Dear Salmon Junkies
We are now opening bookings for our spring Steelhead and Chinook program 2016, where we will be chasing the largest and meanest Steelhead and Chinook in the world.
We are very excited to announce that for 2016 we have secured full exclusivity for the European market. That means you will now be able to fish Skeena mainstem and select tributaries in a full 6 day package in the company of some of the best and most hardcore Canadian Steelhead and Chinook guides available.
Skeena: super-sized steelhead and world record ChinookSkeena. It is a powerful and evocative word. To the indigenous peoples of British Columbia’s north coast region it is the “River of Mists.” To fly fishers around the globe it is a dream destination offering nearly boundless opportunities to pursue what are among the largest sea-run fish on the planet. In Skeena country early spring typically offers the year’s most dependable conditions for tempting Steelhead with a fly.
During late March and early April, as winter gives way to spring, precipitation falls as snow on the ridges and the rivers remain at winter height; flowing low and green in the valley bottoms and warming slowly with each lengthening day. The conditions are perfect for swinging big swimming flies on sinking tip lines and triggering the natural aggression of the Skeena’s legendary super-sized Steelhead.
Fly fishing for Chinooks is a full on activity and not for the fainthearted, but for fly fishers after the juiciest kicks in fresh water there is not much else to top it. It should be on the CV of every Salmon Junkie. We will target the Kitimat, Copper, Kalum and Skeena rivers, depending on conditions. Skeena region Chinook average 20 to 40 pounds and range up to 80 pounds — and perhaps beyond. The Skeena’s biggest have been known to reach 100 pounds!
What to expect?
Many people believe that the Skeena watershed is easily accessible with easy-going fishing, but that is not the case if you want to get to the fish. Many of the best rivers and spots are more or less impossible to access without a guide, and the only way to get there is by power full jet boat and local knowledge. Some of the most attractive rivers are licensed with limited access for only a small number of people. Salmon Junkies has access to all classified water plus well-selected numbers of coastal rivers. Skeena has become quite a popular destination, even more so after we launched our short movie, but to fish it requires extremely talented guides who can manoeuvre and pick the right spots for any given time or situation. We dare to say that we have the best team of Steelhead guides and they are willing to share their deepest secrets by leading you to the fish.
There is a fine line between success and failure when fishing the Skeena and we have got it right. That is exactly why we believe that Salmon Junkies has tailored the best Spring Steelhead and Chinook program on the Planet.
Award-winning Nicholas Dean Outdoors
For guiding and outfitting services to our Steelhead program we have partnered with award-winning Nicholas Dean Outdoors. They are based in Terrace and were named Fly Fusion Magazine’s Canadian Lodge of the Year for 2012! Accommodation is at the Pioneer Fishing Lodge located just minutes west of Terrace. It is a comfortable log cabin lodge offering an authentic, uniquely Canadian experience including all the luxurious touches you would expect from a premier world-class lodge.What to expect? Steelhead.
Why not watch our small movie and judge for yourself?
Please note that many of our guests from the last 2 years have rebooked so we do not have many spots left. If you have any please ask us at sj@salmonjunkies.com
Follow us on a Steelhead or Salmon adventure to mighty Skeena, we promise you the adventure of a life time!
Read the full program here
But don’t take our word for it. Here are a couple messages from some satisfied Skeena adventurers
"After chasing big silver Atlantic salmon in Russia, Iceland, Norway and Sweden for my whole adult life, I got info about Salmon Junkies cooperation with Nicolas Dean Outdoors and their operation in the Skeena area in B.C. Canada. They had started to fish for Chinook or King Salmon with traditional swinging fly - Interesting.I had always considered Kings to be big, red and nothing for me, but this was new...catching Chinook fresh from the sea - pure chrome! I decided to try it in June/July 2014.During my stay I fished the Copper River and Kitimat for 9 days with 12 hook ups; two broke me off, I lost 5 but landed 5. Average weight approx 25 pound on the landed salmon and bigger ones got away. So next year’s trip is already booked and flies are in production"
Tight Lines - Lars Terkildsen
The Chinook Salmon rules in June! That is for sure.
"Forget everything about old coloured King Salmon at this time of the season. This time of the season the King Salmon are super fresh, and often with sea-lice hanging beneath. Try to imagine a 20-30-40 pound Chromer or even more. How strong do you thing they are? I can tell you. STRONGER than STRONG. Hold on to your rod and reel, because this is a serious and brutal game.I went there this year and manage to capture the essence in the Chinook fishing on video – a Video that is supposed to be ready later this year. I teamed up with Salmon Junkies and famous fly-fisherman and writer Jeff Bright who is one of the pioneers when it comes to Skeena fly-fishing for Chinook. We fished together for a week and caught a good numbers of Kings, with the biggest around +30, and lost quite a lot of bigger Salmon after long fights and crazy battles... I will be back next year for more – that is certain!"
Best wishes - Columbus Leth
Skeena River Summer Camp – Bang for the Buck
A unique opportunity: fish the Skeena from sunup to sundown for the biggest Salmon and Steelhead on the planet. Simply put, British Columbia’s Skeena River is a superfish superhighway — a thoroughfare for the largest Salmon & Steelhead in the world. In summer and fall the lower main channel Skeena hosts vast numbers of migrating Chinook, Steelhead Coho, Sockeye, Chums and Pinks headed for numerous upriver tributaries. To take full advantage of this prolific fishery and offer a high-quality, high-value fishing adventure – for both novice and seasoned anglers alike
Why the Skeena Summer Camp?
Because you can hook into and sometimes land big, bright fish like this. Jeff Bright bested this 18 lb buck after a long, dogged fight that took him well into the backing. Strong rods, heavy gauge hooks and tippets down to 20 or even 25 lbs are common tools required to land these fish.Coho salmon – an incredible game fish in their own right – start to show up frequently on the Skeena in late July/early August. Aggressive, high flying and acrobatic, these fish average 8 to 15 lbs and often fight so hard they’re mistaken for Steelhead.If there’s one thing that may have jumped out at you by looking at these photos, it’s likely the brightness of the fish. That’s because they’re arguably some of the freshest, strongest Salmon and Steelhead you’ll ever encounter – anywhere! Fish with sea lice are a daily occurrence, so you know these fish aren’t far from the salt. And, they act accordingly…
Detailed description of the program:
Salmon and Steelhead fishing on the Lower Skeena is unparalleled. Renowned rivers such as the Babine, Kispiox, Sustut, Bulkley, Morice, Copper and Kalum enter the Skeena above our camp and all fish bound for these rivers must pass directly in front of us before reaching their spawning grounds. Only a day or two out of the ocean, at the peak of their size, strength and beauty, these are among the biggest and most aggressive Salmon and Steelhead on Earth. To hook one of these fish on the fly in the broad Lower Skeena is to touch the heart of the wilderness — an experience not to be forgotten!
A comfortable camp amidst
spectacular scenery
The scenery at our Skeena Camp is nothing short of spectacular: soaring, snow-capped mountains, a large wild river, numerous waterfalls and abundant wildlife are your backdrop as you cast for the Skeena’s legendary wild Salmon and Steelhead.The camp consists of single and two-person sleeping tents with cots and pads, communal dining and gear tents, privy and propane-heated water with shower tent. Aside from personal items and fishing gear, guests need only bring a sleeping bag, pillow, and towel. Guided fishing is from 8am–5pm; hot breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the dining tent. The gear tent is also equipped with a propane heater to dry off wet clothing or chase the chill.
Logistics
Guests will stay at the on-river Skeena camp for the duration of their stay. On arrival, our staff will pick clients up at the airport, stop in the town of Terrace to pick up any supplies, then transport clients to the river, where camp staff will be waiting to receive them. After an orientation in camp, guests are welcome to string their rods together and fish for the remainder of the day. Guests will stay at the camp until the morning of their departure day (no fishing on departure day), and We will coordinate to pick up guests off the river and transport them to the airport.Note: pick up from the Terrace, BC airport is at 3 pm on arrival days for transfer to the camp, so guest flights should arrive in the afternoon, prior to 3 pm. On departure day, guests will leave the camp just after breakfast at approximately 8 am, so flights departing Terrace, BC between 10:30 am and 12 noon are recommended.A sample day in campwould be as follows:
BEFORE 7:00 AM: If guests are early risers they can fish before breakfast. This will be unguided fishing.
7:00 AM Breakfast is served; consisting of eggs, bacon, ham, pancakes, french toast, fruit, cereal, coffee, tea, fruit juice, etc.8:00 AM: Guided fishing begins.1
2:00 PM: Lunch is served; consisting of soup, cold sandwiches, hamburgers, smokies, salads, cold and hot beverages, etc.
5:00 PM: Guided fishing ends.
6:00 PM: Dinner is served; consisting of home-style main courses such as stew, ham, steak along with vegetables and potatoes or rice. There will also be salads, desert and hot and cold beverages.
AFTER 6:00 PM: If guests wish to fish they may do so. Guides will not be held responsible for looking after evening anglers.
10:00 PM: We recommend that guests turn in for the evening. If guests wish to stay up later we ask they be as quiet as possible so as not to prevent others from sleeping.Target rivers include: Mainstem Skeena exclusively, in and around the Skeena Camp location.River access: Jet boat.Accommodations: Tentet camp located on strategic hot spot on the skeena riverWeekly package: for SJ guests, a standard 6 day/7 nights package, from Saturday to Saturday (on above dates)
Don’t miss your opportunity to join in on some of the best fishing available on the Skeena in 2016!
If you have questions about some of our Skeena Programs, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us!
Steffen Juhl