the fishing experience of a lifetime Continued from page 9
fly-fishers; and challenge experts with sterile “triploid” female rainbow trout that grow quickly to trophy sizes. You’ll find enormous
piscivorous strains of rainbow trout in Kootenay, Shuswap, and Quesnel lakes, as well as in smaller lakes in the province’s remote northwestern corner, like Kuthai and King Salmon. Anglers can also find monster, droop- bellied lake char in Canim, Muncho, and Atlin lakes.
Thousands of streams and rivers
are home to trout, while others also have whitefish, grayling, sturgeon, walleye, bass, and northern pike. In ocean-draining rivers, cast for sea- run cutthroat trout or Dolly Varden char year-round, mature salmon in the late summer and fall, and sea-run steelhead trout into the winter and spring.
Bottomfish? British Columbia’s mountainous terrain extends far into the Pacific Ocean to provide the underwater structure that saltwater bottomfish love. Reefs and shoals are home to fearsome, razor-fanged lingcod, and many varieties of kitchen-friendly rockfish. Find tasty smaller members of the sole and flounder family (along with delicious Dungeness and red rock crabs) on shallower, sandy underwater plateaus, while “chicken” halibut and lingcod occupy the deep underwater sand banks off the west coast. Bottomfish are not fussy, and will hit a large
variety of lead drift jigs and deep- trolled lures, as well as almost any baited hook. In deep fjords, drop a prawn trap baited with a can of tuna cat food; your reward for the hard work of pulling up the trap from over 100 metres could be a gourmet meal of fresh, succulent spot prawns. Do you want big fish? Are you up for a muscle-burning tussle with a brown-backed, 100-kilogram female halibut that’s gobbled your salmon-head bait in the waters off Haida Gwaii?
Is that still not big enough? Get ready to go “tag team” with your
BC Grizzly Photos
fishing partners if you hook into a three-metre Fraser River white sturgeon — North America’s largest freshwater game fish. Rare and unusual? Seek the elusive sheefish in the waters of Tagish Lake in northwestern B.C., or take a long hike to a remote lake in Cathedral Provincial Park where the province’s only remaining population of California golden trout are rumoured to live — some decades after stocking. Vast British Columbia offers
exciting year-round fishing for more than 80 varieties of freshwater game fish, and even more saltwater species. With good access, first- class services, and comfortable accommodations at most locations, there’s at least one fishing experience of a lifetime in this stunning province that will be just perfect for you. n
No Banana Fishing Adventures Photos Enter to win a trip from Charlotte Queen Adventures at
www.thesportfishingguide.com 89
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