NORTHERN BC
Sikanni Chief, Prophet, Muskwa, Trout, and Toad Rivers, as well as McDonald Creek, are easily accessible from Highways 29 and 97. These waterways offer up grayling, bull trout, whitefish, and northern pike.
Lakes like Azouetta, Gwillim, Moose, Heart, Moberly, Foot, and Sundance (along with the Pine and Sukunka rivers) are only a short jaunt from the resource towns of Hudson’s Hope, Tumbler Ridge, Fort St. John, Chetwynd, and Dawson Creek. These waters hold Arctic grayling, northern pike, lake char, Dolly Varden, perch, goldeye, rainbow, and eastern brook trout. The region also sports excellent ice-fishing throughout the winter months.
Though walleye are not common in B.C., the Omineca-Peace River area is one of few locations in the province where you can land one. Find these delicious and much sought-after game fish in the Beatton, Fort Nelson, and Peace rivers, or fishing the underwater structure of Charlie Lake. The north of B.C. is also noted for huge lake char. Find these saggy- bellied brutes at Muncho Lake (Mile 437 on the Alaska Highway) along with rainbow trout, whitefish, Arctic grayling, and Dolly Varden. Fly-in destinations (like Tuchodi, Fern, Gataga, Netson, Redfern, Fishing, Long Mountain, Tetsa, Wokkpash, Dall, and Fairy lakes) available out of Muncho Lake or Fort Nelson have excellent fishing for Dolly Varden, grayling, rainbow trout, and trophy lake char. Avid outdoors enthusiasts should consider planning a combined big-game hunt and fishing trip. Moose, deer, caribou, black bear, and grizzlies all inhabit the area. Use a spotting scope to peruse the peaks and steep shale inclines for high- altitude trophies like Stone’s sheep, Dall’s sheep, and mountain goats.
72 The SPORT FISHING Guide 2012
Highway 16
Highway 16 (the Yellowhead Highway) traverses the province from east to west through McBride, Prince George, Fraser Lake, Smithers, Terrace and, finally, Prince Rupert on the west coast. To find rainbow trout, try travelling from Prince George to the confluence of the Fraser and Nechako Rivers. You'll see that the rivers run more clearly and shallower – good for holding rainbows or whitefish. Similar water and fishing conditions are found on the Bowron, Willow, and Chilako rivers, and on Cluculz Creek. Around the towns of Smithers, Burns Lake, Houston, Vanderhoof, and Fraser Lake, which lie west of Prince George, numerous lakes are within reasonable proximity and furnish enjoyable, lake-hopping day-trips. Larger lakes (like Babine, Burns, Takla, Trembleur, Stuart, Fraser, and François) offer good- sized lake char, kokanee, whitefish, and burbot, as well as fine fishing for rainbows. Tezzeron, Little Bobtail, Tachik, Finger, Pinchi, Grizzly, Tatuk, and Nuiki are smaller lakes with prime fishing for kokanee and rainbow trout. Use float tubes or pontoon boats, and look for terrific ice- fishing after freeze-up. The Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. stocks trout in many lakes in the area to maintain a robust fishery. Stocked lakes include Opatcho, Shane, Ferguson, Carp, and Eena lakes around Prince George; Hart Lake in Crooked River Park; Johnson and Dunalter lakes outside of Houston; Round and Tyhee lakes in the Bulkley River Valley close to Telkwa; and Ross Lake east of New Hazelton. Perfect for family outings, these lakes present beginner-level fishing. For the more advanced angler, Richmond Lake (east of Burns Lake), Hobson and Chief Gray lakes (about 90 km from Vanderhoof), and Duckwing and Duckbill lakes (near Moricetown) require hiking in – but with limited access, can often furnish trophy rainbows.
The powerful Skeena River and its complex system of tributaries – the Kispiox, Bulkley, Suswa, Babine, Morice, Zymoetz, Copper, and Sustut rivers – all offer excellent year-round fishing. Come in mid- to late summer for huge chinook salmon, and from September to October for big coho salmon. You’ll also find fine fishing for resident rainbow trout and Dolly Varden. The Skeena system is world-
renowned for its trophy, pink-tinged steelhead, sometimes weighing in over 10 kilograms. With warmer waters, early summer-run steelhead have a higher metabolism, and will rise to a dry fly. When the water temperatures cool in the fall, more conventional bottom-hugging fishing strategies prevail as the famed steelhead fishery continues throughout the winter and well into spring. Around Terrace, Onion and Kleanza lakes are popular for their
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