In Pursuit of Steelhead

To catch your quarry, you need to know what you’re dealing with. Steelhead aren’t just the “Formula One racecars of fly fishing” because they’re big and fast — the record is close to 22 kilos (48 lbs., if you prefer). Steelhead are one of the top game fish in the world because they can be hard to catch – even in British Columbia where the rivers are packed with them during the winter/spring and summer/fall runs. You may have to fish hard to catch one, but once you do, you will be the one who’s hooked.

The first question I usually get asked is this –

“What is a steelhead, exactly?” Even though we get some pretty experienced trout fishermen and women, some are surprised to learn that a steelhead is basically a rainbow trout that spends most of its life in the ocean. Oncorhynchus mykiss is born in fresh water rivers and tributaries where it lives for a few years before heading out to sea where it can feed more efficiently and grow up to 120 cm (45 inches).

The next question comes up as soon as people see our name: Skeena Spey –

“What makes a spey rod better than my one-handed 9-ft. 8-wt. rod?” You can use a one-handed rod if you want, but we typically use spey rods for steelhead fishing BC-style. These rods have been around since the 1800s and were likely named after the Spey River in Scotland. We use them because they can handle the heft of the heavy lines and big flies needed to get near the bottom and trigger strikes. After all, we’re talking about catching some of the world’s largest steelhead and salmon here, so leave your lighter gear at home.

Inevitably the questions come around to this –

“What flies should I use?” Our professional guides (some of the world’s best spey-casting experts) spend hours sitting around the Skeena River Fishing Lodge discussing this very question and we have plenty of opinions on the matter. One of the mysteries of fishing for migratory species is that they don’t eat much once they enter fresh water to spawn. Fly selection is often about sticking something that is impressionistically food-like in front of a steelhead’s nose, and hoping to piss it off enough that it snaps at it. The variations and sizes of flies are so dependent on specific rivers and conditions that it’s best to ask us or other local experts when you get to your destination.

Once we get to good steelhead water, clients want to know –

“How do I work the run?” The great thing about fly fishing Canada along the Pacific Coast is that you experience spey casting and steelhead in a real wilderness unlike any place on earth. I’ve seen pictures from popular regions where steelhead anglers are lined up almost shoulder-to-shoulder along dam outflows and man-made breakwalls. But when you work a run in Northern BC, you put your entire knowledge of the geology, hydrology, and biology of the natural rivers to use. It can take years to learn on your own, but at Skeena Spey, we can teach you what you need to know to catch steelhead whether you are a beginner or an old hand. With luxury accommodations right on the Skeena, the some of the best local food on the river, you will have plenty of time to get all your questions answered in a fun, friendly atmosphere.