"SuperNatural" - Tailout Teaser

They just cannot accept that wild steelhead in BC will never be available for their killing pleasure

A representative of the B.C. Wildlife Federation has claimed that the "abundance" of wild steelhead returning to the Skeena in British Columbia should allow sports fishers to kill Skeena steelhead. Rob Brown set them straight in the Terrace Standard. 

Then Bill Bosch, President of the BCWF, came back with this lame response.

So then the North Coast Steelhead Alliance eloquently let Mr. Bosch have it......with both barrels.

You have to love the BCWF’s “…primary objective is conservation…”  They just cannot accept that wild steelhead in BC will never be available for their killing pleasure. Every year, local BCWF representatives send poisonous letters to the Ministry of Environment demanding steelhead kill fisheries and every year the Ministry dutifully replies that the idea is a non-starter.

While the BCWF is entitled to voice their opinions, on issues like steelhead kill they should just give up…it will never happen….and be assured it certainly won't happen on our watch.

This bit of steelhead trivia from Rob Brown's piece will sober you up. The historic steelhead returns to California’s Eel river alone rivalled that of the entire Skeena drainage.

Now ask yourself why we still allow for the recreational harvest of wild steelhead in the lower 48.

Lani Waller “A Steelheader’s Way” Audiobook

The Native Fish Society and Lani Waller have produced an audiobook version of Lani’s classic book “A Steelheader’s Way”.

Better yet, every copy of the audiobook comes with a free membership to the Native Fish Society.

LINK (via:Deneki Outdoors)

Masters of their Craft - Andy Mill

Tarpon master Andy Mill heads to BC for some steelhead fishing.

Effective 4/1/12 (now): New Skeena Regulations

We've been a bit remiss on an update here.  In short, there are B.C. resident and non-resident variences. For U.S. based Skeena lovers, here's some language that you'll be interested in:

Options for non-Canadians during Restricted Times and Zones

As a result of regulation changes to steelhead fishing in the Skeena Region, nonCanadian anglers are subject to restrictions that did not formerly exist. These restrictions generally occur on weekends during Canadian resident-only times and zones, meaning that non-Canadian anglers are able to fish for five days a week on most rivers. During off days, visiting anglers are encouraged to take a look around at all the region offers. There are many opportunities to continue river fishing, go lakefishing or partake in regional activities of interest. The following information is intended to help by providing ideas on things to do.

River Fishing

In the Skeena watershed, there are a number of steelhead fishing opportunities where non-Canadian anglers can fish seven days a week without restriction (see map on page 8). For example, the Skeena River can be fished seven days a week with the exception of the two zones identified by Map 4 and 5 (see page 9). The many Skeena River tributaries below Terrace are also open seven days, including the Exstew, Zymagotitz, Exchamsiks, Ecstall, Gitnadoix, Kasiks and Khyex rivers. For anglers in the Terrace area, the Kitsumkalum River is open on Saturdays from Glacier Creek to its confluence with the Skeena River as well. Anglers looking for alternate fishing options may want to consider the Nass watershed. It offers fall steelhead fishing opportunities and a Classified Waters license is not required.

A complete synopsis of all the new regs. (PDF)

Twilight for Forks Steelhead

Any angler who has recently spent time in the Forks vicinity has seen first hand the dramatic increase in angling pressure on the Peninsula's hallowed steelhead waters. Closures to all the major Puget Sound watersheds due to diminishing wild steelhead returns, combined with media and social network (including this site) pimping of 20 pound chrome, is driving OP angling pressure to heights never seen before. Something is going to have to be done to relieve the hammering these fish are seeing day in and day out. No fishing from the boat would be a good place to start along with eliminating forever the ability to retain wild steelhead.

As Northwest Sportsmen points out in this piece, the trend is not good for anybody, including the fish. The piece also features the perspective of longtime Olympic Peninsula steelheader Dick Wentworth and a reference to a lively discussion surrounding the topic on the Steelhead Nation radio show which I've embedded below, definitely worth a listen.