BC winter Steelhead, Guided and hosted trips

Shop guide Pat Beahen with a huge local BC winter Steelhead

Its getting to be that time again, BC Winter Steelhead are making their way into their natal streams all over the province. Rivers like the Stamp, Gold and Vedder that have earlier runs of winter fish are all doing exceptionally well. Because of good ocean survival, that trend should continue for most BC Steelhead bearing streams that will be getting fish in the next few months.
Our local rivers like the Squamish and Cheakamus had better runs last year then many previous years in the past and should be very good this year as well. The Skeena system had a phenomenal run of steelhead this fall and there is no reason why it shouldn't continue for the winter and spring months.
Whistler flyfishing has hosted trips on alot of these winter Steelhead waters for the spring including the Kalum, Yakoun and the Nass river. Local Steelhead trips out of Whistler start in late February and run, weather permitting, until the end of May. For any info on these winter run rivers or information on guided and hosted trips, give the shop a call at 604-932-7221

Mike with a sweet local Steelie from May long weekend

March Fish around here are generally really Chrome

Whistler fishing report December 1st

WHISTLER FISHING REPORT - December 1st, 2010

FISHING REPORT
December 1st, 2010

BIRKENHEAD RIVER-the Birkenhead river is fishing good with some nice Rainbows and Bulls being Taken on single Eggs and flesh patterns.

CHEAKAMUS RIVER (lower)- Coho, Bulls and Bows, use your favorite patterns egg pattern as well as flesh flies and sculpin imitations.

ASHLU RIVER -good fishing for nice Bull Trout and Rainbow trout with egg patterns and sculpin imitations.

MAMQUAM RIVER-decent Rainbow Trout fishing on the upper waters.Still some late run Coho Salmon fishing in the lower Mamquam below the canyon.

SQUAMISH RIVER-river is in nice shape with some late run Chum and Coho to fish for on the lower river as well as Rainbow Trout and Bull Trout(Char).

www.whistlerflyfishing.com

Winter Fly Fishing In Whistler British Columbia

Winter fly fishing is in full swing now in Whistler with good fishing for Bull Trout(Char), Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout in the Squamish and Cheakamus rivers.This is one of my favourite times of year to be on the river as I enjoy the quiet of winter as well as the charm of fishing in the snow. Char fishing is especially productive during the winter months and these fish can reach considerable size in both the Squamish and Cheakamus rivers.

Rivers are starting to look good...

The weather is warming up, and everyone knows what that means... Fishing is going to get good. The rivers on the coast have been very low and clear. With 4 arctic outflows this year, its no wonder! The rain and warmer weather has been bringing water levels up, so Steelhead and Bulltrout fishing should start picking up in the next few weeks here. The Cheakamus and Squamish rivers are good choices, though the Lower Lillooet Should be producing Steelhead as well as the odd Spring right now as well.
Big flies are a good choice for the Steelies as well as Springs. Fish are few and far between and big flies cover water fast. The fish are quite aggressive and so most favorite patterns will work. Intruders, leeches and prawn/shrimp patterns are all good choices. As with Steelheading anywhere, this is not a numbers fishery and any fish caught should be considered a trophy. Always practice proper catch and release habits, keep the fish off the sand and rocks and fingers out of its gills. Never let the fish go in fast water. Along with treating the fish well, treat your fellow anglers with respect. Proper river etiquette improves everyones day out on the water!
If you would like to check out river levels for the Squamish and Cheakamus, check out this website. For any other info, check out our website, or give the shop a call.

Fishing The Mamquam

Thousands of people drive over it every day and most don't bother a second glance at it, the Mamquam River is perhaps one of my favorite rivers in the Squamish area to fish. If you have ever fished it, Chances are it was during Salmon season for the plentiful Chum, Pink or Coho. Thats usually the extent of most fishing experiences on this urban river. But this river has exceptional Trout fishing as well. During the winter and spring, the Mamquam holds some of the largest sea-run Bulltrout encountered anywere in Squamish, more Cutthroat per Kilometre then the Squamish or Cheakamus, Rainbows, Springs, lots of Coho and even a late run of Steelhead. The Canyon water Holds lots of Rainbows and the reaches above the powerhouse hold Rainbow and bulltrout for almost 20km up the river. Winter tends to be a slower time to fish this river as it is very low and clear, but if you can find a couple nice runs, you can usually get into some larger sea run Bull, sea run Cutthroat and Rainbow trout. When the Cheakamus and Squamish Blow out during high water, the Mamquam usually gets back into shape the fastest. Large flies tend to work well for most species here, especially for the Char, but a simple egg sucking leech, rolled muddler or even a stonefly Nymph will work almost anytime of the year for the smaller trout. If the opportunity arises, don't be afriad to test your skills on the Mamquam.

Flyfishing Contest - Where is This Sign?

Ok I feel like giving something away....so here's the deal I was going to guide on the Cheakamus river tomorrow but instead I gave the trip to another Whistler Flyfishing guide and now I'm gonna be in the fly shop all day. So the first person to call me tomorrow at 1-888-822-3474 (after 11am PST) and tell me where this picture was taken(within a km or so) will win the Whistler Flyfishing hat of their choice, shipped to their door, anywhere in North America.We have lots of stickers in stock now too so I'll sweeten the deal with some stickers as well. Give me a shout if you think you have the answer and want a pimpin new fishing hat, don't worry I won't try and sell you a new speyrod.......

Kids Today....

Here in Canada there is a sense that kids are not fishing as much as they used to, probably due to the various electronic entertainment distractions so popular with the youth of today. I remember being 12 years old and racing home after school to grab my fly rod and bmx bike and ripping down the dyke to the river mouth to chase sea run Cutthroat Trout.

The two youngsters in the photo, aged 10 and 11 are from Australia. They visit Whistler each year and do a couple of days of guided flyfishing. It is neat to see their skills improve with each visit. They are becoming anglers of the highest regard. They both tie their own flies, cast great(even double hauling), understand proper angling ettiquite and most importantly have respect for the fish. They are pictured here with a beauty Bull Trout that the oldest one caught this past January in the Cheakamus River near Whistler. A nice fish no doubt, but what makes it really special is when they caught it. On this particular trip the older folks, including their hard core fishing uncle had decided to pack it in after lunch. Fair enough, it was one of those days where the snow is so wet that you get soaked and then frozen by the cold wind. The boys had looked forward to this trip so there was no stopping them. When the old folks went back to the hotel hot tub the kids fished on. Not long after the parents departure young Harrison latched onto this beauty, the look on the boys' faces says it all!