There’s bears in them-thar Hills! Yup. September 2011 found me on an adventure steelhead fishing in BC. Amazing. Completely unexpected. A passport purchased months ago for a not-to-be late spring trip came in handy when I found myself with two days to get airfare, pack, and just go. If not for that on-hand passport, this trip would not have been possible.
September is a time when Grizzly bears hunt the same King salmon that Rob and I had hoped to catch in July. Bear tracks are not common, but common enough to let us know that they are around the rivers where we now fish for summer steelhead.
I had the privilege of swinging flies through steelhead runs that were hundreds of yards long. Step in at the head of a run, cast, swing, step, and cast again. It was an amazing experience to find steelhead holding water quite that expansive.
No, the fish were not thick as fleas on a hound dog’s back. No, every run did not produce a grab. But yes, it was instantly electrifying and calming to be able to fish this kind of water. Many of the runs were 3-5 feet deep, smooth flows over gravel groves and studded with fish magnet boulders.
And yes, I fell in and ruined yet another camera, but managed to save a few photos from a hastily removed camera card.
Campfire lunches and tin-can coffee were a most excellent way to relax mid-day and prepare for stepping back into the waters for the afternoon.
And yes, there were a few steelhead kind enough to grace me with a pull, a tug, or a solid yank. These are remarkable wild fish; but no more remarkable than our wild North Umpqua, Rogue, Deschutes, or John Day summer steelhead, save for the magnitude of the mountains surrounding the BC rivers.
More to follow on my northern steelhead adventures; and a few photos saved from a soggy camera card.
Jay Nicholas
September 15, 2011
It sounds like you should consider a waterproof camera. I bought an Olympus Stylus Tough a few years back. Its since been dropped on rocks and in rivers all around Oregon and NoCal, and even saw some salt water action down in Belize and is still functioning wonderfully.
Lower Eagle! I got a hot fish just a few yards below that. Word has it you had an incredible time. 🙂
The mountains around BC certainly are majestic, but thanks for pointing out the awesome possibilities in our own back yard.
Also I can vouch for the Olympus Stylus 1030SW waterproof camera (mentioned in the above comment). All the photos over at my site are taken with that camera. It has taken SEVERAL beatings and keeps on ticking. Two big bonuses in my book are a great macro setting for close ups of the fish and insects and a automatic lens cover.