Thompson River fishing regulations
Thompson River is a river or stream in Region 3 (Thompson-Nicola), management units 3-13, 3-14, 3-18, 3-28. Here is what the 2025–2027 synopsis says about it, and the regional rules that apply on top.
Rules for Thompson River
Upstream of Kamloops Lake
- Exempt from spring closure
- Rainbow trout daily quota = 2 (none over 50 cm)
Downstream of signs at Kamloops Lake outlet to the confluence with Fraser River
- No Fishing Oct 1-May 31
- Trout/char daily quota = 2 (none under 35 cm)
- Additional opening from the CNR Bridge downstream of Deadman River to CNR Bridge upstream of Bonaparte River, May 1-31; trout/char catch and release and artificial fly only, May 1-31
- Upstream of boundary signs 1 km downstream of Martel: bait ban
- No angling from boats
- Downstream of signs at Kamloops Lake: Class II water Oct 1-Dec 31 and Steelhead Stamp mandatory Oct 1-Dec 31 (when open)
Region 3 quotas
Unless the rules above set a different quota for Thompson River:
- Region 3 daily quotas: Trout/char: 5, but not more than 4 from streams, 1 over 50 cm, 1 bull trout (Dolly Varden) or lake trout, none under 60 cm. You must release all steelhead, bull trout (Dolly Varden) from streams Aug 1-Oct 31, lake trout from Oct 15-Jan 31.
- Bass: 0 quota, closed to fishing. Burbot: 2. Crayfish: 25. Kokanee: 5 (none from streams). Whitefish: 15 (all species combined). White sturgeon: catch and release only. Yellow perch: 0 quota, closed to fishing.
Other Region 3 rules for streams
- Spring closure: No Fishing in any stream in Region 3 from Jan 1-June 30 (see tables for exceptions).
- Single barbless hook: must be used in all streams of Region 3, all year.
- Steelhead fisheries closed: Thompson River downstream of signs at Kamloops Lake outlet to the confluence with Fraser River, Oct 1-May 31; Fraser River from Hwy 99 bridge at Lillooet to BC Hydro tail race outflow channel, and from the confluence with Thompson River to CNR Bridge approximately 1 km downstream, Oct 1-May 31; Nahatlatch River downstream of Nahatlatch Lake and Stein River, Jan 1-May 31; Frances and Hannah lakes, Jan 1-May 31; Seton River downstream of Seton Lake, Apr 1-May 31.
Know your fish
The rules here name these fish. Not sure what you caught?
More waters in the Thompson-Nicola
North Thompson River · South Thompson River · Kamloops Lake · Shuswap Lake · Adams River · Adams Lake · Lac Le Jeune · Roche Lake