Skeena River - Steelhead Dreams Gill Mckean Fly Fisher, Guide, Fly Tier. Wild Rivers Lodge, (Kalum River's new lodge) is located on the banks of the world-renowned Skeena River in beautiful British Columbia. After rescuing some friends who were drifting the Copper River we decided to change up our plan and travel on. A trip to the coastal rain forest of Northwestern British Columbia is always exciting and can be extremely enjoyable, providing you are prepared. To anglers, these rivers are the Holy Grail when it comes to steelhead and salmon fishing. This is the time when the summer steelhead of Skeena surge up the river and its tributaries. Being a coastal climate, the locals always say “If you don’t like the weather, just wait ten minutes”. The float was to be 5 days but with rising river levels they had sent a satellite message out saying they couldn’t row any further and were looking for a pickup. The Skeena River has a reputation for being the best Steelhead and salmon sports fishing river in the world. Top quality fishing Flies designed and produced by Skeena River Fly Supply. Coho have also been entering the Lower Skeena tributaries since early September, with the larger “Northern Coho,” arriving in October. We only work with lodges and guides that we know and trust. Our guided fishing season begins late March and goes through to late October. It’s spring Steelhead season in beautiful Northwestern British Columbia, a wonderful time of renewal — and a … Below is a little Vlog I put together from this year’s steelhead trip to Smithers, fly fishing the Bulkley River and the Kispiox River. Sink tips I find are the difference in steelhead fishing more than anything else. All the fish bound for renowned rivers such as the Bulkley, Babine, Kispiox, Sustut, Kalum, Morice and Copper (Zymoetz) run up the Skeena. We are very informal at the lodge so bring comfortable clothes to lounge around in when you get up in the morning and after you get back from the river. River fishing? The direct way to your perfect fishing adventure. The Skeena River is home to the largest run of wild Steelhead in the world and also the world record. Gear isn’t important, how you fish it is. (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Vancouver Fly Fishing Report October 2020. Steelhead, Atlantic Salmon, King Salmon, Saltwater, Peacock Bass, Tarpon, Big Game, GT, and more. Layer 2: A mid layer long sleeved shirt made of either wool, down, fleece, polyester, flannel or a blend of synthetic and natural materials (Polar-Tec, etc.). The Copper is a well known steelhead river that gets a fair amount of pressure on the lower sections but much less in the upper. Make sure you have both a hat and sunglasses, not only for protection from the sun, but also for safety from barbless flies that may accidentally find themselves headed towards your face. There are steep gradient sections of river and some technical rowing. Fall fish are surface-oriented and can readily be taken with both waked and dead-drifted dry flies. Rivers Nicholas Dean Outdoors is strategically located in the Lower Skeena watershed to take advantage of the numerous productive Steelhead and Salmon rivers that have made the Skeena justifiably famous. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } This lake’s origin gives the Bulkley River very rich aquatic insect life. When fishing the Skeena region in the fall, there is always the potential for setting a world record for both Coho and Steelhead. One of my favourite things to do each Fall is venture into northern BC and swing flies for the wild steelhead in the Skeena River system. Tight Lines Gill Mckean Due to the low snow pack, the Skeena and all region 6 tributaries should fish well a little earlier this season. There was lots of sitting in the jetboat, chatting, having a few beers and then some fishing. – 7-9 Weight Spey Rods (two handed rods) with line of choice, though we suggest Rio Skagit lines to help turn over heavy sink tips and weighted flies. This certainly wasn’t the worst, we’ve had it much worse than this, but it’s always good to have a contingency plan when on a Skeena steelhead trip. It drains a large portion of the Telkwa Range and it is one of the rivers that affects the Bulkley and its clarity the most. The confluence of the Telkwa River and the Bulkley River in Telkwa BC. For those cold spring and fall days you may want to use polar fleece gloves with the finger ends cut off. Fly fishing the Bulkley River near Smithers BC. These awesome fish average 8 to 15 pounds, while 20 pounders are not uncommon. The Kispiox is a technical river to fish, with some large steelhead. Obviously if you are using a Gortex Wader in the late fall you will want a heavy fleece pant. Most of our customers bring their own fly rods and fly lines, however we do have complete equipment for both the fly fisher and the conventional fisher if you do not have your own preferred equipment. That said, the conditions were considerably better than they were in late September, when the Bulkley River had a blown out and was relatively unfishable. Our services are always offered 100% FREE to you and are designed to help make your dream fly fishing trip a reality. The Skeena’s fall Steelhead are large, wild fish. This wasn’t the case this year. Please feel free to contact us for updates on river fishing opportunities. The Skeena River has a reputation for being the best Steelhead and salmon sports fishing river in the world. Soap and shampoo is provided, however, you’ll have to bring the rest of your toiletries. The climate varies between being wet, overcast, sunny, cloudy, rainy, snowfall, hail and wind. It’s a pretty simply set up with slick shooter for running line and an Islander LX 4.0 fly reel. Most salmon and steelhead world records are made or broken in the Skeena River and its tributaries. The Skeena River watershed drains into Chatham Sound, and as many as 40,000 wild steelhead enter the river system every year from the Pacific Ocean. Additionally, Fly Gal Ventures is a member and supporter of 1% For The Planet; at least 1% of our profits are pledged to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment. It is a treat to be able to spend some time here each Fall, swinging flies for these magnificent fish. Any black and blue fly with catch steelhead in northern BC, so don’t get too fussed over fly selection. My personal Skeena / Bulkley setup is a Pieroway Renegade #9 spey rod with a Skagit Max 600 grain head. – Hook Sharpener, you don’t want to lose the big one because of a dull hook. A full-time salmon & steelhead guide, Yos spends 200+ days a year on the water fishing, guiding and hosting trips. No matter… Again, it’s all how you fish it. For your legs you can also use a polar fleece pant of varying weights depending on the river’s water temperature. Steelhead average 8 to 15 pounds, though 15 to 20-pound fish are not uncommon and each year fish over 20 pounds are caught. The lower Bulkley River, downstream from Smithers offers some spectacular backdrops. Host Tom Rosenbauer travels to beautiful British Columbia near Terrace to try his hand on the Skeena River for steelhead. When tied in black and blue, I’ve also had great success with this fly on the Skeena system. After a long wet Summer in northern BC the water tables were saturated and the river levels throughout the entire Skeena system were all higher than usual. Lakelse River. The Skeena River is the second-longest river entirely within British Columbia, Canada (after the Fraser River).Since ancient times, the Skeena has been an important transportation artery, particularly for the Tsimshian and the Gitxsan—whose names mean "inside the Skeena River" and "people of the Skeena River," respectively. The Telkwa flows into the Bulkley upstream from Smithers. Steelhead average 8 to 15 pounds, though 15 to 20-pound fish are not uncommon and each year fish over 20 pounds are caught. The Skeena Valley is resplendent in the summer and the fishing is as brilliant as the green landscape. It was a fun day driving out to get them, all in all we drove 600 kilometres round-trip from Smithers. – Spools of tippet in various sizes. Fly-fishing, spinning and float fishing are the most popular methods. Skeena River Fly Supply provides and easy, secure, on-line shopping experience for both wholesale and retail customers. Gortex is very light weight and does not limit flexibility. Some of these tributaries are extremely remote and not only require complicated logistics to get to, but are also very expensive. We’ve been to each location, which allows us to offer meaningful, first-hand knowledge of the fishery and area. Skeena Coho are also in the system at this time. I’m more inclined to worry about my tip more than my fly. The Skeena River has the largest run of wild Steelhead in the world. So whether you prefer fishing for […] We knew it wasn’t going to blow the river out but the Telkwa River started to let go. If you are using neoprene waders then a lighter fleece may work better. Choose below by season, species or location and find out more about the The river produces these exceptionally aggressive fish because of its source, the very large Morice Lake, which makes the Bulkley a warmer and clearer river than other watersheds on the Skeena system. It was doing just that. If you’re looking for the ultimate predator — the meanest, hottest, sea-lice covered Steelhead — you’ll want to be on the lower Skeena and its tributaries during your trip. In addition to the Skeena River you can also fish the Kitimat, Nass and many other smaller rivers. We do not recommend fishing vests since they tend to get really wet in continuous rain. These Coho are true trophy Coho, averaging 8 to 20 pounds with a few fish pushing 30 pounds. Ocean fishing? the Skeena region has it all During the summer and into the fall, the lower Skeena River hosts vast numbers of migrating Steelhead and salmon all heading towards up-river tributaries. This is the season that has made the Skeena watershed justifiably famous and we are proud to have access to some of the most beautiful wilderness rivers in the world. Trout fishing? I rolled into Smithers on October 4th, the leaves were a bright yellow and Fall was in full swing in northern BC, it was just about perfect. After the spring run steelhead, the mighty Kings (Spring/Tyhee) start to migrate up river on their way to there natal streams. Yos Gladstone is the owner operator of Chromer Sport Fishing, a guiding company and booking agency based in British Columbia, Canada. Skeena River Spring Steelhead. Steelhead fishing? The Skeena is a large river set in Northern British Columbia to a backdrop so scenic it will take your breath away. Again, there wasn’t a big return of steelhead in the Kispiox this year, but we were blessed enough to find a few. One of the most common questions I get is what kind of gear am I running when I’m steelhead fishing. Fall in the Skeena region offers some of the finest fishing opportunities in the world for Steelhead and trophy Coho Salmon. If you are fishing in March or early April, late October or November, you may want to bring a pair of full polar fleece mittens with you so you can warm your hands on the side of the river. There was pretty minimal angling pressure throughout the Skeena system with Covid-19 and the US border closure. The Lower Skeena River (a Class II Classified Water) is a large, broad flowing river that is fed by many famous tributaries including the Copper, Kalum, Babine, Bulkley, Kispiox, Morice, and Sustut and many others on its route to the Northern British Columbia coast. – Various lengths of sink tips, from 5’ to 20’. Summer run Steelhead are also in the Skeena system we are getting excited to swing fly's on the Skeena River. Additionally, a polar fleece hat that covers your ears may not be such a bad idea as well. Dry lines are also nice to have in the event that the fish are taking dry flies. As well as the trophy runs of Chinook and Steelhead, the Skeena supports large runs of Coho, Sockeye and Pink Salmon. These ultra-chrome rockets have left many an angler with shaking hands and a desire for more. The Telkwa is flowing in from the left in this photo, bringing a big muddy mess along with it. Gillnet test fishery operations have been conducted at Tyee in the lower Skeena River since 1955, in order to evaluate the magnitude of Skeena River salmon and steelhead trout returns. SRFS is based on our vast experience in the fly tying and fly fishing industry. We will pursue this run of fish until the middle of May. Camera. This is it — classic Northwest Steelhead and Salmon fishing at its finest! That was the plan of the guys we had headed out to rescue, to float the upper section of the Copper River, where few dare to go. The Skeena River and its' many tributaries remain one of the best places in the world to pursue wild steelhead with a 2 handed rod and swung fly. The Skeena River is the main drainage for northern British Columbia and one of the last strongholds for wild fish anywhere in the world. Run Time: August 1 – October 31st – Your favorite flies that you would like to try out on these BC fish. Most of the fly fishing gear manufacturers make them and they work excellent. They really cover everything I like to do. The two tips I always carry is the 5/5 T-8 and the 5/5 T-11. The fish bound for the upper branches of the river—the Kispiox, Babine, and Sustut—are the largest of the species. The Largest Wild Steelhead on Earth. Simply put, fall scenery in the Skeena Region is spectacular. These Coho are true trophy Coho, averaging 8 to 20 pounds with a few fish pushing 30 pounds. Having pushed the trip back a few days due to high water I was happy to see the river in some decent shape. *Responsible for gratuities, fishing licenses and transportation into Terrace, BC. The lodge provides fresh towels everyday and fresh sheets on the day of your arrival. Hello all as we move closer to 2013 we are planning for another great salmon & steelhead season from our remote steelhead wall tent camps to world class Chinook salmon fishing on the Kitimat river,Cranberry river,Kiteen river,Bell Irving river,Kasiks river,Exchamsiks river … The Skeena’s fall Steelhead are large, wild fish. The layered approach is the best way to ensure comfort on the river. If you are using Gortex waders then polar fleece pants worn under them in the spring and fall will be required. A big thank you to everyone for their hospitality up north, the Clay Family (Riverwatch Rods), Petey K at Telly’s Grill and with special thanks to the Henry family. General Info The Fish Gear. 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