SNAPFisher
08-31-2010, 08:48 AM
Last week I stopped thinking about going to BC and made it happen. Packed up the RV and headed out to Terrace on Wednesday morning. The plan was to stay a week and make it back on the following Wednesday. I’ve never been to Northern BC and have had some interest in the Skeena and tributaries for some time. Printed off the location of a couple of local tackle shops and reports on 5 of the local rivers and took that along.
Trip started off very uneventful. The section past Jasper to McBride was pretty spectacular. The next section to Prince George is also quite amazing as beautiful rivers and lakes begin to appear.
The section after Prince George is slower going with lots of hills, winding highway, small communities and lots of great lakes to be seen from the highway. About 40kms out of Prince George the RV began acting up. On one of the hills it started chugging away and almost stopped on me. I had to pull over in a not so convenient area and let the semi barreling down on me squeak by. After a brief stop the RV started up and seemed fine. Made it all the way to Smithers. The RV did have the same issue again several times. Thought I would stop for the night and see how it was in the morning.
In the morning, made it about 35 kms up the highway but it took an hour. The RV could hardly climb an ant hill at that point without almost stalling. So, pulled over and thought about the best course of action. I was really tempted to try and make it to Terrace but at the current rate of progress it would have taken most of the day. Grudgingly decided to turn around and limp it back to Smithers.
First place, owner is not in until the next day. No one else there knows about older vehicles this one being a 1987 Ford Econoline. Next place, one week before he can even have a look. Third place, business called OK Tire and luckily they can their guy on it right away. For the morning I hang out at OK Tire plotting over maps of the region and fishing reports – I’m aching to get to Terrace and see the Skeena. About noon time the word comes that the fuel system is the issue and likely the fuel valve. They are going to have to order parts from Edmonton….sigh.
One thing that I did make a note of on my way past Smithers was the great looking canyon fishing on the Bulkley River. Called up the only car rental place in town. Luckily their only vehicle for rent was an early return. Turns out to be a fully loaded Jeep Commander:
Rental jeep and the broken RV
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation036.jpg
I don’t know if any of you have seen or have the latest navigation systems. I was spoiled!
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation039.jpg
A little built in satellite radio for company.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation040.jpg
So, head back up the highway with the rental to fish some spots on the Bulkley. Fished a great run at a place called Trout Creek.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation041.jpg
Managed one hit on a fly called the Purple Tiger that I tied up. Did see several others around me land some pink and coho on hardware.
Moved further up the highway to a great canyon that I spotted early that morning. The run starts at some falls that narrow into a canyon before exiting out the other side. I was interested in the middle section where there appeared to be some calmer water.
Head of the run with the falls.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation052.jpg
Middle section…mmmmmmmmmmmmm….fishy!
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation054.jpg
Managed to find a way down. Started fishing and within about 15 minutes I witnessed by first run of salmon headed up river. I watched the school of about 30 salmon swim by my feet and head up – looked to be pinks and coho. It was a pleasure just seeing them. Often I would catch myself just watching them. I have to admit though it was fun to watch it did become a bit disenchanting when I did put my hook in front of them only to see it ignored time and time again.
After a couple of hours and many tried flies I had some follow ups on clousers. I finally had a male pink hit a lime clouser just a few feet out. I watched as it hit and then spit it quickly. As it started to fall down again though a huge shape exploded from the bottom and came up and grabbed the clouser. Set the hook and the fish rolled on its side. I could clearly see the pink line along the length of the fish as well as the tell tale reddish cheeks – my first steel head! The fish took off into the current and mach speed. Saw my backing in short order…then saw half my backing…then a quarter left…oh oh. I put some pressure on the fish but could quickly tell that the 10wt – 9 foot rod was not a great match to a fish of this strength with current on its side. Held the fish up with only a dozen or so raps of backing left. Finally pulled the hook out of its mouth…but at least I got my gear back and a great memory. This steelhead and the others I saw swimming around were all huge. About twice the size of most of the salmon. Amazing specimens out there.
Headed back to OK Tire before closing to find out how things went. Part from Edmonton was to arrive Friday morning and “should” be good to go by 10 a.m. Took off Friday morning again in the rental and fished South of Smithers at a place where the Telkwa River enters the Bulkley. Managed only a small river fish that looked like a cross between a sauger and a bass….hard to describe. By noon I was back at OK Tire only to see their mechanic still working on it. Pretty much a low point at this time. I suspected that the news would not be good and that the chances of seeing the Skeena was disappearing. By 5 p.m. that was confirmed by the mechanic. He didn’t manage to get the part and felt that fuel pump was also going. That part would take another 6 days….their best advice to me was to cut the trip short and hope to get back home before it all went.
So what did I do? Well, I didn’t go onto Terrace but I did head back up the highway to fish the Bulkley before heading back. Got back to canyon spot and hooked up several times on the clouser but lost the fish each time on jumps and LDRs. Finally connected on a beautiful coho that jumped about 7 times and gave a great fight.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation042.jpg
About the time I landed the fish and kept it, a family of 2 kids and mom and pop came to fish. I gave up the spot and pointed out the current and slower spots to fish. The salmon put on a great show for the kids with lots of them running near shore and some great jumps from huge Chinook that were nearing the end as they were pretty either a dark purple to claret in color.
Things were not all peachy though. In about the middle of it a jet boat fires out at the end of the canyon and pulls in a circle net. There are literally a ton of salmon caught inside. One of the kids asks his parents why they were using nets. The explanation was awkward at best. I exchanged some glances with the father but it was pretty obvious that the explanation of “special rights” for others was totally lost on the kids. I could see the disappointment in their faces.
Every half hour that net was pulled – 12 hours a day – 7 days a week. On the other end of the canyon as the salmon worked their way up to the falls where two fish tunnels provided an easier way for the salmon to get up river. Unfortunately the end was a pool where a person would stand above with a salmon net and net out the bigger ones. The fish were then taken up to a tub and measuring table. Ones that didn’t fit the bill were mercilessly chucked into a metal gutter that put the fish out the other end up river. Some swam away…some went on their side and went back over the falls and didn’t swim again. The average take of the two netters was about 60 salmon per hour – 12 hours a day – 7 days a week. With the boat and net at entrance of the canyon and the two “native” netters at the other end where the falls are they literally had the fish coming and going. It is hard to describe it in any justice here. It was something to see it in action. Very sad, very disappointing. And to think that this is only one spot on one particular river. Sorry to get off on a tangent but this part did stick with me.
Pic of the head of the falls with the harvesting in action. You can see the fish tunnel with the metal gutter at the end of it for the fish that are “rejects”.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation023.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation024.jpg
That evening I tied up a few of these based on how popular the clouser seemed to be with the fish:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation014.jpg
to be continued...
Trip started off very uneventful. The section past Jasper to McBride was pretty spectacular. The next section to Prince George is also quite amazing as beautiful rivers and lakes begin to appear.
The section after Prince George is slower going with lots of hills, winding highway, small communities and lots of great lakes to be seen from the highway. About 40kms out of Prince George the RV began acting up. On one of the hills it started chugging away and almost stopped on me. I had to pull over in a not so convenient area and let the semi barreling down on me squeak by. After a brief stop the RV started up and seemed fine. Made it all the way to Smithers. The RV did have the same issue again several times. Thought I would stop for the night and see how it was in the morning.
In the morning, made it about 35 kms up the highway but it took an hour. The RV could hardly climb an ant hill at that point without almost stalling. So, pulled over and thought about the best course of action. I was really tempted to try and make it to Terrace but at the current rate of progress it would have taken most of the day. Grudgingly decided to turn around and limp it back to Smithers.
First place, owner is not in until the next day. No one else there knows about older vehicles this one being a 1987 Ford Econoline. Next place, one week before he can even have a look. Third place, business called OK Tire and luckily they can their guy on it right away. For the morning I hang out at OK Tire plotting over maps of the region and fishing reports – I’m aching to get to Terrace and see the Skeena. About noon time the word comes that the fuel system is the issue and likely the fuel valve. They are going to have to order parts from Edmonton….sigh.
One thing that I did make a note of on my way past Smithers was the great looking canyon fishing on the Bulkley River. Called up the only car rental place in town. Luckily their only vehicle for rent was an early return. Turns out to be a fully loaded Jeep Commander:
Rental jeep and the broken RV
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation036.jpg
I don’t know if any of you have seen or have the latest navigation systems. I was spoiled!
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation039.jpg
A little built in satellite radio for company.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation040.jpg
So, head back up the highway with the rental to fish some spots on the Bulkley. Fished a great run at a place called Trout Creek.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation041.jpg
Managed one hit on a fly called the Purple Tiger that I tied up. Did see several others around me land some pink and coho on hardware.
Moved further up the highway to a great canyon that I spotted early that morning. The run starts at some falls that narrow into a canyon before exiting out the other side. I was interested in the middle section where there appeared to be some calmer water.
Head of the run with the falls.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation052.jpg
Middle section…mmmmmmmmmmmmm….fishy!
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation054.jpg
Managed to find a way down. Started fishing and within about 15 minutes I witnessed by first run of salmon headed up river. I watched the school of about 30 salmon swim by my feet and head up – looked to be pinks and coho. It was a pleasure just seeing them. Often I would catch myself just watching them. I have to admit though it was fun to watch it did become a bit disenchanting when I did put my hook in front of them only to see it ignored time and time again.
After a couple of hours and many tried flies I had some follow ups on clousers. I finally had a male pink hit a lime clouser just a few feet out. I watched as it hit and then spit it quickly. As it started to fall down again though a huge shape exploded from the bottom and came up and grabbed the clouser. Set the hook and the fish rolled on its side. I could clearly see the pink line along the length of the fish as well as the tell tale reddish cheeks – my first steel head! The fish took off into the current and mach speed. Saw my backing in short order…then saw half my backing…then a quarter left…oh oh. I put some pressure on the fish but could quickly tell that the 10wt – 9 foot rod was not a great match to a fish of this strength with current on its side. Held the fish up with only a dozen or so raps of backing left. Finally pulled the hook out of its mouth…but at least I got my gear back and a great memory. This steelhead and the others I saw swimming around were all huge. About twice the size of most of the salmon. Amazing specimens out there.
Headed back to OK Tire before closing to find out how things went. Part from Edmonton was to arrive Friday morning and “should” be good to go by 10 a.m. Took off Friday morning again in the rental and fished South of Smithers at a place where the Telkwa River enters the Bulkley. Managed only a small river fish that looked like a cross between a sauger and a bass….hard to describe. By noon I was back at OK Tire only to see their mechanic still working on it. Pretty much a low point at this time. I suspected that the news would not be good and that the chances of seeing the Skeena was disappearing. By 5 p.m. that was confirmed by the mechanic. He didn’t manage to get the part and felt that fuel pump was also going. That part would take another 6 days….their best advice to me was to cut the trip short and hope to get back home before it all went.
So what did I do? Well, I didn’t go onto Terrace but I did head back up the highway to fish the Bulkley before heading back. Got back to canyon spot and hooked up several times on the clouser but lost the fish each time on jumps and LDRs. Finally connected on a beautiful coho that jumped about 7 times and gave a great fight.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation042.jpg
About the time I landed the fish and kept it, a family of 2 kids and mom and pop came to fish. I gave up the spot and pointed out the current and slower spots to fish. The salmon put on a great show for the kids with lots of them running near shore and some great jumps from huge Chinook that were nearing the end as they were pretty either a dark purple to claret in color.
Things were not all peachy though. In about the middle of it a jet boat fires out at the end of the canyon and pulls in a circle net. There are literally a ton of salmon caught inside. One of the kids asks his parents why they were using nets. The explanation was awkward at best. I exchanged some glances with the father but it was pretty obvious that the explanation of “special rights” for others was totally lost on the kids. I could see the disappointment in their faces.
Every half hour that net was pulled – 12 hours a day – 7 days a week. On the other end of the canyon as the salmon worked their way up to the falls where two fish tunnels provided an easier way for the salmon to get up river. Unfortunately the end was a pool where a person would stand above with a salmon net and net out the bigger ones. The fish were then taken up to a tub and measuring table. Ones that didn’t fit the bill were mercilessly chucked into a metal gutter that put the fish out the other end up river. Some swam away…some went on their side and went back over the falls and didn’t swim again. The average take of the two netters was about 60 salmon per hour – 12 hours a day – 7 days a week. With the boat and net at entrance of the canyon and the two “native” netters at the other end where the falls are they literally had the fish coming and going. It is hard to describe it in any justice here. It was something to see it in action. Very sad, very disappointing. And to think that this is only one spot on one particular river. Sorry to get off on a tangent but this part did stick with me.
Pic of the head of the falls with the harvesting in action. You can see the fish tunnel with the metal gutter at the end of it for the fish that are “rejects”.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation023.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation024.jpg
That evening I tied up a few of these based on how popular the clouser seemed to be with the fish:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/BCVacation014.jpg
to be continued...