Cariboo Chilcotin Coast
drive in by Highway 20, fly in, or use trophy salmon and a multitude of
The vast Cariboo Chilcotin Coast
B.C. Ferries’ Discovery Coast service bottomfish.
region extends west from the
from Port Hardy on Vancouver
Cariboo
Interior Plateau over the Coast
Island to Shearwater, Bella Bella,
The expansive Cariboo region, its
Mountains range, and out to the
Klemtu, Ocean Falls, and Bella
Pacific Ocean to include the Central
Coola. rolling hills carpeted with fragrant
Coast archipelago. High glacier-
The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast offers
evergreen forests, occupies the
capped pinnacles, dense temperate
superb fishing in cool, clear, fertile
Interior Plateau east of the Fraser
rain forests, arid interior rangelands,
waters that produce prolific insect
River. It offers a wide range of
and expansive seascapes are all
hatches. Far from major population
wonderful fishing, from peaceful,
part of the region’s diversity.
centres, there are some 8,000
hidden pothole lakes (which can
be comfortably fished from a
The area is steeped in remarkable
lakes and over 17,000 kilometres of
small car-topper, canoe, or float
and stimulating history. For
streams where you will frequently
tube) to immense, fjord-like lakes
thousands of years, First Nations
find that you are the only angler
better suited for trolling with a
have occupied the region, their
enjoying the idyllic solitude of the
cruiser outfitted with downriggers.
heritage and legends preserved
surrounding woodlands and snow-
Anglers who like moving water will
in living tradition. Long before
blanketed peaks.
find hundreds of creeks and rivers
Lewis and Clark, Alexander
There is splendid freshwater fishing
flowing from the Cariboo Mountains
Mackenzie, with fellow explorers
for aerobatic rainbow trout, pretty
into the Fraser River basin that offer
and native guides, reached the
eastern brook trout, Dolly Varden,
spectacular, uncrowded fly-fishing
Pacific Ocean overland in 1793 —
trophy lake char, whitefish, and
and spin-casting, either from shore
his audacious trek now marked
great-tasting kokanee. All species
or a drift boat.
by a commemorative cairn at a
of smaller trout and char will attack a
a
.
c
a
low headland in Dean Channel. It
trolled lures with abandon. Spin-
The “Fishing Highway” (Highway
was the Cariboo gold rush during
casting with small spinners or
24) runs from Little Fort at its
r
o
a
.
c
c
f
r
o
c
f
.
b
the mid-1800s that prompted
spoons, or drift-jigging small lead
eastern end to Lone Butte in the .
b
european settlement in the region,
jigs, are also very effective. But it’s west. With over a hundred good
www
accelerating with the construction
the fly-flingers who will feel they’ve fishing lakes along or near the
www
of the Cariboo Waggon Road.
found a piece of fishing heaven as route, it has certainly earned that
Long sections of the road remain
the region’s high-flying trout will nickname. Try trolling among Bridge
8 I
much the same as in the 1860s,
attack a wide assortment of dry as Lake’s many islands and bays, or
well as wet patterns.
9 I
while modern Highway 97 has
drift-jigging, fly- or spin-casting near
I 5
incorporated other sections of the
Don’t forget that some of the
underwater shoals for rainbow trout
original route. After the gold rush,
Cariboo Chilcotin’s best lake fishing
to three kilograms, big lake char,
I 5
pioneering families established
takes place after freeze-up. In
and stocked Arctic char. The lake’s
d
e
farms and ranches atop the
u
i many larger lakes, ice-fishers will
prized kokanee can weigh in at two
sweeping, grassy bench lands of the
u
i
d
e
find burbot, a delicious freshwater
or more kilograms. Sheridan Lake
n
g G
great Interior Plateau overlooking
lingcod, in addition to trout and
is noted for exceptional fly-fishing
deep river gorges that gouge
char. Be sure to bring an ice auger,
for high-flying rainbow trout and h
i
n
g G
i
s
h
i
through the towering Cariboo
i
s
tip-ups, and fishing gear that
chunky brook trout, with trophy fish
and Coast Mountains. Today, the
r
t F
p
o
r
t F
includes leadhead micro-jigs. Ice-
in this nutrient-rich lake weighing up
district’s rich natural resources form
p
o
fishing is a wonderful activity for the
to eight kilograms. Lac Des Roches,
C S
the economic livelihood for miners,
entire family; the sustained action
Wavey, Phinetta, Birch, and Fawn
C S
loggers, and fishermen.
will make everyone forget that it’s
are other lakes with good-sized
0 B
2
0
1
0 B
Connecting Williams Lake in
cold out.
rainbows, including the occasional
2
0
1
the interior to Bella Coola on
Along the coast, freshwater
lunker over five kilograms. Irish
the coast, the Chilcotin Road
anglers will discover excellent
Lake, just off Highway 24 outside of
(Highway 20) passes through the
stream-fishing for all five species
Lone Butte, is a popular spot with
traditional territory of the Tsilhqot’in
of salmon, searun cutthroat trout,
lots of small rainbows weighing
nation. The route exemplifies
Dolly Varden, and world-renowned
up to one kilogram in weight. The
the unflinching pioneering spirit
runs of summer and winter
Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C.
of the people who — when the
steelhead. The saltwater angler will
can take credit for abundant annual
government at the time refused —
find that the ocean-lashed outer
stockings of kokanee and rainbow
built the road themselves, defiantly
flanks and myriad channels of the
trout that draw many anglers to
naming it the Freedom Highway.
great Central Coast archipelago,
lakes, like Horse, in the region.
Travellers looking for freshwater or
along with the area’s steep-walled Wind south from Lone Butte off
saltwater fishing adventures in the
fjords, live up to their well-earned Highway 24, through the pretty
great Central Coast archipelago can
reputation for exhilarating action for farms and ranches along Watch
Cariboo Chilcotin Win a Dream Fishing Adventure.
www.bcfroa.ca/duncanby
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79