1 of 3
Northern Rockies Lodge
Fishing Northern British Columbia
Fly-fishing for lake trout
2 of 3
Kitimat Lodge
Fishing Northern British Columbia
3 of 3
Northern Rockies Lodge
Fishing Northern British Columbia
Walleye from Maxhamish Lake
By David Y. Wei and Suzanne L. Clouthier
British Columbia’s immense northern region encompasses more than a half-million square kilometres – an area bigger than Sweden, Germany, or the United Kingdom, and all but two American states. The southern edge of this vast region lies on a roughly west-to-east line through Haida Gwaii, Prince Rupert, Terrace, and Prince George to the northern Rocky Mountains; its northern edge is B.C.’s border with the Yukon Territory.
Virtually unspoiled, northern B.C. is mostly undeveloped wilderness with limited road access. Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, along with some 60 provincial and national parks, preserve a formidable portion of the area’s incredibly rich natural diversity – animals from grizzly bears to marmots; geologic features from towering cordillera to ancient lava beds; and forests as far as the eye can see – against urban and industrial development.
Since before the end of the last great Ice Age, First Nations have inhabited parts of northern B.C. Some of their ancient ancestors arrived from Asia pursuing big game across the Beringia land-bridge, while others came by boat, following the fishing riches of the Pacific Rim. Their extraordinary history, art, and contemporary cultures are on display at galleries, heritage sites, and museums across the region.
Anglers who have a sense of adventure, and are willing to cover long distances by car, boat, hiking, horseback, or floatplane, will be able to unlock the great mystery and romance of this expansive, untamed territory – as well as discover some of its awesome fishing.
Northwest Corner
In British Columbia’s far northwest, many mountains are glacier-capped, and skirt narrow valleys that drain via turbulent rivers plummeting down steep inclines. The Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park joins with Tatlatui Park, the Stikine River Recreation Area, and Mount Edziza Park to form an extensive wilderness sanctuary. The Stewart-Cassiar Highway – otherwise known as Highway 37 – begins at the village of Kitwanga, just off Highway 16, and wends its way north to the British Columbia-Yukon border. Boreal forest stretches for hundreds of kilometres on either side of this lightly travelled route.
Some of the fantastic lakes in this remote area have fish that have seldom seen any kind of lure, and will strike at almost anything. Lakes and streams in the northwestern corner of the province hold rainbow trout, burbot, Rocky Mountain whitefish, and Dolly Varden. Northern pike, Arctic grayling, and the inconnu (or sheefish) are also inhabitants of local waters. Monster lake char can reach up to 20 kilograms in Atlin, Tagish, or Dease lakes, all of which can be fished with downrigger-equipped cruisers. At Dease Lake, charter a floatplane to access Stalk, Tatlatui, and Tatsamenie lakes for trophy lake char, rainbow, or bull trout.
Smaller lakes also have top-notch fishing for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden char, Arctic grayling, and whitefish. Kluachon, Ealue, Kinaskan, Eddontenajon, Wheeler, and Gnat lakes (along with the Cottonwood and Tanzilla rivers) have good highway access, and provide excellent fly-fishing action on both dry and wet fly patterns.
Book a flight-seeing tour from the community of Atlin, on the eastern side of Atlin Lake, for an awesome view of the Llewellyn Glacier at the lake’s southern end. King Salmon and Kuthai lakes are well-known fly-in fishing lakes, with massive rainbow up to nine kilograms. Dolly Varden to three kilograms have also been taken here.
For the full article of 4000+ words detailing the top techniques and hot spots for your favourite game fish, subscribe to the digital edition here, or find it in print at your local newsstand.