There's plenty of fish in the lakes around Nanaimo, with nearly 7,000 put into the area by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

fish on

Nanaimo lakes stocked with hundreds of catchable trout for fishing season

Mar 21, 2023 | 2:12 PM

NANAIMO — Local lakes are more active following the release of thousands of fish.

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. began stocking lakes around Nanaimo and Oceanside at the start of March, dropping off upwards of 500 fish per visit to ensure anglers have plenty to aim for when wetting a line.

Tristan Robbins, society fisheries manager, told NanaimoNewsNOW just under 9,000 fish have been deposited into a number of lakes around the region.

“There’s five trout hatcheries in the province and Vancouver Island is stocked out of the Duncan hatchery. Most of the fish we’re stocking…are about a year old, you’re looking at about a quarter kilogram, 15-20 centimetre size, ready to be caught and eaten.”

Lakes in Nanaimo include Westwood, Diver, Long, Brannen and all three Colliery Dams with a combined 6,950 fish.

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Robbins added Spider Lake in Qualicum Beach is also a very popular spot, which is currently well stocked with fish with around 1,800 put in by the society.

How often they return to replenish depends on how successful anglers are.

“A lake like the Colliery Dams which get a lot of fishing pressure, we’ll be back three or four times in the spring then again three or four times in the fall to restock it with 500 fish each time we visit,” Robbins said.

Anglers are required to have a provincial freshwater fishing license.

Robbins said there is a small increase in fees this year, however it’s the first such bump since 2003.

“Freshwater angling fees in British Columbia, 100 per cent of the revenue goes towards funding the programs run by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. and also the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation.”

The money supports their programs, including lake restocking, as well as their learn to fish programs for kids and adults.

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