Where: Casino Road/Riverside Avenue, 2 km east of Trail, BC Canada
Coordinates: 49.093037, -117.698368 to 49.093852, -117.668864
When: All seasons
Access: Easy: various pullouts and paths along a 4-km stretch
Main Species: Rainbow trout
Anglers would be hard-pressed to find a better stretch of accessible, undeveloped, and uncrowded water than the Columbia River that flows along Casino Road for about 5 km.
To locate the best fishing holes, follow Bay Avenue through downtown Trail. Once you pass the new Columbia River Skywalk suspension bridge the road name will change to Riverside Road. Note that the road is called Casino Road on many maps.
The Columbia River turns abruptly east right at the Skywalk, then flows relatively straight offering a complex system of runs, riffles, pools and back eddies that are perfect for feeding rainbows.
There are several good pullouts along Casino Rd. that allows for quick and easy access. These are popular spots for shore anglers throughout the year. Anglers use a variety of methods to attract trout including: spin-casting in early spring, floating flies in the summer, and using a three-way sinker setup in the winter.
A favourite spot is called Little Hawaii. It is a lofty point that juts out into the river and gives anglers an ideal spot to sit back and enjoy a cool drink, or maybe a fire and some smokies as your rods sit in the rod holder waiting for a strike.
The easy access is also amenable to walk and wade fly anglers. The best time for fly fishers is in early spring and summer following high water from freshet. Nymphing large stonefly patterns or using sink tip or sink line with woolly buggers, streamers, and sculpin patterns are the go to techniques.
In the warm summer months you can’t beat imitating the evening hatch. Try going dry with adult caddis patterns, stimulators, and adult mayflies for some great action. When conditions are right the fishing is exceptional, and when you’re fishing -the conditions are always right.
About our fishing hole sponsor
Valley Firearms. As you drive down Bay Avenue to fish Casino Road, why not stop in at BC’s #1 Outfitting store -Valley Firearms. They specialize in hunting, fishing, archery, and sporting goods for the great outdoors. You will find the staff are very friendly, and extremely knowledgeable. Tell them WeSportFish sent you.
