Ray Loseth
by Darci Friesen
When you find that you’ve had your fill (or reached your limit) in Kitimat, you’ll head another 73 km/45 miles back the way you came, to the town of Terrace. Besides the magnificent snow-topped mountain ranges that surround you, there are plenty of other ‘touristy’ things to see in this picturesque place. In addition to being known for its native arts shops, museums, galleries and, of course, its fishing, Terrace also happens to be the best place to buy yourself authentic mukluks and moccasins (I’ve been wearing the same pair since 1989!).
After driving through Terrace on Hwy 16, you’ll come to see a row of motels and campgrounds on your right, with railroad tracks and the Skeena River on your left. If you seek river fishing here, a good place to stay is at one such motel - the Rainbow Inn Motel and Campground (1-250-635-6465). Here you simply have to walk across the highway, over the tracks and down the bank to the river! One of my first fishing memories concerns the time my dad reeled in a 61-pound Chinook salmon from the river bank. I had never seen a fish that size – I was just 9 years old and it stood taller and weighed more than I did!
Another good campground in the Terrace area is the Native-owned Kitsumkalum RV Park and Boat Launch (1-250-635-6177), and for tourism information or fishing regulations call (1-877-635-4944).
If you drive down the highway a few kilometres more, you will find yet another great spot. Here the Skeena and Kalum Rivers meet. "Using the Ambassadeur 7000 reel with a 8-9 lb rod," says Ray, "you should have a 40lb test line. Use a three-way-swivel and add a one-foot drop line on 20lb test, ending at a 6-12 lb weight (make sure you use enough weight to sink your bait to the bottom and stay). As a lure, at the end of your first (and main) line, a spin-and-glow is the trick," Loseth confided. “By having your weight on a separate line, if you catch a fish and the line breaks, you’ll lose only your weight - not your lure or the fish! Now, if the river water is muddy, use a spin-and-glow lure about the size of a golf ball; if the water is clear, use a smaller version.
Be sure to first check the local regulations: at certain times you’re also allowed to use roe (fish eggs) as bait. One thing you’ll need to have if you're river fishing from shore, is a rod holder. Use a 1 ½ inch plastic pipe – about a foot long - and attach it to either a three foot piece of ¾ inch angle iron or three foot piece of ½ inch rebar using two, two inch hose clamps to join them together. Make sure you attach the plastic pipe to the top of the rebar so that you’re left with most of the bar free to hammer into the ground as an anchor.”
After a two hour drive along Hwy 16 from Terrace - a stretch that has nothing but river on one side and railroad tracks on the other (make sure you fill your gas tank up before you leave Terrace!) - you will find yourself in Prince Rupert, B.C. Home to the natural Bonzai forest, the Ferry Terminal to Haida Gwai (Queen Charlotte Island), and the centre of Haida arts, Prince Rupert also has some of the best spots for ocean fishing says Ray. "The same must-haves I mentioned before in regards to ocean fishing apply here: safety should be foremost. And honestly, don’t even mess around – get yourself a guide boat to take you out. They’ll be able to supply all the gear you’ll need; the right navigational equipment, rods and reels, down-riggers and fish finders. Things that you really do need in order to ocean fish, things that would cost you a small fortune to purchase.”
The Prince Rupert RV Campground is right in town (1-250-627-1000); the town itself is built right on the ocean shore, and, at Smiles Seafood Cafe (famous for their Halibut Cheeks), you'll find some of the best seafood in B.C. For further information on the town or on fishing in the area, call 1-250-667-1994. Some of the most lucrative fishing places on the ocean, when you’re ready to get your ‘fishing on’, are Eddy Pass, Dundas Island or the Work Channel. Ray explains, “Here, you’re gonna be able to fish for halibut, herring, hootchies, chum, anchovies, Chinook…you name it! You can even go prawning or crabbing. And, if you’ve hired the right guide and boat, you may be able to cook up some crab right there on the spot!
The wind tends to pick up in the afternoons on the ocean, so those who are prone to motion sickness had better hit a pharmacy before they take to the water!”
Ray concluded his story with a more serious tone: “Now, you do have to understand one thing about Rupert,” he warned, “ this place is a world-famous fishing destination - not exactly my secret fishing grounds. Months before leaving your house you had better make sure that you’ve pre-booked your reservations at the campgrounds and with a guide - well in advance - or no one’s likely to be ‘gone fishing’ !