In the realm of unparalleled service and unmatched reputation, our seasoned guides, long-term residents of the valley, boast an intimate knowledge of local waters that sets us apart.
Our guides are licensed by the BC provincial government and we are fully insured.
We live in Fernie and run a great fly shop year round!
We’re passionate about what we do and fishing isn’t just a job for us, it’s a way of life!
The shop has been here for over 20 years and some of our guides have been guiding longer than that!
Our Fly Shop Staff are very friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about fly fishing!
We will get it done for you! Just ask and we will do our best to accommodate your requests.
We have seven different floats on the Elk River alone, and hundreds of miles of walk and wade fishing. Let us take you on your next fishing adventure!
Full Day for up to 2 Anglers - Quoted in Canadian Funds. Approximately $695 USD depending on exchange rate on our standard floats.
All trips are based on 1 or 2 Anglers, and are subject to 5% GST (Quoted in Canadian Funds)
Full Day for up to 2 Anglers - Quoted in Canadian Funds. Approximately $695 USD for standard Walk 'N' Wade depending on exchange rate.
All trips are based on 1 or 2 Anglers, and are subject to 5% GST (Quoted in Canadian Funds)
Full Day up to 2 Anglers - Quoted in Canadian Funds. Approximately $695 USD depending on exchange rate.
All trips are based on 1 or 2 Anglers, and are subject to 5% GST (Quoted in Canadian Funds)
Important information you should know
We offer a Full-Service Fly Shop and fly fishing equipment can be purchased upon your arrival, and can also be pre-ordered to ensure availability when you arrive. Contact us for more details!
Gear (rods, reels, boots) can be rented, but is subject to availability
Booking/Cancellation Policy:
Trips on hold are not guaranteed until a deposit is secured and may be released at any time. Upon making the reservation the guests understand that a BC Fishing License and Classified Waters License must be purchased by all anglers in the fishing party and is not included in the package cost. The dates reserved for guided fishing are non-transferable unless prior arrangements have been made and the date changes are approved by Elk River Guiding Company Ltd.
A 50% deposit is due at the time of the booking to secure the trip date and guide. Payments can be made with a credit card, Visa, Master Card or Amex. The remainder of the balance is due 60 days prior to your trip date and will automatically be charged to the credit card on file unless otherwise instructed at the time of booking. If making the reservation less than 60 days from the arrival date the full amount is due at the time of booking.
If the reservation is cancelled 60 or more days to the guided trip date an administration fee of $100 (+5% GST) is charged per guide /per day to the account and the balance of the deposit is returned. Packages with third party accommodations are subject to the accommodator’s policy.
If the reservation is cancelled less than 60 days prior to the guided trip date no refund will be given. Absolutely no refunds are given on any accommodations if cancelled less than 30 days prior to arrival. If cancelling because of travel restrictions such as full border closures, we would prefer to reschedule your booking to a future date, however we will issue you a refund of all the payments made. Travel restrictions instilled on individuals for any reason are not eligible for refunds. Medical conditions, pre-trip injuries, etc. are all unfortunate and we suggest purchasing third party trip cancellation insurance if you feel it necessary.
Due to the nature of the fly-fishing activity, poor weather and or less than desirable water conditions are not accepted reasons for cancellations. In some instances, Elk River Guiding Company may move trips to different waters than requested. If deemed necessary to cancel trips due to unsafe conditions a transfer to a future date will be made. We will do our best to accommodate your guide requests, however, our guides operate as individual contractors and there may be changes for reasons beyond our control.
WE SUGGEST PURCHASING APPROPRIATE TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE!
Here are the most frequently asked questions we get. If you don’t see an answer you are looking for, contact us and we would be happy to help!
We usually recommend the last three weeks in July, throughout August, and the first two weeks in September. This is based on the weather, which as you know is hard to predict! The river’s open up to fishing June 15th every season. Depending on when the spring runoff is, we can have phenomenal dry fly fishing from mid-June straight through into October.
Again, the bull trout fishing is also based on the weather and spring run-off. Typically, we recommend fishing the Wigwam River mid-July through early-September. The Elk River has resident bull trout and usually fishes well from river opening on June 15th through the end of September.
If you are brand new or have only been out a handful of times do not worry, all our guides are excellent instructors! Give us a heads up that you are new to the sport, and we will let your guide know so they can help you out.
This is at the client’s discretion, but we generally recommend a good starting point for guides is 20% of trip cost (~150 USD/$200 CDN) per guide per day. It is best to tip your guide directly, rather than paying with a credit card through the Fly Shop. Guides accept both CDN and USD currency.
There are 3 options. We usually suggest flying into Kalispell, MT or Calgary, AB as flights tend to be more cost effective. Most clients will then rent a car from the airport and drive to Fernie. If driving from Kalispell, MT please factor into your travel time the potential wait at the USA/Canada border.
Yes, a valid passport is needed when traveling from out of country.
Yes, you can! When going on a guided trip with us, we request that you purchase your BC Classified waters license through us at the Fly Shop. This way we can make sure that it is done correctly as it can be confusing! The basic BC Freshwater licence can easily be pre-purchased online. You can also register online for your BC Angler Number. For more information, check out our Fishing License page.
We recommend being “Bear Aware” when out fishing as the Elk Valley is home to both black bears and grizzly bears. We suggest making noise as well as carrying bear spray, and or bear bangers. Both bear spray and bear bangers are sold at Elk River Guiding Company.
This depends on the time of year you are visiting, please feel free to review the hatch chart https://www.elkriver.ca/fly-fishing, but here are a few examples:
Yes, felt soled wading boots are currently permitted in the Elk River watershed. Please remember to do your part and CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY your gear to help reduce the spread of invasive species. This is especially important when coming from watersheds with the confirmed presence of whirling disease.