|
August 30, 2002
NASS RIVER:
 For
this week’s report we have been fishing for large King
Salmon in the Nass Valley. We made our way out for a week’s
adventure of fishing in the lava beds. The people of the area
are friendly and eager to offer a hand with either fishing
or the history of the area. They told me that in the 1700’s
approximately 3,000 Nisga Indians who had been living in this
valley were killed when a volcano erupted and blasted hot
lava 32 square miles. In places it was 20 feet deep. Today
it is home to some of the most incredible scenery I have ever
seen! The lava rock is home to white moss coverings and emerald
green waters. I felt as if I was in another part of the world
instead of just 100 kilometers from Terrace.
Float fishing was the method we used with dink floats and
a 30-pound leader with a piece of cured salmon roe attached
by a piece of colored yarn at the hook end. This is a very
popular method to use because when these fish hit they scream
up and down the river with immense power. The lava rock is
quite sharp and it is very important to keep the fish away
from the outcroppings that exist in the river. We were disappointed
to see so many fishermen loose their fish because they were
too powerful for them to handle. The river is not very wide,
fishing space is very limited, but it is still a great experience.
I attach a picture of my father with a better than average
White Spring.
The staff at the Nisga Fisheries tell me that this year’s
Sockeye run was phenomenal and well exceeded the estimated
numbers.
KITIMAT RIVER:
 The
Coho run is now in full swing and conditions are varied. High
water is the deciding factor as to whether fish are to be
landed or not. River levels drop two to three feet per day
so conditions clean up fast. This makes for some hot action!
Our guests this week have been from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
Medicine Hat, Alberta, Vancouver, BC and Perth Road, Ontario.
We landed some nice fish as you can see. Blake has a large
bright silver male Coho.
Guiding was a treat for us when Richard and
Doug were up with us for four days on the river. These fellows
are very experienced with casting in pocket waters. We boon
dogged most of the river’s length, some 20 miles. When
the water was in shape it was “fish on.” Richard
and his dad Doug were after their first Coho Salmon and the
fishing gods were on their side. I anchored in a spot most
fishermen would pass through -- just above a logjam. We cast
lures and swung them from the fast water into the slow back
eddy. After a few casts “Boom!” I had one on.
A split second later another fish blasted out of the water.
“Double header!” I yelled. Richard pulled hard
on the rod and the two fish tails danced in the air. Pandemonium
started when the two fish actually crossed our lines as they
jumped out of the water. I quickly passed the rod to Doug
and he danced around Richard to get our lines untangled. These
fish were hot and bright silver. We laughed out loud at the
excitement. We Texas released both fish and high fives were
in order. We landed other fish also that day. It was a great
week having these fellows here in the Kitimat Valley!
SKEENA/KALUM RIVER:
We also spend some time on the main stem Skeena for early
summer Steelhead. As the Skeena was high and dirty we managed
hook-ups of large Pink Salmon on the fly. The Kalum River
is also very high and not ready for Steelhead heaven just
yet. The weather lately has been rainy and cold at night.
Water conditions will be low in the next week but the run
of summer Steelhead and Silvers will progressively be getting
better.
We will be fly fishing for record Steelhead all of
September and until the middle of October. Join us for a trip
of a lifetime!
|
