The Big Qualicum River is One of the few Vancouver Island Rivers that always has Sea Run Cutthroat Trout somewhere in the system.  Being the First BC River that housed a Specific Hatchery PRogram basically hurt the native runs of fish in the beginning of the so-called management program. However,since the programs were greatly reduced, the river itself and the adjacent raparian areas  have developed into a very dense and wild setting once again. Thus,Trout tend to inhabit the system at various times in great numbers and throughout the entire system at other times.  The down side is that the Hatchery complex itself closes daily operations about 5Pm every day and leaves the Poachers free range to invade the unprotected river. I have had to chase several poachers off the system recently...and this is very disappointing!.
Do take time to fish this wonderful little system and enjoy all of it's wonders.

OCt 18th....
now that the meat hole is open and all the snaggers are about  you will get a chance to get into some fresh Chum and Coho...there is no retention for Coho just yet....but there are good numbers of Coho all throughout the system to the top....There are some mighty fine Chum coming in and very fresh...great for the smoker!


Oct 4th...
CHUM and COHO 

Sept 30th..
With so many fish in the river there are many opportunities to keep a few fish for your freezer or smoker. There are a few Chum and Coho in now with many more to come,,....also for the Trout fishers out there egg patterns and nymphs will do the job very nicely.

Sept...10th
Lots of large fish holding in the Hatchery pool with a few Coho in the Mix.....some fish are going up and you will find them in the Middle section of the River...some above the New Highway Bridge...please observe the regulations...there is a retention quota of fish under 62 cm...only
 
August 19th...
 There are a good number of Chinook in the system now that we have had some rain...the Hatchery folk have opened the gates to allow some fish up into the River itself..no retention and watch for closures...along with these big fish will also be some very big Cutthroat Trout just a waiting for EGGGGSSS

August 16...
There are several dozen Chinook in the big pool(Closed) along with some very big Cutthroat Trout at the Moment. The High Tides will bring in many more fish.Lets hope the Hatchery gets it's Quota early so some fish can be released into the main River...The weather conditions are too hot at the moment ...over stressing these large fish wouldn't be a good thing!




August 11....
I have seen only a couple of Chinook in the hatchery pool above the  walking bridge... before the pool was closed there were some nice Cutties pre-empting the river before the bigger Salmon...typical.
At the Powerline pool above the new highway there are some nice Cutties in the 3 lb range...taken on a double bead Black Stone Fly...and Mickey Finn





July 27.... 
Cutthroat Trout Fishing is really good at the moment in the Big Qualicum River above the Train Trestle pool all the way to the upper river.
Tthere were no big fish coming into the Big Q as of today,although there are some Chinook arriving daily off the mouth of the River,saw several jumping about near Sunny Beach...so,that usually means the season is early but upon us...
Fly fishers can ply their skills in the big pool;s below the hatchery and above the Native fence until August 10,fly fishing only...can be fun..but the water is a bit warm and be careful with these big fish.

July22...
No big fish(Salmon) in the System yet, however, I would suspect the Cutthroat will be moving into the river before their 30 lb. cousins decide it is time to mate...so that can make dry fly and nymph fishing very productive and fun...don't be surprised to see more Pink Salmon that normal coming into the big Q this year if we continue to have little in the way of rain.



July 10... During the past few days there have been more good size Cutties enter the system(up to 4 lbs)...these fish haven't entered the upper River as of yet but will be pushed up once the Chinooks begin to come in likely by the end of the Month..Fly Fishers have the good fortune to be able to fish for the Chinook,C&R only,watch for the reg's posted on the board.

July 5th.......AS usual,the Big Qualicum produces some very fine specimens of the Cutthroat Family and this year seems to be a good year. Some 5 lb. Fish have actually been seen and hooked into as well as released. There is a bait ban on this system....report all poachers...especially the guy with the rubber boots and an attempted  half grown black beard! Big Caddis and Stone Flies are working well as well as Mickey Finn patterns.







June 20...Water levels are slightly above normal and this is good for the fish and the fishers....there have been nice Cutties caught and released up to 4 lbs. recently..on a Bead Head Rolled Muddler and a small Mickey Finn...