The Field Journal
Rivers & Lakes · River

North Simpson River

A river in the Kootenay River watershed, a tributary of Simpson River, holding Westslope Cutthroat, Bull Trout and Rainbow in provincial fish-inventory records.

North Simpson River is a river flowing into Simpson River. Recorded fish: Westslope cutthroat, bull trout, rainbow, cutthroat, dolly varden, brook trout.

The water

It flows into Simpson River within the Kootenay River watershed (Kootenay River → Columbia River). It runs stream order 4 (mid-range in the network; the scale runs from 1 for a headwater trickle to 6+ for a river) and roughly 7 km. Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout, Rainbow Trout, cutthroat, dolly varden, Brook Trout, recorded here in provincial fish-inventory data (6 records). Named tributaries in the index: Eohippus Creek.

The fishing

As moving water, a tributary of Simpson River, North Simpson River fishes the way rivers of its size do: read the runs and seams, fish a dry-dropper through the warm months, and swing streamers or nymph the deeper slots as flows drop. Match the fly box to the season and confirm against a current local report.

water
River
Kootenay River watershed
straighten
Stream order 4
~7 km
set_meal
Westslope Cutthroat and Bull Trout
6 records

Access & the rules

Access for North Simpson River, meaning the roads in, put-ins and any walk-in or seasonal limits, is worth confirming locally before you commit a day. The drainage map shows how the water sits in its valley.

gavel

Before you fish

Confirm the current BC freshwater fishing regulations (Region 4 – Kootenay) before you go This water is part of the Simpson River system.. Official synopsis: gov.bc.ca fishing regulations.