March 2006
March Madness, Skeena Region Fishing Report
from http://www.steelheadheaven.ca
Spring has sprung up here in Skeena Region and our repeat guest Guy Tucker, from Seattle WA, was in town to target Wild Steelhead with his Winston Spey rod. Guy flew into Terrace for a short mid week action packed, reel screaming extravaganza. Having landed some nice Steelhead during his stay made for some hot action on the water. With river conditions low and clear and the sun high in the sky we were sight fishing for chromers. Our first fish of the trip was a nice doe attached in this pic that fell victim to a Black Articulated Leech. As we drifted down the river I noticed thru the gin clear water the swirl of a moving Steelhead, so to shore we went. Three to five casts later Guy was into BC Steel fresh from the ocean.
Our second fish came late morning as Guy was swinging his Purple Articulated into the middle of a fast tail-out and the fight was on, this fish took him into the milk instantly and bolted for cover on the other side of the river. The milk is something Guy and I know only to well and that is the color of his backing, milky Dacron. For those fly anglers who are reading this we all know when a fish takes us into the backing we have a bruiser on. Attached is this second doe of the trip another fresh and beautiful BC Steelie.
Our last fish of the trip we landed after a second chance was given to us. We entered the pool and I suggested Guy take the tail-out, I walked upstream to the many large boulders that formed numerous holding pools for a possible metal head. Five casts later with my #2 Freight Train, I hooked into a large Steelhead in a small seam that was formed from the fast flowing river. This was a large male as I could see his silver side erupt out of the water and take off down river, my Waterworks reel making the sound of a thousand angels singing, man this is what its all about.
I finally recovered some line and the Steelhead decided to take cover behind one of the many large rocks. At this point I knew a rest would entail another tug of war, so I lifted my rod to gain some leverage, and pop! My line went slack and the Steelhead gone. I waved to Guy and positioned him in the same run as I fished coaching him thru the pool suggesting the Steelhead must be resting behind one of the rocks. We presented the fly behind each and nothing responded.
As a young lad in training I was always told if you hook a Steelhead and lose him/her go to a smaller fly, and that is what we did.
Guy went thru the run again but this time with a smaller fly called “Flaring Gasâ€, and it paid off immensely. As you can see in this report a respectable BC Steelhead is digitized, a male and very fresh. The measurements came in at 36†length and a 18â€girth.
The water temperatures have been steadily rising the last few days as the season started out with 35F and now an increase to 38F in the AM to 40.8F in the afternoon. For those of you who are wondering why the temperature readings, we’ll I am a fond believer that a Steelhead will become more aggressive to take a fly when the water temperatures reach 40F and beyond. Our sight fishing adventures worked quite well and we witnessed three Steelhead in one small tail-out, unfortunately another pair of anglers were fishing upstream from this piece of water so we had to slide on thru and miss a great opportunity.
Our line up of guests for the next six weeks are quite extensive so stay current on the happenings in our region as the season goes by. For the guests that are booked for the season I am sure you are getting your gear ready!!
For last minute Steelhead bookings, dates are still available for small flexible groups, tight lines.
Tracey John Hittel
Kitimat BC Canada
250 632-9880
250 639-4277
