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December 8, 2006
Xmas Fishing Report Skeena Region
With a break in the winter snowfall and –15C temperatures, exiting the deep freeze, made for a day out on the water in search of a winter Steeelhead. My trusty guide friend Ted and I planned a day, or a late morning as it eventually turned out. The morning of our day I drove to Terrace from Kitimat, the rain pounding down on the truck, the windshield wipers at full speed, a film of ice still prevalent on the road, I wondered what am I doing. As I thought about it my truck slid into a potential disaster with four vehicles close behind. I put the truck into neutral as the back end tried to turn me around, whew! Almost a crash. I would have been totally disappointed if I missed this planned day on the water. Its funny how you plan these things and the excitement mounts all the way to the 1st cast. No wonder when you guys and gals come to fish up here you get all pumped!
Once I got to Ted’s house, he was in no hurry to get going, “c’mon in, the coffees on”, as he grabs another two pieces of dry firewood and chucks them into the embers warming the upper rooms of his house. I know, patience, patience, never rush a day for Steelhead on the fly. Thurminator from Rockport, TX always says, “ thar Steelhead don’t byts till 11 anywaay!” Ted slowly gets himself ready, and can tell I am anxious to get out on the water. He throws me a remote control, “here play this awhile,” he says. Great, Play station! After shooting at a few tanks and taking ground force crews into the desert, time had adequately passed. “Ok let’s go,” he says. I drop the controller and into the truck we go.
We decide to fish up near the lake, the side road we chose looked scary and it was one way in, one way out, maybe. Trees are overhanging the entrance and the snow looks deep. I put the truck into 4x4 and hit the gas pedal, the truck digs and into the trail we go, no chance to turn around just a forward progression is all we hope for. Miles down the trail we come to a corner and assess the opportunity to turn the truck around when we leave. I give it a few back and forths into the deep snow and the truck digs deeper into the snow, oh god here we go, a long walk out. Whatever, lets leave it and go fishing, the truck can wait. Without a blink we were off, as the trail turned and twisted with a track to follow in, of only a moose. When the sound of running water entered our ears the pace increased, and at that moment the tired feeling wore off. As we walked thru the snow and upstream into the current flow, four Trumpeter Swans shyly waddled into the water and upstream into the lake they went. I attached a pic of the birds with my zoom lens. The wind was gusting and it was bitter when I entered the water, taking a temperature reading, it was 37.8F, Brrrr! I tied on one of my specials “Kalum River Popsicle”, and made a short cast behind a large boulder, smack! A nice Rainbow takes the fly. I hear a splash and Ted has on a Coho, fire engine red and still very aggressive. We fished the pool until I could not feel my fingers any longer and the wind became very heavy, “wanna fish it again,” asks Ted. “No, lets get out of here and get the truck out, we’ll fish another pool before we get home” I quickly replied. We walk the trail out, chatting most of the way, happy with our results, no Steelhead but some tight lines.
After some persistence we are out of the snowy trail and back onto the road, my fingers burning as they begin to thaw. Without hesitation we pull over and grab our rods and are off into the bush again. This time of year the river is in perfect shape, nice and green, low and 4ft of visibility. The pool we fished had a typical appearance, a big bouldered tailout then into a smooth corner with big boulders in the middle of the run. I decide to fish into the tailout and walk up the bank, Ted wades into the fast water and onto a large exposed rock and makes his cast. The smooth part of the corner had the holding water that is very typical when diverted by a structure. Casting into it is another thing. Minutes later Ted is hooked into a fish no further than the tip of his rod, a short cast proved to be the one and he played it like a champ, in fact I recorded the action on my camera in mpeg, as well the pics attached. The Steelhead gave quite a nice fight and pulled out some nice drag before we tailed it and snapped away. As in the pics the pool shows itself quite well as the structure is mint. Ted seems to like this hand crafted fly and has produced some nice Steelhead with it. He calls it “Beginners Luck.” That more or less ended our day and back to town we were before supper. With the holiday season right around the corner, all the best, and see you in 2007.
Tracey John Hittel
Kitimat BC Canada
250 632-9880
250 639-4277
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