This is the time of the year Mother Nature is waking up and the first big Steelhead start to migrate back upriver. No other season offers better chances to land a Chrome steelhead over 20 lbs. Almost on weekly basis guests land fish over 20 lbs. Nowhere else in the world can anyone find a comparable steelhead fishing like this, period. Don’t bring your light Spey rod in March or April, guests will need a rod and reel that can handle the power of these big and aggressive fish. The rivers are very clear and sometimes guests can see a large fish creating a massive wake as they zoom in towards their fly. Our spring program centers around fishing the Skeena, Kitimat, Kalum, Copper and other secret rivers depending on the fishing conditions.
What you can expect when booking this package
We prefer 13-14-foot rods in the 7-8-9 weight class. The Skeena River is a wide river and long cast would be a plus to cover surface area. The Kitimat is a medium sized river where distance is less important.
Skagit, rage, shooting heads or scandi lines work well this time of the year. No need to cast heavy tips or heavy flies.
You can fish poly leaders, MOW or regular sink tips. The most popular ones are Clear Intermediate, t3, t6 and we rarely use t8 on the Kalum River.
We strongly advice Maxima ultragreen in the 15-20lb range. We have seen many large fish breaking off other brands of leader material.
Pink is the No. 1 choice of all our guides. Steelhead in the spring are not too picky and will take most flies if well presented. However black, blue and purple can also work well if the waterlevel is high and quality is murky. We prefer tube flies rather than regular flies, but the fish don’t really care. Long slim flies will work better than big and bulkey.NB: The hook must be barbless, size 1 and 2 are the best hooks for Steelhead, we will pinch the barb on the spot. Most popular spring flies are the Ken Morrish Trailer trash, HOBO Spey and a little pink leech. Shrimp flies also work well.
It can be very wet, cold and warm all in the same day. Wearing different layers is a must. Most times the jet boat ride will be cold and during the day it can get quite warm in the sun. Make sure you bring a solid rain jacket and a chest wader.
Ask us anything. We’re happy to be there for you. You can also browse our Q&A section and find answers for frequently asked questions.
