GOLD RIVER, B.C. – There will be no angling on the Gold River and tributaries starting from December 1st, 2018 until May 31st, 2019.
According to a release, the provincial government is closing the Gold River downstream of the Muchalat River, including tributaries but excluding the Muchalat River and Heber River, from angling to support steelhead conservation.
Catch-and-release angling only accounts for a small percentage of steelhead annual mortality, but the closure will help protect the population from angling-induced stress and mortality.
The release also stated that stock assessment information indicates the winter steelhead population in Gold River is vulnerable to local extinction.
The province and the B.C. Conservation Foundation are working with local First Nations to investigate factors to steelhead decline and consider ways to positively influence fish stocks.
