Fraser River

The Fraser is the single largest river system in British Columbia and the major drainage of the province, home to one of the world’s largest white sturgeon populations and one of its greatest salmon resources. Anglers travel from near and far to do battle with these ancient fish, while massive runs averaging 20 to 50 million salmon return each year.

Over 850 miles long, the Fraser rises near the Alberta border at Mt. Robson, drains a watershed larger than Great Britain and carries enough sediment each year to weigh as much as 1.5 million killer whales. Tens of millions of Pacific salmon return annually to spawn, all five species plus steelhead. They share the river with more than 60 other kinds of fish, including the mighty sturgeon.

Forty-five minutes east of Chilliwack the river enters the Fraser Canyon, where it narrows, deepens and quickens. Much of it is unfishable, but the water that is holds the river’s true monster sturgeon amid towering canyon walls and rugged terrain. This is the same stretch featured on National Geographic’s “Fish Warrior,” and our most spectacular adventure.