The Elk River and its tributaries provide world class fishing opportunities and support a thriving fishing recreation industry . To enjoy our wild streams and help keep the fish healthy , it ’ s essential to know fishing regulations and proper fish handling procedures .

The Elk River is a Class II Classified Waters river due to its highly productive trout streams and protecting the unique fishing opportunities . As such two licences are required to fish on the Elk River : # 1 Basic Licence and # 2 Class II Waters Licence . To purchase licences see the Resources section on this map to the right . For planning ahead visit FishFernie . com or use the QR code to find more details on fly fishing , regulations , licences , guides , directions to access points and more .

• No power boats

• All waters : No Fishing April 1 - June 14

• Elk River tributaries : No fishing Sept 1 - Oct 31

NEVER use a barbed hook

Barbed hooks are illegal and drastically increase the negative impacts of fishing . Buy single barbless hooks only , or debarb hooks with pliers .

Wet your hands

Make sure your hands or gloves are wet before touching the fish . This helps keep the protective mucous layer on the fish .

Use a net

Using a rubber net reduces stress on the fish .

Keep fish in the water

Research shows that exhausted and stressed fish have higher mortality rates with increased air exposure .

1 . Boat launches are only for launching or taking out water craft unless otherwise detailed or marked . Share the ramp ! Use in a counter-clockwise direction and only keep vehicle as long as needed to putin or take-out the water craft , then leave the ramp and vehicle turn-around area . Park away from the ramp and the area needed for vehicles with trailers to turn-around and use the boat launch .

2 . Help keep the river clean ! Please pick up after yourself and others when on the river . 3 . Avoid passing other river users on rapids – wait until flatwater to pass . 4 . Give anglers plenty of space to avoid fishing line entanglement . 5 . Look upstream before pulling an anchor . Give moving boats the right of way .

WESTSLOPE CUTTHROAT TROUT Oncorhynchus clarkii

Dark irregular spots , red slash on side of head , spawn in spring

Blue-listed species of special concern

• Bait ban : June 15 - Oct 31

• Single barbless hooks must be used all year

• Trout / Char release : Nov 1 - Mar 31

FISH OF THE ELK RIVER

ROCKY MOUNTAIN WHITEFISH Prosopium williamsoni

Silver with large scales , olive green shade on dorsal fin , spawn in fall

Gently put fish back

Never throw a fish back . Hold one hand on the tail and the other under the belly . Hold the fish underwater , and wait until it swims away .

If you can ’ t unhook it , leave it

If the fish hook is too deep to remove it safely , snip the line and put the fish back .

Be photo ready

Invasive species , such as Zebra mussels , Eurasian milfoil , and whirling disease spread when wet or dirty equipment is transferred between water bodies .

To avoid spread , you must follow the following protocol :

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plants , animals , and mud from all boats and gear . If possible , rinse / pressure wash with 90 C water .

all water from boats , buckets , ballast , etc . onto dry land

all parts of your boat and gear completely .

Have your camera and ruler ready to take a picture to reduce handling time . Make sure fish stay in the water .

BULL TROUT Salvelinus confluentus

Large head and jaws , green to greyish-blue , flanks with yellowish orange spots , no black spots on dorsal fin , spawn in fall

Blue-listed species of special concern

INTERNATIONAL SCALE OF RIVER DIFFICULTY

Class 1 : Easy

Fast moving water with riffles and small waves . Few obstructions , all obvious and easily missed with a little training . Risk to swimmers is slight ; self-rescue is easy .

Class 2 : Novice

Straightforward rapids with wide , clear channels which are evident without scouting . Occasional manoeuvring may be required , but swimmers are seldom injured .

Class 3 : Intermediate

Rapids with moderate , irregular waves which may be difficult to avoid and can swamp a canoe . Good boat control is required . Scouting is strongly advised and inexperienced paddlers are not recommended to attempt without consultation with experts ( see reference section )

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VI

KOKANEE | Oncorhynchus nerka Non-breeding bright silver , dark grey to blue back , dark marks on dorsal fin , during fall spawning crimson red with green head , found in lower Elk below Elko dam

Class 4 : Advanced

Precise boat handling with ability to carry out “ must-make ” manoeuvres is required to avoid powerful and turbulent rapids . Risk of injury is moderate to high , and effective group assistance is often necessary for rescue .

Class 5 : Expert

Extremely long , obstructed , and violent rapids with high risk of injury . Rescue is difficult even for experts . The Elk River does not have accessible class 5 streams .

Class 6 : Extreme

Extreme risk of injury and death .

ROUND PRAIRIE

Wapiti Ski Hill

BOIVIN CREEK

ELK RIVER FISHING , TOURISM FERNIE PHOTO

ELK LAKES FOREST SERVICE ROAD

Boi vin Creek Trail

CLASS II RAPID

Alpine Way

River Trail

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McGaulley ’ s

River Walk Trail

Elkford Boat Launch

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43

CUMMINGS

Josephine Falls

Sulphur Springs

Elk Valley Regional Park

( WILSON ) CREEK

Mat evic Draw Trail

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Take out recommended

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The Big Ranch Conservation Area

LOWER ELK VALLEY RD .

Put in Limited parking Walking only

Elk River Trail

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Red

Cedar Dr

Pine Ave

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SULPHUR SPRINGS RD .

HIGH ROCK BRIDGE

III

MICHEL CREEK

Josephine Falls Trail

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FORDING HIGHWAY

FORDING RIVER

FORDING RIVER

CLASS III IN HIGH WATER

LINE CREEK MINE RD . ( PRIVATE )

LINE CREEK

PASSABLE BY PORTAGE ONLY

TO ALBER TA

GRAVE LAKE

Glaciers carved out the U-shaped Elk Valley . Today the headwaters of the Elk River have retreated to Elk Lakes Provincial Park in the fragmented glaciers of the Petain , Castleneau , Elk and Abruzzi glaciers .

The flow of the Elk River is driven by snow melt peaking in late spring between mid-May and mid-June .

BLUE HERON

Threatened species that can be seen along the Elk River are : Western toad , Great blue heron , American bittern , Western painted turtle , olive – sided flycatcher , fisher , and grizzly bear .

The Elk River bisects three biogeoclimatic zones : Montane Spruce is in two locations , from Elkford to just past Sparwood and 5 kms upstream of Elko ; Interior-Cedar Hemlock 20 km downstream of Sparwood to near the tunnel south of Morrissey and Interior Douglas Fir downstream of Elko .

The Elk River is a “ free stone ” or gravel bed river made up of shifting pebble , cobble and boulders on a bed of gravel , sand , silt and clay .

FISHING SPARWOOD HENRY GEORGI PHOTO

ELK LAKES PROVINCIAL PARK

Each season June-Sept , team members from the AmbassadorWILD program help maintain , collect data , educate users and conduct surveys at key locations along the Elk River and in the valley . This award-winning not-forprofit sustainable tourism program developed by Tourism Fernie , with inaugural funding support from RDEK , TECK , Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC , and the Province of BC , helps with long-term decision making and stewardship in partnership with the Elk River Alliance .

Learn more or become an AWILD partner or funder ! AmbassadorWILD . com

RAFTING , GUIDING , GEAR , RIVER EXPERTISE , BOAT RENTALS

Board Stiff : 542 2nd Ave , Fernie , 250-423-3473 Canyon Raft Co : Canyonraft . com , Fernie , 250-423-7226 Edge of the World : 421B 2 Ave Fernie , 250-423-9292 Elk River Guiding Company : 791 7th Ave , Fernie , 250-423-7239 Fernie Wilderness Adventures : 742 Highway 3 ( Park Place Lodge ), Fernie , 250-423-6704 Gear Hub : 401 1st Ave , Fernie , 250-423-5555 Kootenay Fly Shop : 821 7th Ave , Fernie , 1-877-423-4483 Tunnel49 : t49 . ca , Fernie 250-423-5008

FISHING LICENSES :

Elkford Mini Mart & Fas Gas : 60 Alpine Way , Elkford , 250-865-2415 Elk Valley Precision and Cab Inc .: 719 Douglas Fir Road , Sparwood , 250-425-0083 Service BC : Greenwood Shopping Mall Suite 96 , 101 Red Cedar Dr ., Sparwood , 250-425-6890

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Class 2 | 6.5 km | ~ 2 hours

This section has lots of gravel , with plenty of woody debris which requires careful manoeuvring . It is only appropriate for intermediate and advanced paddlers .

Put In : Various access unmarked spots along the river to put-in at . No formal launch point .

Take Out : A spacious gravel area to pull-out of the river with vehicle access and parking .

Fishing Regs : Keep one ( 1 ) tout / char > 30 cm per day

IV +

Sparwood Esso : 111 Aspen Drive , Sparwood , 250-425-2118 Sparwood Heights Food Store : 105- 1290 Ponderosa Dr , Sparwood , 250-425-2535 Elk River Guiding Company : 791 7th Ave , Fernie , 250-423-7239 Fernie Wilderness Adventures : 742 Highway 3 ( Park Place Lodge ), Fernie , 250-423-6704 Kootenay Fly Shop : 821 7th Ave , Fernie , 1-877-423-4483 Service BC : 401 4 Ave ( Courthouse ), Fernie , 250-423-6845 Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC : Gofishbc . com

VISITOR INFORMATION :

Elkford Visitor Centre : 750 Fording Dr , Elkford , 250-865-4015 Sparwood Visitor Centre : 141 Aspen Dr , Sparwood , 250-425-2423 Fernie Visitor Centre : 102 Commerce Rd , Fernie , 778-519-0748

www . elkford . ca www . sparwood . ca www . tourismfernie . com

Class 4 + | 21.5 km | ~ 6 + hours

Large long-term logjams and larger rapids make this section completely impassable for boats and very hazardous for expert paddlers . This section is NOT recommended .

Fishing Regs : Keep one ( 1 ) tout / char > 30 cm per day

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Scan the QR code important information on how to access the river , parking and river classifications .

Class 2 + | 18 km | ~ 4 hrs

In high water , a section above the CP rail bridge by Sparwood becomes a Class 3 rapid , which can be difficult to navigate .

Put In : A vehicle accessible boat launch with ample parking .

Take Out : The Sparwood Hand Launch is not vehicle accessible , with limited parking . Access to the river is a steep hill by foot only .

Fishing Regs : Trout / Char catch and release only

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Class 2 | 13.5 km | ~ 3 hrs

Some Class 2 rapids require careful navigation , but generally this section is appropriate for experienced canoers , kayakers , and SUPers .

Put In : The Sparwood Hand Launch is not vehicle accessible , with limited parking . Access to the river is a steep hill by foot only .

Take Out : A spacious take-out area on river left with vehicle access on a natural pebble shore , parking only in upper area off the shoreline .

Fishing Regs : Keep one ( 1 ) tout / char > 30 cm per day

DISCLAIMER : Tourism Fernie , the Elk River Alliance and / or its partners are not responsible for the accuracy of the information provided on this Map . Extensive efforts are made with river operators and partners to keep the content as accurate as possible at the time of production , but the river is dynamic and can change at any given time .