Techniques

Swinging Flies For Steelhead

99% of our fishing is swinging flies in our many rivers, mostly with small Spey rods. However, we have also developed a new single hand system utilizing light Skagit lines to Spey fish with single hand rods. Since there are no summer run steelhead on Haida Gwaii, there are not many fish willing to take a dry fly, so the majority of our fly fishing is done wet. Wet fly fishing is done with either a line with a fast-sinking tip, or a floater with a sinking piece attached or a fast-sinking shooting head.  

Our rivers have a huge margin between high and low water, and you could see both over one week at our lodge. Therefore, you need to be prepared for fishing type 8 with weighted flies, all the way down to grease lining the shallow riffles. The rivers can yo-yo water levels up to five feet over mere days. This is what makes our guides so invaluable for a trip fishing Queen Charlottes steelhead.

The Yakoun River is a perfect river to swing a fly. It offers run after run of accessible gravel bars, deep slots and large seams just screaming for a swung fly. A Skagit short with a 10-foot MOW tip system is the line of choice. Most casts are made as short roll casts with a stiff rod, mended and swung out through the holding water. 

Most of the other rivers on Haida Gwaii leave you very little backcast. This is where having a guide is invaluable as we will show you the best fly water on all of our rivers along with what to use and how to target them.

We are the only people fishing some of our small rivers on Moresby Island, ensuring you the best water each and every day. You will typically be on a river holding beautiful wild steelhead and have the entire thing to yourself. This is a unique experience not seen anywhere else in North America. We swing flies for winter run steelhead almost exclusively, and we have some amazing fly water on all the rivers we fish. 

Float Fishing

Float Fishing for steelhead with a single-action reel of Silex type is a well-established tradition on the B.C. coast. Although we don't do this often, it is an option for anglers to use and learn. Since the reels have the same drag as a click and pawl fly reel, the fights can be tremendous. The short, fast-flow streams of the rugged coastline of B.C. are fished very effectively with the float method. Using an eight- to 10-foot, fairly stiff rod, one attaches a swivel, and then approximately 30 inches of leader. 

We typically use 10-15 pound Maxima depending on conditions. The leader is weighted with split shots, foil lead or similar material, evenly along the leader. A float made of cork or plastic is attached to the mainline and can slide up or down the line, but not without substantial force being exerted on the float.

It is cast sidearm, and with practice can be cast very accurately with a minimum of backcast space. It is equivalent to the roll cast in fly fishing.

The single-action reel will free spool line so that the float and bait can be drifted downstream without drag that would cause the terminal gear to rise in the water column. It is similar to fishing an indicator attempting to get the “perfect” drift. The leader and egg imitation should be fished just off the bottom and directly below the float. 

This method makes fishing small slot waters and areas containing much bottom organic debris easier than any other method. The Tlell River, which we rarely fish, is  known for its many sunken branches and logs and productive backwaters. Float fishing this river is the best method for productive fishing.