KnotLikely

For spotting fish I'd say bronze, blue in my opinion isn't the best for looking into the water. This is a good video on selecting lens colour. It's Costa specific but will get you set on the right path regardless of manufacturer you choose. Peter, the host of the video, is extremely knowledgeable and has fished the globe for nearly everything that swims.

I've been using Kaenon polarized yellow silver mirror glasses for years for local fishing and steelheading. I've just replaced them with new Costa's also in polarized yellow sunrise silver mirror, and they're even better in overcast low light which seems to happen more often than not when fishing up in Skeena country in the fall. I prefer a do-it-all type lens that passes a lot of light with great contrast, and these ones fit the bill for everything except for super bright days on the flats or ocean fishing, then I bring out the blue mirror Costa's. I've tried Oakley's, Smith, and Maui Jim's and always go back to Kaenon or Costa. The nice thing with Costa is that they really support the fishing community with more than a few token lens and frame combinations.

You also have the less expensive option of simply purchasing a single hand Skagit head for an existing rod like the OPST commando heads with floating or various sink tips. I have a 225 grain head that I'll often use on my 6wt Z-axis and it's great for the Bow. You can still do all your Skagit style casts in tight quarters (or just because you want to), and in general keep your fly in the water longer without having to false cast. You can bomb out big flies with long casts (especially with mono running line), actively strip or just swing; that said, I wouldn't say it's the best method for short line indicator nymphing. If you decide you like that style of casting/fishing then get yourself the appropriate sized two-handed rod for the job i.e. 8wt or beefy 7wt for BC steelhead, and most likely east coast Atlantics, 9wt or better for chinook , maybe even get addicted an get yourself a more traditional 15' 10wt. and throw some long bellys!

bcube is right on the money with his post. A second for Nicholas Dean, I've had many great trips with them. Some of the best guides in the area, and access to great water, but as noted with a short number of days with them, you'll most likely be spending most of your time on the Skeena, which isn't a bad thing as everything has to come up it anyways. If you prefer warmer weather, last week of August, first week of September is best, with opportunities at steelhead, and almost all the salmon except fresh chinook. Later on into September you can concentrate more on steelhead and coho. I've lost at least a days fishing every time I've went due to high dirty water, it's impossible to predict the rains, (or commercial openings for that matter) so have plenty of Scotch and be prepared to do some fly tying until things clear up a bit. Thankfully, you can fish the Skeena and be quite successful with a few inches of visibility. If you're looking to save a few bucks and get in a ton of fishing, then the Nicholas Dean Skeena camp is a great way to go. I have a few rods, reels and lines that I'd be willing to sell that I've used on my trips, send me a PM if interested.

If you're going to be fishing the Skeena watershed I'd be looking for a rod that throws a 500 - 625 grain line. This may be a heavy 7, an 8 or an 8/9. Maybe it's just the crowd I fish with, but I rarely see anyone fishing lighter, unless it's dryfly time. The majority of people I've fished with from Canada, US, UK, Scandinavia etc. will end up with a rod in this range, Even the the guys from the UK with their 15' 10wt salmon rods, will end up using an '8 wt' before the end of the trip.

I have a few you might be interested in: Hardy Demon 13' 8wt G-Loomis Kispiox Dredger 8/9 Loop Opti 8124 Send me a PM if you're interested and let me know what you're fishing for, lines you're thinking about using and if you like slower or quicker rods. Thanks, Rob

Looks like a great setup for the Skeena system. I have a lighter trout setup you can try for the Bow.

There will be more than a few of us jealous of your time in the Terrace area! Was out there the beginning of September for my semi annual trip and it never disappoints. Shoot me a PM, I'd be happy to get out with you to practice some casts and swing some flies. As for tips, that would depend on what kind of water/flies/lines your using. What rod/reel/line combo did you end up getting?

An 8 wt two hander is a good all-round rod for the Skeena in September. I'm assuming you're lined with a skagit? MOW tips work well. You can use some of your 10' or 15' DC sink tips from your heavier single hand rods. You can also buy a bulk spool of T-14 and make your own tips ranging from 8, 10, 12 and 15'. (lots of good info on making tips and various steelhead rigs on the Deneki site). If I can, I prefer to use DC sink tips, usually a type 6 or 8, over T-tips as I think they cast easier. I'd say tip selection is more important than fly selection, so bring enough tips to get you down in various water conditions, and bring a few spares.

Totally agree. There are plenty of great 8 wt's in the 12 to just under 14' range that I think are ideal for the Skeena system, and available in all price ranges. The Death Star (TCX 7126) is a great rod and I think more of an 8wt than a 7. If you have the budget and want a great all-round rod that you won't out grow, will throw heavy tips and big flies, a mid belly and traditionals, look at a Burkheimer 8134...absolute beauty of a rod. A true 7wt can be too light, and a true 9wt too heavy. A rod that throws a skagit in the 540 - 570gr range is what I'd say is ideal to be able to throw any tip and fly combo for the conditions you might face in that region.

I quit using hackle on my prince nymphs years ago. When it comes to tying, If it catches use it! Patterns aren't set in stone, be creative, use what you have, don't me afraid to substitute, leave out or add! My only rules are tight wraps, good proportions and don't crowd the eye.

Very sad to hear. Upon first meeting him, Gord may have come accross as a 'Grumpy Old Man', but that was just a facade. While he may not be as well known as others in the local fly fishing scene, Gord is very much a part of the history of Bow River fly fishing, and one of the long serving local pioneers of our sport and passion. He had many great stories, knew, and fished with many of the legends. He was an authority on salt water fishing, and creator of many great fly patterns. From my conversations with him, I got the impression he could spend the rest of his days casting to permit, and If I had to guess, that'd be what he's doing right now.

Had this happen to a few guys I fished with on a recent trip to the Skeena, where they wouldn't allow the lines. I always check all my gear and pray it gets there when i do.

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If you're referring to what I said, not sure how that's elitist? Maybe I should have clarified that I was speaking specifically about the Bow and smaller more vulnerable streams. - catch and release only Most people already practice this. - no bait If you're fishing catch and release, bait bans do alot to prevent post catch mortality. Again, most people already practice this. - single fly or lure There are plenty of juresdictions that already go single hook barbless(fly, plug, spinner, etc.). There's no arguing that a triple nymph rig will put the odds in your favour, but it will also increase the amount of foul hooked fish, fish hooked in the eye, etc. - single hook, one shank, no doubles or trebles. Pretty much the same as the above, but would eliminate the use of treble and double hooks and 3 sets of hooks on plugs, which if you're fishing catch and release aren't necessary. Single fly, and god forbid, no indicators on flowing waters would force many of us to become better anglers, not necessarily a bad thing for the fish or the angler. I didn't say to elimate indicators, just that if it happened, it would result in many of us becomming better anglers. I'm definitely NOT in favour of a classified system, or limiting rod days. Like I said, not sure how this is elitist. If you want to fish spinners, plugs, spoons on a spinning rod, go ahead, nymphs, classic wets, dries. bait casters, center pin, single, switch, double hander etc. take your pick.