Flyfishing
the Stamp River on Vancouver Island |
The three adjoining
Stamp, Sproat and Somass Rivers flow from Great Central Lake (Stamp
River) and Sproat Lake (Sproat River), southeast to the Alberni Inlet,
which leads to the Pacific Ocean on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
The moderately
sized Stamp River and Sproat River join to form the large Somass
River, which crosses Highway 4 at the western outskirts of Port
Alberni.
The total fishable
length of the rivers is 25km. Access is good via Highway 4, Sproat
Lake Road, Bamfield Road, and side roads from the Great Central
Lake Road and Beaver Creek Road. Much of the access to these rivers
is suitable for family cars, on paved or good gravel roads.
The Stamp/Sproat/Somass
river system boasts good summer steelhead and great winter steelhead
runs. Summer runs are fished in the upper Stamp River. Winter runs
are primarily fished in the lower Stamp River (below Stamp Falls),
and the Sproat and Somass Rivers.
Sockeye salmon
are caught in the summer, with good runs of steelhead, chinook and
coho salmon runs in the fall. This river system remains fishable
almost all year long.
Located at the
top of the Stamp River, the Robertson Creek Fish Hatchery is one of
the more successful hatcheries on Vancouver Island.
Various launching
sites are available for drifting, but caution should be exercised,
as some sections are not passable.
Nearest Town:
Port Alberni, Sproat Lake, Alberni Inlet
Nearest
Lake: Sproat Lake
Nearest
Parks: Stamp River Provincial Park, Sproat Lake Provincial Park
Additional
Info: A day-use provincial park is located at Stamp Falls, and
a variety of accommodation is available in the Port Alberni area.
Camping is available at Sproat Lake Provincial Park.
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