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October, 2004
 Hello from snowbound Kitimat BC Canada. Yes we have been whitened by
mother nature early this year. Snow has blanketed the area. It is now the third week of October and
the rivers are in fine shape. Silver Salmon are holding abundantly in
the spawning beds, Cutthroat Trout are still aggressively taking flies.
I look back on this years fall season. Koya a newbey who joined us was
after his first Steelhead on the fly and the Skeena was gracious enough
to show him the tight line of a Steelhead. Koya was using the new, Sage
8136 Spey Rod and by the time he left us he was making a variety of
casting techniques flawlessly. His favorite being the Snap Tee. Koya
had to deal with a variety of water conditions, as rain storms had us
guides bouncing from system to system. He did not give up and was
adamant that fly-fishing for a Steelhead was his goal, way to go Koya.
After landing many Dolly Varden and Cutthroat as well some Rocky
Mountain Whitefish, this Steelhead was the one he was after. Attached
is a picture of Koya with his first Steelhead caught with a Kitimat
Kombo fly. During Koya's stay he was roommates with me so many nights
were spent on the fly bench. After many patterns were mimicked, we came
up with the one that will always be available with us for our future
clients to try. We called it the Red Dragon. The tie will be shown in
detail in the flyshop page on the website.
The Hashimoto pair were also guests for a few days after a trip to the Bulkley, Iori was very good at the Spey rod after purchasing a rod in Smithers. We also had allot of good laughs and I learned how to say "fish" in Japanese, its "fish". Mrs. Hashimoto tells me that young children and old people use the Japanese term.
Our threesome from Germany were happy with the Silver Salmon fishing
landing 30 plus fish in a day. With high water conditions the fellas
spent a day on the ocean taking pictures of Seals, Sea Lions, and of
course Whales. As well getting first hand knowledge on pulling Crab
Traps and enjoying the sweet tasting shellfish later that evening at the
lodge. I was particularly interested as Raoul is a fish Biologist for
the Norwegian Government. We spent many a nite beside a hot fire with a
cool beer talking about the Pacific Salmon and Steelhead fishery and
comparing it to the troubles he faces with sea lice in Norwegian waters.
These people have collected books of data and is of great interest to
us, as farmed Salmon has devastated fisheries from his homeland. In fact complete rivers systems had to be poisoned to wipe out all species then re-stocked with new fish.
 Thank you Raoul for all of your comments and educating me on issues that
are of such importance to us on the west coast.
Our other guest from South Africa, Dave arrived when conditions were
perfect, for a few days anyway. We spent day one drifting the Upper
Kalum. The second pool we fished a nice size Steelhead porpoised
downstream of him. The next cast, you guessed it, he was into a nice
chrome Steelhead. This fish made a surface dance and headed out to fast
water, and it was off. The next pool Dave fished he hooked another nice
Steelhead, seconds later it was off. Must I say it again Dave hooked a
third Steelhead and what can I say, bye bye again. Dave asked if we had
a hackers corner at the lodge as the wall of Steelhead fame was only a
moment away. Dave was a good sport and as a parting gift he gave me
tens of Atlantic Salmon flies that his father used as well some flies
that were tied for the Royal Family. Some of these flies were single
barbed with a tiny trailing treble hook. The materials used and applied were very
exotic and precise, thanx Dave.
Our corporate group representing Lakeside fertilizers as well Tiger
Industries, were here to relax and catch Silvers. Two days of high
water was the story for this group. Thanx to our local expertise and
professional guides all clients hooked and landed fish, making for many
laughs and a competition on the last day on who would catch the most.
The girls won this battle as Nicki was the Silver Slayer two days in a
row. The group was impressed with the lodge, its atmosphere, saying they were
taken care of properly, enjoying the home cooked food and the guides
advice on angling. Having three groups of clients in one building was a
real treat as anglers from around the globe exchanged views on issues that effect us all.
 One day on the Kitimat River the rain was intense and the river was swelling quickly, all tributaries were high and brown, large logs were floating downstream, the trunks
still attached. Some of the large Spruce trees, grasping desperately onto the high soiled banks could no longer hold
there position as erosion toppled them into the raging stream. The
noise of a large tree falling into the water and snapping near its base
sounds like a high powered rifle going off. After seeing one tree drop
with such a force we put caution to the wind and decided to continue down to the take out, not
before watching another giant Spruce tree fall into the water not one
hundred feet from the raft. I remember Robert who was sitting in the
front seat, say, "Oh my god, Look, Look!" in slow motion right before
our eyes helplessly, Crack! then a large splash like a Killer Whale
rolling on the ocean surface. This was a spectacular view and was worth
a thousand words. We felt so small and inadequate as mother nature was
showing us the power she can produce.
Robert(USA) and Tony(England) were here for Steelhead on the fly but
river conditions were not favorable so we resorted to Silver Salmon
fishing. The fellas had a ball with these feisty fish topping the scales
at 10-15Lbs. During there stay I noticed that Robert was concentrating more
on his cell phone that the fishing. After a few days I had to ask,
kindly, what are you up to. Little did I know that a digital signal on
a cellphone will get you internet access. Robert was trading stock all
week! Finally as the weekend came I knew he would leave the business
part of his trip alone as there is no trading on weekends. What can I
say Robert landed some nice fish and when he concentrated on the fishing
aspect he was into tight lines. Attached is a picture of his fishing
partner Tony with a respectable Silver.
My last picture attached is a close-up of a Cutthroat Trout. All the best and keep checking the site for new pictures, reports, and new hot flys.
Tracey John Hittel
Kitimat BC Canada
250 632-9880
250 639-4277
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