The Government of B.C. is suspending angling on select streams due to ongoing warm water temperatures and low flows.
Specific to the Fernie area; Michel Creek, Coal Creek, Lizard Creek, Sand Creek, Kikomun Creek and Morrissey Creek and their tributaries will be closed to angling effective Aug. 15 through Sept. 15. At this time however the Elk River is exempt from the closure.
Virtually all angling in streams and rivers in a geographic area covers a belt of territory across the southern Kootenays geographically south of Nelson, from below Lower Arrow Lake in the west across to the Kootenay River, east of Cranbrook. The closure has been put in place to protect fish stocks at a time when they are vulnerable due to low flows and high water temperatures.
Locals are expecting the Elk river to be overrun with fishing with the above BC closures and Alberta’s Bow river also being closed. The Elk is really one of the only streams open and is deemed to have have sufficient water refuges to adequately protect fish, even with above normal angling pressure.
B.C. government fisheries biologists are monitoring approximately 30 other key angling streams across the province, and if conditions warrant, additional closures are possible. Angling closures are enabled through the British Columbia Sport Fishing Regulations of the federal Fisheries Act.
