The Elk River

It’s why we live here!

The Elk River is known as one of the most pristine and premier dry fly fisheries in the world. Located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, the Elk River originates from the Elk Lakes, located in the most South Eastern part of British Columbia. It is a spectacular freestone river filled with deep pools, dancing riffles, and various back channels that are known to hide anglers away for hours in the glory of their own environment. As the river meanders through the Elk Valley, cutting a path through the mountain landscapes, it quietly passes through small towns before flowing into Lake Koocanusa. The Elk River holds a very healthy population of Wild and Native Westslope Cutthroat Trout, along with Bull Trout and Rocky Mountain Whitefish. The dry fly action from the abundance of sporadic and mixed insect hatches makes this river popular among anglers. The summer season opens June 15th every year and carries through with dry fly fishing well into October. The average size of the cutthroat you may expect to see while out with one of our expert local guides will range from 14″ to 18″ with an occasional fish in the 20″ range. The Cutties in the Elk River are very thick, “Big Shouldered” fish due to the single, barbless hook restriction and the high levels of insect productivity. A day of dry fly fishing on the Elk River is nothing short of amazing and will keep you coming back for years.