Canada has salmon on both coasts: five Pacific species running BC’s great rivers, wild Atlantic salmon in the East, plus landlocked Atlantics and kokanee inland. This guide breaks down every species, the famous rivers, run timing, and the rules — which differ enormously between coasts.
Canada has salmon on both coasts: five Pacific species running BC’s great rivers, wild Atlantic salmon in the East, plus landlocked Atlantics and kokanee inland. This guide breaks down every species, the famous rivers, run timing, and the rules — which differ enormously between coasts.
| Fishery | Best Methods | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BC saltwater | Downrigger trolling — anchovy/hootchy behind a flasher | Chinook deep (20–60 m), coho shallower. Charters make this easy. |
| BC rivers | Float fishing roe, twitching jigs, spoons, fly gear | Timing is everything — fish the run peaks. |
| Atlantic salmon rivers | Fly only in most waters — wet flies and bombers | Mostly catch-and-release; licences often river-specific. |
| Kokanee / landlocked | Small dodger + wedding ring or hootchy, trolled slow | Great eating; strong BC and Okanagan-area fisheries. |
June–July: early chinook and sockeye enter BC rivers; Atlantic salmon runs begin in NB/QC/NL. August: peak sockeye and pinks (odd years); prime saltwater coho. September–October: big fall chinook, coho in the rivers, and late Atlantic runs.
Salmon are Canada’s most tightly regulated fish. In BC, tidal (DFO) and freshwater licences are separate, and openings change in-season by stock. Atlantic salmon fishing is fly-only and catch-and-release in most of Eastern Canada. Check: Alberta · British Columbia · Manitoba · New Brunswick · Newfoundland & Labrador · Nova Scotia · Ontario · Prince Edward Island · Quebec · Saskatchewan, and see the licence guide.
Get a 7-day bite forecast for your lake, offline regulations for every province, and AI-powered fishing advice — all in one app. Free for the 2026 season.