Cowichan steelhead seem to spawn a bit earlier than most island rivers I have fished. I suspect the warmer water coming out of the lake speeds up the maturation process a bit. Anyways it has been my observation that kelts start showing up around the beginning of March and the quality of the steelhead fishing quickly goes down hill in the month of march. Are there still bright fish to be found, yes, but should people be hammering away trying to find the odd bright fish mixed in with all the coloured and spawned out fish? I stop fishing the Cowichan around the middle of March because of the prevalence of coloured and spawned out fish. I see no reason whatsoever to be fishing for steelhead in April on the Cowichan.
When the river was full of fish it didn't matter. The river is no longer full of fish and it might be prudent to try and save the fishery now rather than wait until we have another gold river on our hands.
When the river was full of fish it didn't matter. The river is no longer full of fish and it might be prudent to try and save the fishery now rather than wait until we have another gold river on our hands.