Cutthroat Trout Fishing in Tofino: March - November

Clayoquot Sound is blessed with the best Cutthroat trout fishing in the world. There is a small brotherhood of anglers in the Pacific Northwest who target these strong, agile and aggressive fish. Sea run Cutthroat are an anadromous salmonid like Steelhead. However unlike Steelhead the Sea run Cutthroat trout will enter freshwater not only to spawn but also to feed for a large portion of the year. Another difference between these two species is Cutthroat trout will return to freshwater every year regardless of their spawning cycle. The where and when of Sea run Cutthroat trout is dictated largely by salmon in the egg, fry and smolt stages of development.

In the spring, when salmon fry are hatching and smolts that have spent their first year in freshwater start moving towards the ocean, the cutthroat trout spend weeks and months gorging on immature salmon. Different salmon species hatch and migrate at different times, which gives the Sea run cutthroat a large window of opportunity to feed in the rivers and estuaries of Clayoquot Sound.

A Sea run Cutthroat will rarely turndown a fry or muddler pattern in the river and caddis imitation dries are dynamite at this time of year. Through the summer months the cutthroat tend to stay around the estuaries and gravel beaches on inner Clayoquot Sound where they feed on salmon smolts, sculpins and euphosids. Patterns that match these feed items are very effective. September through November the Sea run Cutthroat are following the salmon back to the rivers for a feeding frenzy on salmon eggs.

We have many secret flies for this fishery and caddis dries are always great in the river. This is a widely unknown and untapped fishery. All stocks are wild and unenhanced. There is no retention of Cutthroat trout in the river or the ocean. The daily limit in lakes is 4. We have single or multi day packages available for group or one on one guide service. Family packages are also available. All freshwater is remote access with boat in, fly in or four-wheel drive options. Our friendly, knowledgeable and environmentally conscious local guides will be happy to share an experience that will last a lifetime.