Skeena River fishing regulations
Skeena River is a river or stream in Region 6 (Skeena), management unit 6-10. Here is what the 2025–2027 synopsis says about it, and the regional rules that apply on top.
Rules for Skeena River
Skeena River (main entry, management unit 6-10)
- Bait ban
Skeena River (main entry, management unit 6-10)
- There are two separate Class II waters on the Skeena River (non-residents and non-resident aliens require separate licences describing which section they are fishing): (a) from Exchamsiks River to 1.5 km upstream of Kitsumkalum River (known as “Skeena River 2”), July 1-Sept 30; and (b) 1.5 km upstream of Zymoetz River (known as “Skeena River Section 4”), July 1-Dec 31; Steelhead Stamp not mandatory for Skeena River 2 unless fishing for steelhead. Steelhead Stamp is mandatory in Skeena River Section 4 during the Classified Waters period from July 1-Dec 31
- Angling prohibited for non-guided non-resident aliens in Skeena River Section 4 on Saturdays and Sundays in two zones: (a) Shegunia River confluence to Sedan Creek confluence July 1-Dec 31 (See map page 54), and (b) Chimdemash Creek confluence to 1.5 km upstream of Zymoetz River confluence, July 1 - Dec 31, (See map page 55)
- Classified water (CW): a Classified Waters Licence is needed while it is classified (see this water's rows and page 7).
Region 6 quotas
Unless the rules above set a different quota for Skeena River:
- No fishing: in all rivers and streams for steelhead, May 15-June 15. Exemptions include mainstem portions of the Skeena, Nass, Iskut, Stikine and Taku rivers not currently closed under the existing winter/spring closure.
- Region 6 daily quotas: Trout/char: 5, but not more than 1 over 50 cm (quota includes hatchery steelhead), 3 Dolly Varden/bull trout and/or lake trout combined, 1 trout from streams July 1-Oct 31. You must release all Dolly Varden/bull trout from streams all year, trout under 30 cm from any stream, trout of any size from streams Nov 1-June 30, lake trout from Fraser and Skeena watersheds Sept 15-Nov 30, all wild steelhead.
- Kokanee: 10 (none from streams). Whitefish: 15 (all species combined). White sturgeon: closed to all fishing.
Other Region 6 rules for streams
- Bait ban: In the Skeena River, including tributaries, and Nass River, including tributaries, year-round.
- No fishing: in any stream in the watersheds of the Skeena River upstream of Cedarvale or Nass River upstream of Kitsault Bridge, Jan 1-June 15 (Nass River mainstem is EXEMPT and Skeena River mainstem upstream of Cedarvale is only closed Jan 1-May 31). See tables for other exceptions.
- No fishing: in any stream in the Iskut River watershed (upstream of Forest Kerr Canyon), Apr 1-June 30; and in the Fraser River watershed in Region 6, Apr 1-June 30.
- Single barbless hook: must be used in all streams of Region 6, all year.
More waters in the Skeena
Bulkley River · Kispiox River · Babine Lake · Babine River · Lakelse Lake · Lakelse River · Morice River · Kitimat River