaches: the Kootenay River (Columbia River confluence to Brilliant Dam) and the Pend d’Oreille River (Columbia River confluence to Waneta Dam): Northern pike daily quota = unlimited and bass daily quota = unlimited
- Burbot catch and release
- Speed restriction (10 km/h) from Mud Lake to Columbia Lake, no power boats in wetlands, no towing and engine power restriction - 15 kW (20 hp), in main channel from Fairmont to Donald
- See Upper Arrow Lake for the portion of the Columbia River which may be found downstream of the Hwy 1 bridge in Revelstoke (depending on reservoir level)
Region 4 quotas
Unless the rules above set a different quota for Columbia River:
- Trout/char release: in streams from Nov 1-Mar 31 (see tables for additional dates or exceptions).
- Region 4 daily quotas: Trout/char: 5, but not more than 1 rainbow trout or cutthroat trout over 50 cm, 2 from streams, 1 bull trout (Dolly Varden) of any size.
- Bass: 0 quota, closed to fishing. Crayfish: 25. Kokanee: 15 (none from streams), no more than 5 over 30 cm. Northern pike, walleye, yellow perch: 0 quota, closed to fishing (see tables for exceptions). White sturgeon: closed to fishing (no exceptions). Whitefish: 15 (all species combined).
Other Region 4 rules for streams
- No Fishing: in any stream in Region 4 from Apr 1-June 14 (see tables for additional closed times or exceptions).
- Single barbless hook: must be used in all streams of Region 4, all year.
Know your fish
The rules here name these fish. Not sure what you caught?
More waters in the Kootenay
Kootenay Lake · Kootenay River · Upper Arrow Lake · Lower Arrow Lake · Elk River · St. Mary River · St. Mary Lake · Moyie Lake