Interior Stillwater

The famous stillwater belt: Kamloops, Tunkwa, Nicola and the Shuswap. Chironomid country, with tackle shops and a deep report community.

What's working now

Chrome Catchers' September 24 Peter Hope report found kokanee scattered 40-60 ft down along the west shore and south end. Gold wiggle hoochies and a pink 3D-printed flatfish trolled through the sounder marks went untouched for 2.5 hours, even after lure changes. Switching to chironomid jigging in 60 ft of water at the south end produced very light bites on a slow retrieve, one 2.7 lb kokanee landed and a couple lost. More than a dozen subtle takes were hard to convert. This is September evidence, not a new October catch report.

Sources: Chrome Catchers lake report - thank you to these sources for their updates. Further details in the linked reports.

Latest reports

Sep 24

Peter Hope Lake: tough bite - fish scattered 40-60 ft along the west side and south end; 2.5 hours of trolling wiggle hoochies and 3D-printed flatfish for nothing, then jigging chironomids in 60 ft on the south end saved the day with a 2.7 lb kokanee and over a dozen light bites.

Source: Chrome Catchers lake report, Sep 24 2026.

Jul 22

McConnell Lake: fast kokanee limits - fish stacked at the east end near the island and in front of the launch, marking 25-35 ft; pink wiggle hoochie behind a 4-inch bendable dodger the top producer; fin clips showing stocked 2024/2025 fish, bigger ones 1.25-1.5 lb.

Source: Chrome Catchers lake report, Jul 22 2026.

Jul 21

Stake Lake: quick kokanee limit - swing tail dodgers with a pink wiggle hoochie and a 3D-printed pink flatfish down about 15 ft at 1 mph; kokanee 11-13 inches; rainbows smashing a black-and-red chironomid right off the fishing dock.

Source: Chrome Catchers lake report, Jul 21 2026.

Weather, wind and water

Environment Canada weather forecastKamloops
DFO openings + closuresRegion 3 - Thompson-Nicola
Summarized limits by species for each area - Region 3 - Thompson-Nicola (tap to open)
Waters (in-season now)SpeciesWindowLimit / gear
Bridge RiverAllApr 1 to Mar 31No fishing for salmon
Clearwater RiverAllApr 1 to Mar 31No fishing for salmon
Fraser River - In that portion of the Fraser River from the confluence with the Seton River downstream to the fishing bo...SockeyeApr 1 to Mar 31To be determined
 PinkApr 1 to Mar 31No fishing for pink
Kamloops LakePinkApr 1 to Mar 31No fishing for pink
 CohoApr 1 to Mar 31No fishing for coho
 SockeyeApr 1 to Mar 31To be determined
Little Shuswap Lake - see South Thompson RiverSockeye
South Thompson River - From the green can buoy near outlet of Little River, including Little Shuswap Lake, to the fishing white ...PinkApr 1 to Mar 31No fishing for pink
 CohoApr 1 to Mar 31No fishing for coho
 SockeyeApr 1 to Mar 31To be determined
Thompson River - From Kamloops Lake outlet downstream to the fishing boundary signs just downstream of Gold Pan Provincial...PinkApr 1 to Mar 31No fishing for pink
 ChinookApr 1 to Mar 31To be determined
 CohoApr 1 to Mar 31No fishing for coho
 SockeyeApr 1 to Mar 31To be determined
From the white triangle fishing boundary signs just downstream of Gold Pan Provincial Park to the easterl...PinkApr 1 to Mar 31No fishing for pink
 CohoApr 1 to Mar 31No fishing for coho
 SockeyeApr 1 to Mar 31To be determined
River levels
  • Thompson River - Kamloops (08LF023): Loading current reading...
Stockingtype a lake - what went in, when, how many

Live from the provincial stocking database - type a lake name for its recent stocking history.

Coming up on the water

November 2026

December

January

Ice safety: be confident about ice thickness before going out on any ice. Check it yourself, in several spots, every trip - ice varies lake to lake and day to day, and no report can tell you it is safe. When in doubt, stay off.

In the news - noteworthy reads

Updated daily

Guides, charters, lodges and local tackle shops

Free listings - local guides, charters, lodges and independent tackle shops serving this region. No paid placement or implied endorsement.

Riseform FlyfishingGuide - Thompson. Guided stillwater fly fishing. Interior Fly Fishing Co.Guide - Kamloops. Guided Thompson-region stillwater.The Fly Shop at Domenic's MarineTackle shop - Kamloops. Fly rods, reels, flies and tying supplies at Domenic's Marine.TW OutdoorsTackle shop - Kelowna. Formerly Trout Waters Fly & Tackle; fly-fishing and outdoor gear.

Run a guide, charter, lodge or independent local tackle shop in this region? Get listed free: [email protected]

Tips and techniques - by species

Rainbow trout

Kokanee

Exceptional returns and ocean signals

AI-generated summaries · checked October 14, 2026. Dated evidence, not live counts or fishing advice.

2024 series standout: Coldwater River (Lillooet) Coho

Coldwater River (Lillooet) Coho: DFO's final 2024 estimate was 13,225 natural adult spawners (excluding jacks), the highest of 16 final reported values in this selected 2006-2024 series. This is a within-series comparison, not an all-time or region-wide record. Survey changes and missing years limit comparisons.

AI-generated calculation from NuSEDS June 1, 2026 snapshot. Population 46190. See chart for methods, quality and gaps.

DFO NuSEDS source and dictionary

Fish recovery and kokanee projects

AI-generated summaries · checked October 14, 2026. Project goals, completed work and measured results are kept separate. These notes do not change fishing rules.

Interior lakes: kokanee stocking continues

Intent: Stocked-lake programs support recreational fisheries; stocking is separate from restoring a wild spawning population.

Progress: FFSBC release records include kokanee stocked into McConnell near Kamloops, Alleyne near Merritt and Dutch near Clearwater in May 2026.

Results: A release record confirms fish were put into a lake. It does not count survivors, adult returns or a future catch.

Source: Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, May 2026 release records. Checked October 14, 2026. AI-generated original factual summary.

FFSBC dated lake release records

Salmon returns analysis and hatchery data by region

DFO data · AI-generated summaries

Choose a salmon species and river. Each bar shows one year: taller means more fish. The latest reported year is orange. These are selected monitored populations, not a complete regional census.

Checked October 14, 2026. Annual history: NuSEDS June 1, 2026 snapshot, with population-specific latest years up to 2025. This is not a live 2026 return estimate. Gaps are not zero; reported DFO estimates are not invented counts.

Loading species charts...

Hatchery plans and reported production

2026 brood plan dated August 18, 2026. Many plan rows are Preliminary. Release timing depends on species and stage; a brood year is not a return year. Post-season reports dated February 19, 2026 cover 2023 and 2024 broods. The 2024 cohort has incomplete smolt releases. Juvenile output is not adult return, marine survival or proof of recovery.

Shuswap Falls Hatchery - young salmon releases

Chinook

2023 released
706,082
2024 released
636,862
2026 plan
807,000

Young salmon by brood year. 2024 is incomplete. Orange: 2026 primary release plan, not actual.

Reported releases only; some source rows are blank.

DFO figures and notes

2026 brood primary release target: 807,000 juveniles. Stages: Eyed Egg, Fed Fry, Smolt 0+. Objectives: Assessment, Rebuilding. Plan row status: Final, Preliminary. Transfers and alternate strategies excluded from this target.

2023 brood: reported actual releases 706,082. On rows with both numbers, 706,082 released against 700,000 targeted (101%). 2 row(s) have no reported actual; these are not counted as zero. This measures reported juvenile production only.

DFO production notes

Stock not enhanced at this site this year | Released as part of Wilsey Dam Research

2024 brood: reported actual releases 636,862. On rows with both numbers, 627,601 released against 712,000 targeted (88%). 1 row(s) have no reported actual; these are not counted as zero. This measures reported juvenile production only.

DFO production notes

Released into Lower Shuswap instead of Middle Shuswap

Sockeye

2023 released
100,569
2024 released
115,231
2026 plan
12,500

Young salmon by brood year. 2024 is incomplete. Orange: 2026 primary release plan, not actual.

Reported releases only; some source rows are blank.

DFO figures and notes

2026 brood primary release target: 12,500 juveniles. Stages: Nat Emerg. Objectives: Assessment. Plan row status: Preliminary. Transfers and alternate strategies excluded from this target.

2023 brood: reported actual releases 100,569. On rows with both numbers, 89,539 released against 90,000 targeted (99%). 2 row(s) have no reported actual; these are not counted as zero. This measures reported juvenile production only.

DFO production notes

Stock not enhanced at this site this year | Released into tributary of Stuart River

2024 brood: reported actual releases 115,231. 4 row(s) have no reported actual; these are not counted as zero. This measures reported juvenile production only.

DFO production notes

Not released at this site this year | Released into Forfar Creek | All eggs perished due to natural and disease mortalities | No broodstock collected due to low escapement

Plan context

AI-generated summary: The 2026 brood plan lists Chinook, Sockeye production, with assessment, rebuilding objectives. Targets are planned juvenile releases, not adult returns. Compare the post-season rows below for reported production; blanks and incomplete cohorts are not failures.

Spius Creek Hatchery - young salmon releases

Chinook

2023 released
456,023
2024 released
204,226
2026 plan
467,000

Young salmon by brood year. 2024 is incomplete. Orange: 2026 primary release plan, not actual.

Reported releases only; some source rows are blank.

DFO figures and notes

2026 brood primary release target: 467,000 juveniles. Stages: Fed Fry, Smolt 1+. Objectives: Assessment, Rebuilding. Plan row status: Preliminary. Transfers and alternate strategies excluded from this target.

2023 brood: reported actual releases 456,023. On rows with both numbers, 441,245 released against 560,000 targeted (79%). 2 row(s) have no reported actual; these are not counted as zero. This measures reported juvenile production only.

DFO production notes

Difficult to obtain. Target is set as opportunistic. | No broodstock collected due to logistical challenges

2024 brood: reported actual releases 204,226. On rows with both numbers, 125,117 released against 150,000 targeted (83%). 7 row(s) have no reported actual; these are not counted as zero. This measures reported juvenile production only.

DFO production notes

Smolt production is the focus | Tributary of Nicola River | Stock not enhanced at this site this year. All production from Inch Creek facility

Coho

2023 released
232,666
2024 released
86,381
2026 plan
205,000

Young salmon by brood year. 2024 is incomplete. Orange: 2026 primary release plan, not actual.

Reported releases only; some source rows are blank.

DFO figures and notes

2026 brood primary release target: 205,000 juveniles. Stages: Fed Fry, Smolt 1+. Objectives: Assessment, Rebuilding. Plan row status: Preliminary. Transfers and alternate strategies excluded from this target.

2023 brood: reported actual releases 232,666. On rows with both numbers, 232,666 released against 205,000 targeted (113%). This measures reported juvenile production only.

2024 brood: reported actual releases 86,381. On rows with both numbers, 86,381 released against 50,000 targeted (173%). 3 row(s) have no reported actual; these are not counted as zero. This measures reported juvenile production only.

Plan context

AI-generated summary: The 2026 brood plan lists Chinook, Coho production, with assessment, rebuilding objectives. Targets are planned juvenile releases, not adult returns. Compare the post-season rows below for reported production; blanks and incomplete cohorts are not failures.

Thompson R N - young salmon releases

Coho

2023 released
30,898
2024 released
16,004
2026 plan
30,000

Young salmon by brood year. 2024 is incomplete. Orange: 2026 primary release plan, not actual.

Reported releases only; some source rows are blank.

DFO figures and notes

2026 brood primary release target: 30,000 juveniles. Stages: Smolt 1+. Objectives: Stewardship. Plan row status: Preliminary. Transfers and alternate strategies excluded from this target.

2023 brood: reported actual releases 30,898. On rows with both numbers, 17,519 released against 30,000 targeted (58%). This measures reported juvenile production only.

2024 brood: reported actual releases 16,004. 1 row(s) have no reported actual; these are not counted as zero. This measures reported juvenile production only.

Plan context

AI-generated summary: The 2026 brood plan lists Coho production, with stewardship objectives. Targets are planned juvenile releases, not adult returns. Compare the post-season rows below for reported production; blanks and incomplete cohorts are not failures.

Deadman R - young salmon releases

Coho

2023 released
25,457
2026 plan
28,000

Young salmon by brood year. 2024 is incomplete. Orange: 2026 primary release plan, not actual.

Reported releases only; some source rows are blank.

DFO figures and notes

2026 brood primary release target: 28,000 juveniles. Stages: Fed Fry, Smolt 1+. Objectives: Rebuilding. Plan row status: Preliminary. Transfers and alternate strategies excluded from this target.

2023 brood: reported actual releases 25,457. On rows with both numbers, 25,457 released against 9,000 targeted (283%). 1 row(s) have no reported actual; these are not counted as zero. This measures reported juvenile production only.

DFO production notes

Released as fed fry

Plan context

AI-generated summary: The 2026 brood plan lists Coho production, with rebuilding objectives. Targets are planned juvenile releases, not adult returns. Compare the post-season rows below for reported production; blanks and incomplete cohorts are not failures.

Kingfisher Cr/TOMF - young salmon releases

Chinook

2023 released
21,200
2024 released
35,832
2026 plan
40,000

Young salmon by brood year. 2024 is incomplete. Orange: 2026 primary release plan, not actual.

DFO figures and notes

2026 brood primary release target: 40,000 juveniles. Stages: Fed Fry. Objectives: Stewardship. Plan row status: Preliminary. Transfers and alternate strategies excluded from this target.

2023 brood: reported actual releases 21,200. On rows with both numbers, 21,200 released against 50,000 targeted (42%). This measures reported juvenile production only.

2024 brood: reported actual releases 35,832. On rows with both numbers, 15,149 released against 50,000 targeted (30%). This measures reported juvenile production only.

Plan context

AI-generated summary: The 2026 brood plan lists Chinook production, with stewardship objectives. Targets are planned juvenile releases, not adult returns. Compare the post-season rows below for reported production; blanks and incomplete cohorts are not failures.

Sources, coverage and how to read these charts
  • AI summaries are derived from the linked DFO records, not written or endorsed by DFO. Checked October 14, 2026; this section is a dated snapshot, not automatic monitoring.
  • Each plotted series keeps one population ID, species, river/run and metric. Natural adult spawners exclude jacks. Where not available, clearly labelled total-return series include categories recorded by DFO. Populations and rivers are never added into a region total.
  • History shown from 2006 to 2025 when available. A population needs at least three reported values and a value from 2020 onward. Type 6 presence/absence and no-survey rows are not plotted as numeric abundance. Conflicting duplicate population-year records are omitted. Blanks remain gaps.
  • Final, Near Final and Preliminary estimates are labelled in the point details and table. Methods and quality differ; a reported estimate is not necessarily an exact census. Changes in effort, methods and missing surveys limit trend comparisons.
  • Pink odd/even lines preserve parity. Four-year calendar blocks are a viewing aid, not an assumption that Chinook, coho, chum or every sockeye population returns on a fixed four-year cycle. No values are projected beyond the source.
  • Hatchery targets cover primary juvenile release events only; no transfer double counting or alternate-strategy targets. Post-season totals exclude alternate strategies; percentages use only rows with both target and actual.2024 is incomplete, so comparing its total directly with2023 would mislead. Target attainment alone does not establish ecological success.
  • DFO NuSEDS dataset, source files and dictionary
  • DFO current plan,2023 and 2024 post-season source tables and caveats
  • How DFO plans hatchery production · DFO hatchery and spawning-channel directory
  • Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Source terms linked in the footer. No DFO endorsement is implied.

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Wind, waves and swell (Windy)

Check the regs yourself before you fish. Openings, closures and limits change without notice, sometimes mid-season and area by area. Everything here is an aggregation for convenience, not an official source. Always confirm the current rules for your specific management area directly with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (saltwater / salmon) and the B.C. Freshwater Fishing Regulations before you go.