Skeena/Kitimat Steelhead Tips

[FisherGrrrl]

So my next fishing adventure I'm heading to the Skeena/Kitimat area for the spring steelhead run. I booked off April 14th to 24th and been trying to gather as much info as I can.

I have never been up there before and will most likely be self-guiding the trip.
I already got the list of classified waters printed off as well as regulations.

What I'm looking for now is if anyone could offer any tips on tackle or suggestions on rivers and access points to help make this trip as successful as possible for a newbie to the area

I'm thinking I'll be taking my pontoon.. however I'm kinda worried about leaving it unattended at times :S.. (should I just leave it at home or is it worth bringing it along) I also will be bringing a centerpin/float rod, baitcaster/rod, and an 8wt fly rod.. and probably going to be trying them all until I find what the fish want

So if anyone can help me out send me a PM if you like. Any advice would would be great

Thanks!

[ReconWilly]

Bottom bouncing 4 inch long pink UNSCENTED rubber worms, use a 3 way swivel and 1 to 3 oz ball and chain wieghts (depending on the rivers flow rate at the time), play around with leader length depending again on flow rate ,usually 4 - 8 ft, use 8-12 pound flourocarbon for your leader i like trilene flourocarbon, and prepare to WORK for your fish and the rewards will be just!! SO JEALOUS!! Research similar techniques used for FLOSSING Sockeye, GOOD LUCK!! and pics please.****Almost forgot**** Octopus Gamagatsu hooks are the be-all end-all hooks for any Steelheader .

[alces]

I lived in Terrace for 4 years and lived on those rivers. Send me a PM if you want details. Don't forget the Kalum River too, it is very good and easy to access. Oh and yes bring your boat, you won't regret it.

[Jamie]

Fisher
Here is a link to some great fish reports.
http://www.noelgyger.ca/

If you want, call Noel. He might beable to help a bit.

With you liking to travel like this, we have to get out on the big water just 1.5 hours west of there.

Jamie

[The Fisherman Guy]

We found a great Campground outside of Terrace on the Exchamsiks river, and took the jetboat down the river to the Skeena everyday. Incredible area!

The most beautiful river we saw, as most of them were blown out when we were up there, was the Kitimat. We drove up a FSR and found an empty campground on the river, and stayed for a few days.

Have fun! For all of your self guided fishing needs, talk to the guys at Northcoast Anglers. The owner was a huge help to us, and we did get into some fish. I snapped off 60lb braid on a Chinook in the Kitimat, and that fish broke it with ease.

[fish gunner]

lucky grrrl. the kitimat /terrace area is a meca to salmon& steelhead anglers. dont forget a lighter outfit. as there is some great cuttys and dollys in both systems. dont forget to try the lakelse river just west of terrace, have caught some big fish out of it also. I would not recomend a pontoon boat on the skeena but you should be fine on the kitimat if water levels are reasonable. the drift from hierch creek park is a good day drift to get you started. good luck, tight lines.

[Saltmania]

Sounds like a great trip in the works. Next year I'm going to put together an 8wt setup for pike and an (hopefull) annual trip out to the west coast for some chrome I have lots of family in Prince George, some of who would be sure to join me. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

[FisherGrrrl]

Originally Posted by Jamie

Fisher
Here is a link to some great fish reports.
http://www.noelgyger.ca/

If you want, call Noel. He might beable to help a bit.

With you liking to travel like this, we have to get out on the big water just 1.5 hours west of there.

Jamie

Lots of info on that site thanks! I would love to go out on big water with one of your guided trips and have definately looked into it I will be calling you guys to head out one of these days .. maybe i'll start saving up for a lodging trip after this one.

[FisherGrrrl]

And thanks for the posts ! Hopefully I can come back with a bunch of pictures

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by FisherGrrrl

Lots of info on that site thanks! I would love to go out on big water with one of your guided trips and have definately looked into it I will be calling you guys to head out one of these days .. maybe i'll start saving up for a lodging trip after this one.

Fisher.. Its cheaper than you think. You should get in touch.
Best of luck on your trip.

Jamie

[fishpro]

Although you'll be there quite early, check with the shops when you get there as there may be a few springs running up the Kalum already.

Good luck with your trip, I hear steelhead are very addicting!! I'm heading out this summer to hit the salmon and steelhead runs in July and August.

[Rockymtnx]

Originally Posted by Jamie

Fisher.. Its cheaper than you think. You should get in touch.
Best of luck on your trip.
Jamie

FisherGrrrl, all the big water pics from 2011 that you seen on my page were from Jamie's Lodge. I think those pics speak for themselves.

[FisherGrrrl]

Originally Posted by Rockymtnx

FisherGrrrl, all the big water pics from 2011 that you seen on my page were from Jamie's Lodge. I think those pics speak for themselves.

Lol most definitely they do

[FisherGrrrl]

Well Im off! Should be arriving early in the morning tomorrow, thanks to all who replied for all the advice hopefully I can come back in 11 days with some steelhead pics to share.

[horsetrader]

Originally Posted by FisherGrrrl

Well Im off! Should be arriving early in the morning tomorrow, thanks to all who replied for all the advice hopefully I can come back in 11 days with some steelhead pics to share.

Good Luck

[30-30]

If you fish the Kitimat river park just outside the fish hatchery gate and walk
down stream to the boundry marker and you will catch steelies all day, pink wool and bottom bounce. ( I lived there for 35 years) I moved to get away from all the tourists in the summer months fighting over "their" spot on the river.

[BeeGuy]

X2 on the lakelse river.

Park at the tracks on the thunderbird and hoof it to the river.

I can't speak about this time of the season or the reg's however.

Lots of nice holding water, but tight quarters and lots of lumber and logjams.

[waterninja]

hope you have a safe journey and great fishing. i was near there ffrom spring to fall on a job and what i remember is that the salmon runs started in the spring with springs then pinks then sockeye then chinook and the steelhead didn't run untill fall.hope you get a chance for steelhead as your going to be clser to the ocean

[FisherGrrrl]

Originally Posted by waterninja

hope you have a safe journey and great fishing. i was near there ffrom spring to fall on a job and what i remember is that the salmon runs started in the spring with springs then pinks then sockeye then chinook and the steelhead didn't run untill fall.hope you get a chance for steelhead as your going to be clser to the ocean

Ya there is a short steelhead run in the spring then a longer run in the fall. Made it safe after driving all night through a snow storm. Time to hit the river

[one shot]

peachy king wool, colorado, if bait is alowed prawns, roe, pink worms, trout beads, flat fish, use them all, gotta move alot, 10min a spot, flys, work great egg sucking leach, pink bucktails, egg patterns,

[morgan]

Last weeks big fish for me from Skeena Country
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_0042.jpg

[waterninja]

glad to hear you made it safely. i'm betting that those b.c. hillbillys will be shocked that a woman knows how to fish.

[newdrenalin]

I was born in Kitimat and raised in Terrace. I have fished alot on all the rivers in the area. Your best bet for Steelhead at this time of year would be the Kalum followed by the Lakelse if its open. PM me if you some location.

[FisherGrrrl]

Had an Awesome day today and floated a river in the pontoon boats. Two steelhead pulled in! One wild and one hatchery. I can't take credit for either but its nice knowing we are on the right track on day one of the trip. I caught a bunch of rainbows, their colouring is really unique out here! Doing the upper section of the river tomorrow..and then trying this kalum river you all speak of

[waterninja]

very glad to here you landed some steelies. b.c. bows do look different from alta's (more silver?). whats the weather like? do you still get a free b.c. fisheries ball cap when you turn in the tag from a steelhead? good luck on the rest of your trip and watch out for the bears.

[newdrenalin]

Originally Posted by BeeGuy

X2 on the lakelse river.

Park at the tracks on the thunderbird and hoof it to the river.

I can't speak about this time of the season or the reg's however.

Lots of nice holding water, but tight quarters and lots of lumber and logjams.

I have fished this area alot.Lots of nice pools in there. Some really good cutthroat fishing this time of year too. Shot a couple moose in the Thunderbird area too.

[FisherGrrrl]

Yes! Yesturdays float.. second hole.. I pulled in my first west coast steelie. Was about a 13 pound hatchery buck!

[The Fisherman Guy]

Nice job FG!

Let's see some of your pictures, that part of the world is incredible!

Congrats on your first Steelie!

[horsetrader]

Nice catch congrates

[waterninja]

good for you! it's going to be tough fishing back in alberta after getting spoiled down there.