Jeff Bright Steelhead Flyfishing Expeditions 1825 15TH STREET NO.1 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 WWW.JEFFBRIGHT.COM 415.317.9400
Skeena River SUMMER STEELHEAD & SALMON ______
NICHOLAS DEAN OUTDOORS Skeena Camp AUGUST 15–21, AUGUST 22–28, 2010 Northwest British Columbia’s Skeena River is the steelhead and salmon superhighway. In summer, particularly during the month of August, the lower main channel Skeena hosts vast numbers of migrating steelhead, chinook, coho, sockeye, chums and pinks headed for numerous upriver tributaries. To take full advantage of this prolific fishery and offer a high-quality, high-value fishing adventure, Nicholas Dean Lodge has developed an on- river Skeena Camp package. This is a very rare opportunity to hook the largest steelhead on Earth in their peak physical condition. Jeff Bright Steelhead Flyfishing Expeditions 1825 15TH STREET NO.1 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 WWW.JEFFBRIGHT.COM 415.317.9400
L: The Skeena’s summer-run coho are prized gamefish. R: Steelhead and salmon migrate along the big river’s edge, making riffles and breaks prime targets for swinging flies. Skeena River SUMMER STEELHEAD & SALMON | AUGUST 15–21, AUGUST 22–28, 2010 | NICHOLAS DEAN OUTDOORS Skeena Camp
The River, the Fish & the Season Where do you go to pursue the largest, meanest steelhead on the planet? Where in the world can you hook coho to 20 pounds, tackle-busting chums to 30 pounds and massive, fly-mashing chinook to who-knows-how-many pounds? How about sporty chrome-bright sockeyes on the fly? Or scores of spunky humpbacked pinks? How about all six of these species in a single day? All these questions can be answered with one word: Skeena. To the native cultures in northwest British Columbia it is the “River of Mists.” To the traveling angler it is a dream destination offering endless flyfishing possibilities. With annual runs of up to 5 million fish — and no dams or hatchery influence — the Skeena is a North American A very heavy and very fresh hen steelhead. treasure, the last great place for wild salmon and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest. Does it get any better? Traffic in this spectacular fish migration is heaviest from late July through early September. In particular, the highest concentration of summer steelhead will be pulsing through the lower river in August. Generally stable weather and river conditions during this period give anglers a shot at these super sea-run trout in their top form. Skeena sys- tem steelhead average 8 to 15 pounds, but 20-pounders are not uncommon and 30- pounders are hooked with more frequency than you might imagine — though few are landed. Many a Skeena angler has been left slack-jawed and shaken with backing nearly gone from his reel and a great silver fish, now free of the hook, jumping far off in the dis- tance. These truly are the trout of legend. Skeena chinook grow to massive proportions — In its lower reaches, the Skeena is wide and powerful. Surprisingly, this works in the but a 35-pounder is plenty to handle! flyfisher’s favor. Just in from the sea, fish here are on the move. However, with a long and arduous journey ahead, they seek softer flows near the river’s edge. Find the right gravel bar with a gentle inside seam or shallow riffling break and literally thousands of fish will pass by your feet in a day’s time. All that’s needed to connect is to keep your fly swimming seductively in the travel lane. With this in mind, Nicholas Dean’s on-river Skeena Camp is operated to provide the visiting angler with the lowest cost option for the highest angling reward. Camping on the Skeena’s banks, affords sunup to sundown access to this great run of fish. Of all packages offered for pursuing trophy steelhead in Skeena Country, this may be the most unique.
The Camp & Staff Camp location may vary from year to year, but each installment is strategically locat- ed on productive water and erected to balance comfort with the spirit of a wilderness tent camp. (See page 3 for details.) Camp guides and staff are long-time are residents; 24/7/365, they live and breath steelhead and salmon. All possess the outdoor skills, It’s universal, big sea-run fish make anglers “fish sense” and courtesy needed to provide an unforgettable angling adventure. smile big smiles!
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L: Sleeping tents and the dining tent at Skeena Camp — all within short distance of sunup to sundown fishing. R: A fresh Skeena steelhead still showing its ocean colors. Skeena River SUMMER STEELHEAD & SALMON | AUGUST 15–21, AUGUST 22–28, 2010 | NICHOLAS DEAN OUTDOORS Skeena Camp
The Details
Location: Terrace is the hub of the lower Skeena Valley, roughly 75 miles from the river’s mouth at Prince Rupert and 430 miles north of Vancouver — a short two-hour plane ride. Nicholas Dean Outdoors is based at Yellow Cedar Lodge, just minutes west of town on the Skeena’s north bank.
Target rivers: Mainstem Skeena, Copper River (optional day trip add-on)
Group size: 7 anglers including host Lower Skeena River and tributaries, located on British Columbia’s northwest coast. Arrival and departure dates: In on Sunday, August 8/15/22 and out on Saturday, August 14/21/28, 2010
2010 rate: $2450 CAD
Included: 5 full days guided fishing plus arrival and departure partial-day fishing, 6 nights in camp, all meals, airport pickup and dropoff.
Options: Lower Copper River walk-in day trip; $150 CAD per person per day The Copper River provides an attractive day trip from camp. Not included: Airfare to Terrace; BC sportfishing license, including steelhead conserva- tion surcharge and classified waters fees (see next page for licensing summary); gratuities; alcoholic beverages.
Camp facilities & staff: Mixture of single and two-person sleeping tents with cots and mats, communal dining and gear tents, privy and propane-heated water with shower tent. Aside from personal items and fishing gear, guests need only bring a sleeping bag, pillow, and towel. Staff consists of 2 guides and 1 attendant. Staff performs all cooking (three hot meals daily). Guided fishing is from 8am–5pm.
Getting there: Many commercial airlines provide service to Vancouver airport (YVR). From Vancouver, guests can fly Air Canada Jazz or Hawk Air into the newly modernized airport in Terrace (YXT). Schedules and fares can be found at: www.aircanada.com www.hawkair.ca Copper steelhead are known for their aggres- sive, free-rising behavior.
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L: Skeena summer steelhead are notoriously hard to land. R: Want to fish fourteen hours a day? Always have first and last water? Skeena Camp is your trip! Skeena River SUMMER STEELHEAD & SALMON | AUGUST 15–21, AUGUST 22–28, 2010 | NICHOLAS DEAN OUTDOORS Skeena Camp
The Details (cont’d.)
Jeff Bright Expeditions deposit policy: A deposit of 50% is required to secure your spot. Verbal commitments will be honored for seven business days. After seven business days, spots not secured by deposit will be released. Balance is due 60 days prior to arrival date.
Nicholas Dean Outdoors cancellation policy: If written notice of cancellation is received 180 days (6 months) prior to the scheduled trip, your deposit will be refunded less a $300 CAD cancellation fee. No fee will be assessed if you have an immediate Sockeye in the lower Skeena can provide the fly replacement at the time of cancellation. If written notice of cancellation is received less angler with acrobatic sport. than 180 days (6 months) prior to the scheduled trip, your deposit will not be refunded. However, if space is available, your booking may be transferred to another trip later in the same calendar year. In this case, a $300 CAD rebooking fee will be assessed. Balance payments are non-refundable. All deposits and balance payments are only valid for the calendar year (March 15 to November 15) in which the trip was booked, after which, all deposits and final payments are forfeited.
BC sportfishing license costs: The licensing cost for your Skeena River trip will vary depending on a number of factors, including the waters you fish. Here is a breakdown of costs and options:
Basic license, non-resident alien: $50 CAD for 8-day or $80 CAD for annual Steelhead conservation surcharge: $60 CAD for 8-day or annual Class I waters license: $40 CAD/per calendar day (upper Copper River) Class II waters license: $20 CAD/per calendar day (lower Copper, Kalum, Ecstall rivers Reflections of summer on the main channel and mainstem Skeena zone 2) Skeena near Terrace.
A typical license cost with an 8-day basic and steelhead surcharge will range from $170 to $250 CAD. Buy an annual if you plan to return to BC prior to fish prior to March 31, 2011. If you already have an annual BC fishing license for 2010 with a steelhead con- servation surcharge stamp, be sure to bring it with you. You’ll save $110 CAD.
Additional online information: www.jeffbright.com www.nicholasdean.com www.yellowcedarlodge.ca www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/fish/regulations No better way to end the day…
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