May 30, 2022
B.C.'s Family Fishing Weekend
B.C.'s Family Fishing Weekend is an annual celebration of fishing that coincides with the Father’s Day weekend each year. In 2022, the three-day event falls on June 17th to 19th. This is a great chance to get together with family and friends, and try fishing!
Fish for free during the Father’s Day weekend
Right through the third weekend in June (including the immediately preceding Friday), our provincial government waives the requirement for residents of Canada – individuals who have lived in Canada for the preceding 12 months – to buy or carry a non-tidal (freshwater) basic fishing licence. The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which manages fishing in tidal waters, also offers the opportunity to go saltwater fishing for free.
There are some exceptions. If you plan to fish
- for species that require a conservation surcharge stamp (steelhead, Shuswap Lake rainbow trout and char, Kootenay Lake rainbow trout, white sturgeon, and salmon in both tidal and non-tidal waters)
- in Classified Waters (highly productive trout streams, listed as Class I or Class II waters in the water-specific tables of the fishing regulations)
then you are still required to purchase the appropriate licence(s) and stamp(s).
Anglers must always adhere to catch quotas and regulations. To know where you can go fishing, and which fish species you can catch, make sure you have read and understood the Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis.
Family-friendly community events
During B.C.'s Family Fishing Weekend, free fishing events for anglers and families are held throughout the province. Knowledgeable volunteers will be on hand at most events to teach tricks of the trade to all the family members.
2022 Events
Host an event or volunteer
We are always looking for more locations and willing communities that want to get involved in B.C.'s Family Fishing Weekend. If your agency, club, or group is interested in hosting a community event, please contact us. Activities at past events have included family barbeques, fly-tying clinics, free rod and tackle loan, children’s fishing clinics, and stream clean-up projects. We offer event-planning guidance, advertising materials and, in some cases, fishing equipment to use at the event. If you would like to apply to host an event, please e-mail fish@gofishbc.com.
Thank you to all of the community volunteers, organizations, and local businesses that make each event possible.
Resources for anglers
For tips on how to set up your rod, and basic techniques such as float and bottom fishing, visit our blog or YouTube site. We also have a Beginner’s Learn to Fish Guide available for download.
To find a fishing spot, visit our interactive Where to Fish map, which shows all of the lakes stocked with fish in B.C. For other suggestions about where you might go fishing in your local area, check with the folks in one of your local tackle shops or your local angling club.
You can also check out our Family-Friendly Fishing Spots Map, which lists both stocked and non-stocked lakes.
Contact Us
Thank you for choosing to contact us. Please send an e-mail to ask questions or provide comments.
Sponsors
Thank you to the sponsors of B.C.'s Family Fishing Weekend: the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC and Habitat Conservation Trust Fund.
