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September 21, 2004
The Skeena Steelhead
 Our guests from London, England this week were having some fun as the 15ft 10-11wt. Spey rods were bent. Pictured here is John Townend with a bright summer run Steelhead. This wild buck weighed in at 15.3lbs. and what a fight. The Skeena is well known for these average size Steelhead and John was up to the task. When it comes to targeting Skeena Steelhead one must travel many a mile in a jetboat to find these moving or holding fish. With a large river to fish anglers must concentrate on the run they are fishing not the Skeena itself. It is very overwelming if you lose sight of the small run you are fishing. We concentrated our efforts on many bars and tailouts. Each day we were into fish but landing them was another story. The last day of the trip we were rewared as the run in particular we targeted was not only holding fish but numerous were running thru. These Steelhead were porposing and splashing in the afternoon sunlight. To say the least the Skeena is in perfect shape, water temperatures around 51F, 3ft. of visibility and dropping. A light dusting of snow has capped the local mountain tops, the summer run has begun.
 When we arrived at the run I parked the boat at the bottom of the long and rocky bar, the top of the run barely in sight. I pointed to the threesome, "up there, is where I want you to start." With no questions asked away we went to the top of the run. John started first making a few single spey casts, fish on! This small doe gave quite a fight and within a few long seconds it was off. It did not take long as we saw numerous fish boiling and finning at the surface. The sun was shining high in the sky with some scattered clouds about. Johns first take was in the shadows. I knew we were going to be awhile so a nice flat rock was my seat for the afternoon. As we peppered the run with various flies, John had another take and there was no setting the hook as this agressive Steelhead bombed into the fast water bursting out of the air, a black Wooly Bugger in its grasps. The autumn trees in the background, the smell of fresh air, and a smiling face of a happy angler was what we were after. This fresh Steelhead was quite a fighter and after a long hard fought battle John was rewarwed with his first Skeena Steelhead landed. We digitized the beast and off he went into the clear water vanishing. At dinner that nite at Upper Kalum John could not stop smiling and was the king for the day. He is now a member of the wall of fame.
 Our other guests the Leonard family spent time sightseeing and Coho fishing. Dave and Jeff landed many large Coho on the local microstreams as well Jeff landed a 30lb. King on the fly. These Kings are in full spawn and many fish in the 50lb. range were rolling as we swung flies for Steelhead and Coho.
Our third time guest Mr. Whitehead was with us for Steelhead on the fly. Hooking 4 Steelhead in two days as well some large Coho on the flyrod in the 15lb. range. The Coho are returning in nice numbers and Steelhead are as well. All pictures of this weeks events can be viewed in the photo gallery.
I have tied two original fly patterns, marabou flies, in blue, as well orange/red. I fished two pieces of water with these flies and the first pool I hooked three Dolly Varden. The second run I hooked two Steelhead. They are called the "Gravelwalker" and "flaring gas". The flyshop will have soime new patterns for you to try over the winter, tight lines.
Tracey John Hittel
Kitimat BC Canada
250 632-9880
250 639-4277
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