The Elk River's westslope cutthroat trout, char, and whitefish are holding up well in the face of surging popularity. Thanks to a near full conversion to catch-and-release, the fishing is better than ever as reflected by more and bigger fish as well as higher catch rates. Endangered bull trout have dramatically rebounded despite the increasing presence of anglers.

However, a recent provincial government press release reveals not all is well: "The current crowding levels are harming the quality of the outdoor experience for anglers in the [Elk River] watershed and may begin to impact the health of the fish stocks." Creel surveys suggest that angling pressure has increased ten-fold since the early 1980s, and that almost 80% of anglers surveyed originate from outside the province-49% from the US and 28% from Alberta. Additionally, many anglers are still adjusting to the high numbers of hook-scarred and disfigured trout.

As a first step in coping with the surge of angling pressure in the region, the provincial government announced in March of 2003 an 18-month moratorium on the granting of guide licenses for the Elk River and six neighboring rivers. In the interim an angling management plan will be developed in consultation with interested members of the public. That plan could ultimately see restrictions on guided-rod days and daily fees for non-resident anglers, as is currently the practice on the province's classified waters. Some argue for limited access to resident anglers through daily fees, but realistically such measures are still years away.

Nothing here should be construed as an attempt to discourage visiting anglers from experiencing some of the best dry-fly fishing for wild native trout in North America. Fly fishers can still enjoy quality angling in southeastern British Columbia by adopting standard tactics for popular open-access fisheries.

The congestion centers on the main-stem of the Elk River and tributaries easily accessible from Highway 3. This area fishes well during high water in the first half of July before the mid-summer throngs arrive. Traffic on the Elk River diminishes considerably after the Labor Day weekend in September. The lower St. Mary's River near Kimberley provides an alternative venue with few access points, challenging white water and much less float traffic.

Otherwise, procure some topographic maps and prepare to hike. The lower Wigwam River, a major tributary of the Elk, lends itself well to long hikes, as do the upper and lower sections of the Elk. Other rivers in the region, the Bull, the White, the Skookumchuck, and the upper Kootenay, all have good fishing in grand settings. Monster cutthroats inhabit the canyons of Findlay Creek for those willing to swim the treacherous waters.

Visiting anglers can contribute to preserving this unique wild fishery by reporting the capture of tagged cutthroat and bull trout to regional biologist Bill Westover at (250) 489-8557 or bill.westover@gems4.gov.bc.ca. Westover needs to know the species, location of capture, tag color and number.