Full tilt bull trout on the Elk

With water in rivers running at full tilt all across the Kootenays it was a bit of a gamble to hit the Elk River for the annual running of the bulls last week, but determination and a decided yearning to get away from civilization and into the run compelled us on.
When we first rolled over the Elk River bridge we noted our normally productive flats fishing at the mouth of the Elk was under 20 feet of water due to the overflowing Koocanusa Reservoir. However the Elk wasn't as bad and, although slightly higher, was still fishable.

Derek playing bull trout on the Elk River

From the first evening to the final morning of our five-day trip we consistently landed bulls. Sure there were times when an hour or two would pass between fish, but there were also days when a dozen fish was landed in a similar span.

Chris hooks into his first bull on the fly rod

It was an amazing trip with lots of laughs and success on the water. Chris joined us and landed his first bull trout on the fly rod within an hour of his first cast. Congratulations Chris and hope to get out on the water and throw some string soon.

In the meantime enjoy a couple photos of Derek, Jake, Chris and I pounding bush, wading the Elk and running with the bulls.

To read more about bull trout fishing the Elk check out my recent article in New Fly Fisher Magazine. Go to www.thenewflyfisher.com

Jake with a nice bull

Not so early fly tying session

Me taking photo of Derek taking photo of Jake's fish

Return to fly-fish-bc.com

Interior BC fly fishing



Taylor and Colin show off
his catchbefore releasing it

Fly-fish-bc travelled to the Thompson-Okanagan and Cariboo earlier this month to pit our fly fishing skills  against some of the best rainbow trout fisheries in B.C.  
Stormy weather had plagued all of the interior and southern BC putting the trout down and making the fishing unpredictable. The first night we camped at Tunkwa Lake and were told the fishing was not so great, so we put the tinner in Leighton and were rewarded with a couple decent rainbows in the evening. The next morning we tried Tunkwa but were blown off by noon.
With more crappy weather on the way,we decided to travel and hit the road for Big Bar Lake. This beautiful piece of water is surrounded by marl shoals, its turquoise waters, rolling hills, and vibrant bird life make for a stunning setting.


 Jim casts a fly on Big Bar Lake

We camped for two days at Big Bar because it was so nice, but worked hard for few fish. Taylor and Colin picked up a couple surprising rainbows close to shore but attempts at chironomiding or casting sinking line over drop offs proved largely unsuccessful.

We headed for Highway 24 with thoughts of hitting Fawn and maybe Sheridan Lake but a local pointed us toward Valentine Lake, a not too far climb from 100 Mile House.


Colin and Taylor ready
 for fishing in the rain.

After changing a blown trailer tire on the rough road, we eventually made it and set up camp on the water at the far end of the Rec Site. The evening was windy and so like most water craft we trolled a full sink line very slowly. We were met with dozens of hits but few would stick as the rainbows seemed to have evolved into some super-trout species with impenetrable mouths.
Trolling was the most popular method employed by fly fishers, but eventually we tried anchoring and casting a full sink line with a dragon or mayfly nymph and solved a number of nice size rainbows up to 20-inches; and Colin, after countless agonizing misses, stuck and landed a hefty rainbow of about seven pounds. Taylor was not so lucky however. Sorry Taylor, we will get you into fish at some point.

A clear, calm evening on Valentine Lake

The weather was crazy from torrential downpours and hurricane winds, to fine sunny days, back to more rain.
A pair of gentlemen showed up next to our campsite the last night and had some good luck fishing chironomids, which were bombers on this lake.

Colin and his beautiful rainbow from
Valentine Lake

I would definitely go back to each and every one of these lakes, but moving from lake to lake may not be the way to go. Solving a lake usually takes a lot more than one or two days. Sometimes you get lucky and the fishing is incredible, but mostly time, patience, and more time and patience are what fishing success requires. However, deciding which lake to hit is quite possibly the most difficult part of the endeavour, but a nice problem to have indeed.
Had a great time with my fishing companions, Taylor, Colin and his i-phone, and look forward to the next one.


A Return to Kootenay Lake

The annual May long weekend tug boat trip resumed after a couple year hiatus and it was another epic journey on the waters of Kootenay Lake.

The trip started out auspiciously enough with Salvy hooking into a nice10-pound bull trout almost immediately. We trolled plugs, hockey sticks and a bucktail fly, had a couple on a down rigger and a couple more on the surface.
The action was pretty steady on Friday evening with decent water and a bite every half hour or so. After hitting a few bull trout, the middle rod, dragging the lone hair, bucked and bowed. I grabbed it immediately, setting the hook as the trout ran, and the reel screamed. But being of generous and kind disposition I graciously passed the rod to Notto who had been salivating over my shoulder the entire time.
He played the Gerrard pretty well, letting it run when it had to and eventually brought to the net a very passable 14-pound rainbow.


He looks a lot bigger than 14 pounds.

It turned out to be a great first night out. We landed seven fish in about four hours, including two 10-pound bullies and the Gerrard Rainbow landed by Notto.

The next few days however brought flat water and substantially slower fishing. We caught fish every day but nothing very large, mostly bulls with the odd 3-6 pound rainbow thrown in. We ate stupendously and enjoyed a few social beverages by the comfort of a small campfire at Pebble Beach in the evening.
Everyone caught fish, even Rieberger. No big screamers unfortunately, but lots of fish, beergaritas, and laughs.

Thanks to Mike for organizing a great trip - can't wait until next year.