Photo : Maksim Sokolov (maxergon.com), CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
British Columbia
Province, Canada. Authority : B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship - Fish and Wildlife (freshwater); Fisheries and Oceans Canada for tidal waters and salmon.
2025 rules, checked on 23 September 2026.
- Licence
- CA$91.44Non-resident alien annual
- Calendar lines open on
- 123 September 2026
- Minimum sizes
- 60 cmLake trout / bull trout (Region 3)
Useful gear for this area
Chosen from the species and size limits regulated in this area.
Responsible gearBacklit Digital Hanging Scale 50 kgTo check the minimum size: Brown trout 60 cm here.
€32.90£28.90Not shipped to the United States
Finesse Soft Lures 12 cm, Pack of 15For : zander, walleye, european perch · soft plastic lure fishing
€30.90£16.90Not shipped to the United States
Camouflage Nylon Line, Light Blue, 1,000 mFor : roach, common bream, common carp · float fishing (waggler and stick float)
€30.90£14.90Not shipped to the United States
2025 season calendar
spring closure: no fishing in any stream Jan 1 - June 30 (exceptions in tables); lakes generally open all year
lake trout must be released Oct 15 - Jan 31
all must be released from streams April 1 - May 15
Solid bars: fishing allowed. Yellow line: today.
Minimum sizes
| Species | Minimum size | 0–60 cm |
|---|---|---|
| Lake trout / bull trout (Region 3)4 max 1 bull trout or lake trout, none under 60 cm | 60 cm | |
| Walleye (Region 7B Zone B)5 only 1 over 70 cm (27.6 in) | not published | |
| Northern pike (Region 7B Zone B)5 only 1 over 90 cm (35.4 in) | not published |
To check the minimum size: Brown trout 60 cm here. Backlit Digital Hanging Scale 50 kg €32.90£28.90Not shipped to the United States
Bag limits
| Species | Fish you may keep |
|---|---|
| Trout/char combined (Region 3)4 not more than 1 over 50 cm; all wild steelhead released; possession = 2 daily quotas | 5 per day |
| Walleye (Region 7B Zone B)5 | 3 per day |
| Northern pike (Region 7B Zone B)5 | 3 per day |
| Lake trout (Region 7B Zone B)5 within trout/char 5 | 2 per day |
Licence
| Licence | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| B.C. resident basic freshwater fishing licence - annual1 | annual (licence year April 1 - March 31) | CA$41.15 |
| B.C. resident annual1 | annual | CA$41.15 |
| B.C. resident one-day1 | 1-day | CA$11.43 |
| B.C. resident eight-day1 | 8-day | CA$22.86 |
| B.C. resident annual 65+1 | annual | CA$5.71 |
| B.C. resident annual - fee reduction program for residents with disabilities1 | annual | CA$1.14 |
| Non-resident (Canadian) annual1 | annual | CA$62.87 |
| Non-resident (Canadian) one-day1 | 1-day | CA$22.86 |
| Non-resident (Canadian) eight-day1 | 8-day | CA$41.15 |
| Non-resident alien annual1 | annual | CA$91.44 |
| Non-resident alien one-day1 | 1-day | CA$22.86 |
| Non-resident alien eight-day1 | 8-day | CA$57.14 |
| Steelhead conservation surcharge stamp - resident (required to fish for steelhead anywhere, tax not incl.)2 | annual | CA$28.57 |
| Steelhead conservation surcharge stamp - non-resident / non-resident alien2 | annual | CA$68.57 |
| Non-tidal salmon conservation surcharge stamp - resident (to keep salmon)2 | annual | CA$17.14 |
| Non-tidal salmon conservation surcharge stamp - non-resident / alien2 | annual | CA$34.29 |
| Kootenay Lake / Shuswap Lake rainbow trout stamp - resident2 | annual | CA$11.43 |
| Kootenay Lake / Shuswap Lake rainbow trout stamp - non-resident2 | annual | CA$22.86 |
Buy the licence on www2.gov.bc.ca
- Ages and exemptions1
- B.C. residents under 16 need no licence or stamps and keep their own quota. Non-residents under 16 may fish without a licence if accompanied by a licence holder 16+ (catch counts in holder's quota). B.C.-resident First Nations individuals eligible under the Indian Act need no licence. Residents 65+ pay a reduced annual fee ($5.71).
Water categories
Classified Waters (Class I / Class II) require an additional Classified Waters Licence during specified periods.
Good to know
Regulations run on a 2-year cycle (Synopsis 2025-2027, effective April 1, 2025 - March 31, 2027). 9 regions (1 Vancouver Island, 2 Lower Mainland, 3 Thompson-Nicola, 4 Kootenay, 5 Cariboo, 6 Skeena, 7A Omineca, 7B Peace, 8 Okanagan), each with regional regulations and water-specific exceptions. Steelhead stamp required to fish for steelhead anywhere; non-tidal salmon stamp to retain salmon; tidal waters need a separate DFO tidal licence. Licences sold online in WILD (FWID profile) since the 2026-27 licence year. Bass and perch fishing illegal in Thompson-Nicola region.
What the authority does not publish
Points we could not find in the official texts: check with the authority.
- Licence fee page shows no explicit year (page updated 2026-09-17; assumed current 2026-27 licence year)
- Classified Waters Licence fees not extracted
- Only Regions 3 and 7B detailed
Rules change every year and can be amended during the season. Before fishing, check the text in force with the authority listed.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a fishing licence in British Columbia in 2025?
The “Non-resident alien annual” licence costs CA$91.44 (annual). Other options and prices are in the table above, with the official source.
What is the minimum size for brown trout in British Columbia?
Brown trout: 60 cm. Any smaller fish must be released immediately.
Official sources
- Recreational freshwater fishing licences (updated Sept 17, 2026) (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- Conservation surcharges (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- 2025-2027 BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- Region 3 Thompson-Nicola (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- Region 7B Peace (accessed on 23 September 2026)
Last checked : 23 September 2026.