What a way to be greeted to a new day! I just stood there watching the growing light and didn’t think about of grabbing the steelhead rod for 30 mins LOL.
I was tossing a pink colour Croc spoon and working it in a back eddy (as Kazu had instructed…Kazu was my official guide LOL). About 45 min later, I felt my spoon stopped dead…then it started to take off toward the deep! No you don’t!
At the time, the fish felt like the biggest salmon I’ve hooked. This steelhead rod was not broken in by a previous salmon and I wasn’t too sure of its capacity. So I took it easy on the drag and played the fish gingerly. The fish took me down about 100 feet. It went into the main current twice but I was able to bring it out of the current each time. This was how the fight ended. At least I got to feel and see a tyee.
We fished at the mouth all morning without much action from our side of the river. The other side got 2 fish gaffed. So Kazu and I break for brunch and went exploring.
We were going to fish a location called Hydro Poles. We drove into a narrow 4x4 trail only to find the trail had a flooded crossing that was too deep for Kazu’s truck. We didn’t want to leave our truck sitting in the middle of nowhere while we hiked into the middle of nowhere. We drove back and stopped at the same spot where we saw the 20lb fish landed the evening before. It was a promising looking area even if we hadn’t see a fish hooked. So…off we go!
But after fishing a good stretch of this river for more than 3 hours, we came up empty…so were our stomachs. We made second lunch and drove back toward the mouth. We got word that fish moves in on the incoming tide and the areas around the bridge is a pretty good bet.
Nada! No action at all from anyone fishing that area.
So we changed plans and went exploring a small creek for coastal cutthroat trout and dolly varden. Almost every river and creeks flowing into the Kitimat has both species…but we have only managed to find 2” long parrs in the shallow water…I guess the adults are in the main Kitimat. Here’s a look at one of the many beautiful little creeks. I can only imagine what this creeks looks like when the pinks, sockeye and chum are running!
Here’s a little look at our usual arsenal of salmon treats…of course spoons are missing here…I lost most of my spoons…The flies were tied by Kazu.
July 8th
We fished the mouth in the morning again without success. Before we went exploring again, we grabbed a motel room for the night, and we’re off toward Tseax River.
On the way to the river, we passed by a Nisga’a Lava Memorial Provincial Park (Excuse me if I got the name slightly incorrect). This park was set up to protect the ancient lava bed. There was a volcanic explosion a long time ago that strewn lava rock and hot lava into the area. Today, life is again reestablishing.
What a treat to see this after coming back from the Big Island of Hawaii where I got to see hot lava flowing. The recovery of the land in the almost desert environment of Hawaii is sure different from that of the temperate counterpart.
At the trail head of the provincial park, we found a legend on the volcanic activity. I can read this legend on my computer when I enlarge the pic…you may not be able to read it though…but what the heck…
We were all ready to hike down to the river…but something stopped us…
This bear was eyeing us directly the whole time. Had the three motorcycles didn’t pass by, I think the bear would have invited me to snack. Kazu and I decided to stay off the trail this time.
So we checked out the river around the trail head only. Overflowing and milky…but it must be nice when the river level is much lower!
We drove back to Terrace for a hot shower at motel for the night. I talked to the motel owner and he provided us a location to fish on the Copper River. So Kazu and I drove into yet again another Forest Service Road (FSR). At about the approximate location, we thought we found the trail down the canyon to the deep pool.
Kazu and I were geared up and ready to hike. Kazu started about 20 feet in front of me as we entered the trail head. As I was passing by the entrance, I heard something tumbling down a large pile of branches. I looked to see a brown ball of fur a little larger than a bowling ball rolling down. The little creature started crying and it sounded a little like a bear cub. So I stopped Kazu and he said it may sound like a bear cub. Since mommy may not be far behind, we turned back around. I don’t want to mess with a grizzly at all! (Final bear count for the day was 6!)
At the end, we went back to the Kitimat and fish the upper limit of our legally fishable waters. Nada as well.
After check another small Kitimat tributary creek for cutthroats and dolly varden without success, we decided to end the day early for some KFC again LOL.
Here’s our motel. For $75 a night for two single beds, it is nice and clean with lots of room, cable TV, free internet (if you have a laptop! LOL), coffee maker, toaster…it’s a great deal!
July 9th
This is our last morning in the Terrace area. Instead of another skunking on the salmon rivers, we checked out a lake in search for cutthroat trout and dolly varden, hoping to find them at the creek mouth of a couple of incoming creeks.
We fished the creek mouth only to find small parrs that were ever eager to take your #16 caddis…but too small to hook. Trying other small lint-sized flies didn’t even resulted in a hit.
So Kazu and I slowly fished the shoreline back to the access. We started to see a bit more activity and Kazu had a trout looking fish hit right at his feet. I saw some chironomids in the water, so off goes the dry fly to welcome my own chironomid creation under an indicator.
Kazu was using his Grassminnow and brought in a small cutthroat. I guess he didn’t take a pic of the fish since I couldn’t find a pic of it.
5 min later, I missed one fish. Another 10 min later, Fish ON!
Small, but my first nonetheless…
And then a bouns…small northern pikeminnow.
Well, at least the Terrace trip got me two new species. Time to head back to Prince George…but not before a 20min extended stay in Terrace due to workers clearing a rock slide.
During our wait, we were entertained by their shy coyote mascot.
On our way, we stopped in Houston, BC to visit the World’s Largest Fly Rod!
Well, that was all for July 9th.
Story continues...Finale