It is a very generous river; it provides water for commercial and domestic use, family recreation in the summer, and fishing during the seasons of fall, winter and spring.The Cowichan's water is usually too warm for fishing in the summer. Anglers should refrain from fishing in warm water to prevent stressing fish. The Cowichan has an eco-system unique for Vancouver Island and most coastal streams of British Columbia. Unlike many of these streams, the Cowichan has a fine population of insects, crustaceans and annelids. These in turn form a food base for a thriving population of resident trout.
The Cowichan River supports two species of native trout: the Rainbow and the cutthroat , and an introduced species: the Broen trout . Stocked originally in the 1930's, the brown trout is surviving and reproducing quite well on its own. Most of the Cowichan's trout are now wild. Besides trout, the Cowichan also supports steelhead and three species of Pacific salmon: coho , chinook and chum.
