Coastal Rainforest · Granite · British Columbia

Squamish & Cheakamus Rivers

Squamish & Cheakamus Rivers terrain map
Terrain map

The Squamish and Cheakamus in the Sea-to-Sky corridor are glacial coastal rivers best fished in the clear, cold months — bull trout (Dolly Varden) chasing salmon fry and eggs, winter steelhead running, cutthroat about, and huge salmon runs (pinks in odd years).

Species

A proper day on the water

River dropping into shape after a lift. Fishing well — get there before it drops out.

The water's warmed to about 16°C, the river's come down about 13cm overnight after a lift, and colouring up with the rain.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for cutthroat trout
Warm — slow
16°C est.ideal 9–15°C
0°14°28°
The full read · show the working · for cutthroat trout · confidence 75%
How the 74 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature81 × 28%22.7
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity70 × 18%12.6
Feeding Time80 × 13%10.4
Pressure75 × 7%5.3
Insect activity48 × 12%5.8
Conditions total= 74
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitymodelled from regional profilemodelled
Conditions
●Live gauge
Level
3.32 m
Water temp
15.8°C
Estimated
Clarity
Coloured
Colouring up
Air temp
17°C
Wind
NE 3 km/h
Calm
Pressure
1022 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 10am

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 11 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Evidence
ModelledModerate confidence

Modelled from regional ecology — no survey or occurrence data for this water yet.

How to fish it · for cutthroat trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Good — water temperature is right today, though insect activity could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2
Mahogany DunHatch
2
2
American March BrownHatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Dolly Varden protected/C&R; wild steelhead C&R; salmon DFO-regulated
  • Verify current BC regs (Region 2) and DFO notices.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The Squamish and Cheakamus in the Sea-to-Sky corridor are glacial coastal rivers best fished in the clear, cold months — bull trout (Dolly Varden) chasing salmon fry and eggs, winter steelhead running, cutthroat about, and huge salmon runs (pinks in odd years). Glacial melt clouds them through summer, so the fly game is autumn through spring, reading clarity and swinging or stripping for the char and steelhead.

Under the surface

The Squamish and its tributary the Cheakamus, in the Sea-to-Sky country north of Vancouver, are glacially-influenced coastal rivers holding bull trout (Dolly Varden), winter steelhead, cutthroat and big salmon runs (including pink in odd years). Glacial melt clouds them in summer; the prime fly window is the clear, cold months when bull trout chase salmon fry and eggs and winter steelhead run.

Wading: Glacial flows, cold water, braided channels, strong current

  • Granite
  • Partly confined
  • Pool riffle
  • Large river
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 January → 31 December
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