Rising in the limestone spires of Elk Lakes Provincial Park and winding 220 km through the Elk Valley to Lake Koocanusa, the Elk River is one of North America’s iconic dry-fly streams. Its cold, teal-blue water, healthy riparian buffers and fly-fishing-only regulations produce dense populations of native westslope cutthroat trout and migratory bull trout. Easy highway access around Fernie, plus strict catch-and-release rules, create a rare blend of world-class fishing and small-town mountain vibe.
**Headwaters (Elk Lakes → Sparwood):** narrow forested riffles, eager cutthroat and summer hatches. **Mid-Valley (Sparwood → Hosmer):** riffle-run pocket water with deep cut-banks that hold trophy cutthroat and late-summer bull trout. **Lower Elk (Hosmer → Lake Koocanusa):** wider willow-lined flats and side channels perfect for float trips and autumn streamer fishing. Most guided days cover the 30 km between Sparwood and Morrissey Bridge where public pull-outs are plentiful.
Native westslope cutthroat dominate (25–40 cm, with 50 cm trophies each year). Bull trout migrate up from Koocanusa in July–September and can exceed 80 cm. Mountain whitefish school below riffles, while rainbow–cutthroat hybrids are uncommon thanks to stringent stocking bans. Brown trout occasionally appear near Elko after spilling from tribs.
Mid-May skwala stones and March browns trigger the first top-water takes. June’s golden-stone explosion produces ferocious strikes along grass banks. PMDs, caddis and green drakes fuel July–August dry-fly nirvana; windy afternoons drop spruce budworms and hoppers that cutthroat devour in ankle-deep runs. Migrating bull trout hunt whitefish and juvenile trout—swinging 10 cm olive streamers in September can move giants.
A fast 9 ft 5-wt excels for long dry-fly presentations; pair a 7-wt sink-tip for bull-trout streamers. Standard summer rig: 12 ft 5X leader to a #10 foam golden-stone or #12 hopper with a #16 bead-head pheasant-tail dropper. Euro-nymphing 10 ft 3-wts with 3 mm tungsten Perdigons shines during spring runoff. Local etiquette: keep wading to a minimum—cutthroat often sit in calf-deep seams just metres from shore.
Morrissey Bridge hosts picture-perfect riffles ideal for evening caddis. Olsen Slide pull-out upstream of Hosmer provides high banks for sight-casting to cruisers. Below Sparwood, the “Michel Flats” offer easy walk-ins and prolific stonefly action. Downstream of Elko Dam, deep runs at Wigwam Flats entice autumn bull trout but require a stiff hike.
Highway 3 parallels 90 km of river with public pull-outs at Sparwood Golf Course, Hosmer Bridge, Morrissey, and Olsen Slide. Forestry Road 14 follows the lower reach to Elko. Floaters launch rafts at Olsen Bridge and take out at Elko (15 km, 4–6 h at 25 m³/s). Note: winter sees anchor-ice and numerous sweepers—scout before committing a drift.
Flies: #10 foam golden-stone, #12 hopper, #14 elk-hair caddis, #16 PMD sparkle dun, #8 olive circus peanut, #4 white/olive belly-scratcher. Leaders: 12 ft 5X mono for dries, 10 ft 4X fluoro for nymphs, 7.5 ft 0X for streamers. Wear polarized amber lenses for glare off glacial flour. Felt is legal, but Clean-Drain-Dry applies at provincial AIS stations May–Oct.
Elk Valley coal mining contributes fine sediment; Elk River Alliance conducts annual water-quality monitoring and shoreline clean-ups. All cutthroat and bull trout must be released, single barbless hooks are mandatory, and bait is prohibited to protect native stocks. Anglers are encouraged to log water temperature and participate in Flies, Eyes & Fries redd surveys each October.
Spring runoff can exceed 100 m³/s—unwadeable and log-jammed. Bears and cougars patrol berry-thick riparian zones—carry spray and make noise on trails. Afternoon chinook winds gust 60 km/h; secure rafts and gear. Winter shelf-ice collapses without warning; wear a wading belt and carry hand-warmers if fishing shoulder seasons.
**Elk River Guiding Company & Fly Shop** (Fernie) posts daily reports, rents rafts and issues Classified Waters Licences. **Kootenay Fly Shop** (Fernie) carries Euro-nymph gear and offers shuttle service. **Michael & Young Fly Shop** (Vancouver) ships Elk-specific dry-fly selections and Spey lines.
Volunteer with the **Elk River Alliance** for habitat plantings, support the **Wildsight Elk Valley** program tracking mine-runoff, or donate to the **Steelhead Society of BC** to fund genetic work safeguarding pure westslope cutthroat populations.
The Elk River from Surrey Creek downstream to Morrissey is **Classified Waters – Class II** 1 July – 31 October. Anglers need a Basic BC Licence plus a daily or annual Classified Waters Licence; daily quota is 20 resident and 8 non-resident rod-days. Fly-fishing-only, single barbless hook, bait and scent prohibited. All cutthroat, rainbow and bull trout must be released; mountain whitefish daily limit five. Tributaries (e.g., Michel Creek, Coal Creek) have additional seasonal closures to protect spawning bull trout—check in-season notices. Review the BC 2025–2027 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis for full boundaries, quotas and emergency updates.