Help for a visitor from New Zealand

[Darryl]

Hi Folks
I'm a flyfisherman from the North Island of New Zealand, where I usually target Rainbow and Brown Trout mainly in rivers, but also some lakes.

I will be travelling through Canada and Alaska for 4 months (April to July) with my family, and really keen to at least experience some Salmon fishing along the way - so was hoping to pick up a few tips before I arrive. I'm also interested in other freshwater fishing, as well as Sturgeon and Halibut - but not sure if thats a viable option for me yet.

To give you an idea of the possible fishing spots we may be passing through, our approx itinerary is:

We arrive on April 12th and start our trip in Edmonton, and travel by train to Vancouver.
Then we will buy a vehicle and do most of our travelling by road.
From Vancouver its going to be fairly flexible but roughly along the following stops:
Whistler - Kelowna - Banff - Jasper - Prince George - Prince Rupert - Queen Charlotte Is - Whitehorse - Dawson - Fairbanks - Denali NP - Anchorage - Kenai Peninsula.
From there we intend to take the ferries back to Vancouver Island via Skagway - Juneau - Sitka etc, and possibly land at Port Hardy.
If we still have our vehicle, then the last few weeks will be on Vancouver Island - Port Hardy - Campbell River - Port Alberni - Nanaimo - Victoria.
Then we probably fly back to NZ around late July (unless I can find some temporary work to extend our stay, hopefully near some good fishing!)

At this stage (with only limited research) my picks/guesses are Terrace, Kenai and Vancouver Island.

It will be challenging travelling with a family of 5, and we probably won't have more than about 1 week at any one place - so my fishing time will be limited. I really enjoy getting out into the back country rivers, and will possibly have a 4x4 vehicle. But if I go off fishing it can't be too remote, as will have the rest of my family to consider!!

My main questions at this stage are:
1. What locations should I focus on getting to? (to maximise the fishing possibilities)
2. What gear would I need, and which rods should I bring?
3. Is it compulsory to have a guide, or can I fish independantly once my licence and regs are sorted?
4. Are there any Salmon runs during April to July, and what methods are best at that time?

Any info at all would be appreciated, and any travel tips are welcome. Hopefully I can reciprocate by offering some help if anyone is going fishing in NZ.
Cheers
Darryl

 

[Dogbreath]

My freshwater experience is somewhat limited but....

1-Highway 20 west of Williams Lake last two weeks of June/first week of July-pick a lake for the Trout action of a lifetime.

2-Same as NZ-same Trout after all.Don't FF for Salmon so I have no idea about that.

3-No compulsory need for a guide No and you can fish by yourself Yes (it's not rocket science after all).

4-The Skeena country many many options at that time too many to list.

http://www.noelgyger.ca has some info check the older reports.

 

[Dogbreath]

This travel blog covered some of the same territory you're thinking of

http://www.lifewellspent.com/

Thinking about it if you want more fishing time skip Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlottes and spend more time in the Skeena area some great campgrounds there and QCI is more of a saltwater destination if it's fishing you're interested in.

However if you do head over to QCI be sure to take a zodiac tour to have look @ some of the intertidal life it's amazing.

 

[youngsteelheader]

i fly into to dunedin on the 26th and am fishing the south island for a month, maybe a few days on the north island before i fly out. i live on vancouver island and in july the flyfishing for rainbows and cutthroat is amazing.

IMG]

 

[Steelhead S2]

Make sure you have a 5 weight close at hand when you are in the Yukon. We spent a month up there a couple of years ago, fairly early in the open water season. You can fish with confidence in almost any piece of water up there. The grayling fishing was great, and a ton of fun. Maybe the size doesn't compare to NZ trout, but numerous spots gave up 16'-18' fish every cast or two; look for headwaters of mid-sized streams for best action. Small nymphs and drys. We were up there without a boat, so this was our best fishery. Lots of giant pike and lakers up there too, if you can get out to them.

As for the rest of your trip, it sounds fantastic. You will have access to lots of good fishing opportunities. But I will let more expert members guide you. I only know the island, and not as well as many others on here.

 

[Dogbreath]

Backroad mapbooks come in very handy I see they now have a GPS tie-in as well.

http://backroadmapbooks.com/main/index.html

The BC Accommodations Guide is an excellent guide to all kinds of accommodations options here, the problem is that they are so</u> cheap</u> they won't mail it overseas so make a note to look for a copy @ Visitors Bureaux.

I actually phoned the number given on the Hello BC site and they had the temerity to suggest that they mail it to me and and then I pay to mail it to someone overseas, unspeakable tightfistedness on their part.

http://www.hellobc.com/ a site of some usefullness.

 

[Gooey Bob]

Based on my experience, in the time of year you are considering, you will find outstanding river fishing for Grayling on just about every stream you cross in Yukon, as well as the potential for world class river fishing for salmon in the Anchorage\Kenai areas. Given that you are ending your trip in July, you may find that you will experience freshet conditions( = difficult fishing) in some areas during May,June and even in to July depending on where you're at.

Based on your itinerary, it looks like you'll be heading south from Alaska on the ferry around early to mid July. Given that timing, I'd strongly recommend you take the ferry south from Haines instead of Skagway. It will save a fair amount of driving time for you (at least a day)and during that time of year Haines has some pretty damn good river fishing for several species of salmon, Dolly Varden and sea run cutts. In the past, I've had some incredible fly fising in the tributaries to the Chilkat River. The Chilkoot is a nice river as well, and where the local tackle shop is likely to direct you, but can be crowded at a times.

Your timing isn't the best for Vancouver Island freshwater fishing, you'd be looking at more tidal waters.

Good luck, have fun...

Gooey

 

[Darryl]

Thanks to all of you for the heads up so far, I haven't been able to respond until now cos some idiot cut through our phone cable down the road - which also screwed up my modem! Anyway its all go now...

Dogbreath:
Those links are great. I'm keen to start with some time alongside a guide to learn the ropes, so the Noel Gyger contact looks as good as any. I will definately need some roadmaps too. Looks like there is even a fishing location map book.
Will add the BC Accommodation book to our list - we are hoping to keep the costs down and will be on the lookout for budget places to stay. (Less cost = more time to stay and go fishing!)

YoungSteelheader:
If you need a guide while in the South Island (NZ) I can recommend Chris Dore (Southland) or Tony Entwistle (North of SI) but there are heaps more. I also have an excellent guidebook for all SI rivers.
I guess you'll have some contacts there, but will pm you my details in case you want to catch up. You'll have a blast on those mainland Brownies - good luck.

Steelhead S2:
Grayling is definately on my "must catch" list, so will slow down when passing through the Yukon!

GooeyBob:
I've heard great things about the Kenai - but not too keen on the "combat" fishing though! I don't mind some riverside socialising (The Tongariro is great for that) but hopefully there is some scope to get away from the crowds and experience some wilderness.
Are the "Freshet" conditions due to snow melt?

I like the sound of fishing around Haines, but don't quite understand what you mean about saving a days driving time?
Are you suggesting to drive from Anchorage to Haines, and then take the ferry from there back to Vancouver? Or is it a days drive around the road between Haines & Skagway?
I'm hoping we can get the car on the ferry, and take it off at various stops to stay and drive around before continuing the ferry trip.

At this stage I think I will bring my #6/7 flyrod & reel with floating & sinking lines. (its a 4 piece, so is the only rod that will fit my suitcase). If I need a heavier or lighter setup, just may have to bite the bullet when I'm over there and go shopping!

I also have some graphite spin rods with fixed spool reels (loaded with braid - for soft plastics & jigging)that would be suitable for casting spinners/lures. Is it worth bringing those too? Or is it better to use nylon mono for spin fishing?

I also have breathable chest waders and wading boots with cleats on the soles, but not sure if I can squeeze them in at this stage.
Is it usually necessary to wade in most of these rivers? And what are the options for buying or hiring waders?

Thanks again for your help, very much appreciated.
Cheers, Darryl

 

[youngsteelheader]

are there steelhead in new zealand or salmon? ive seen pictures of monster rainbows but do they stay in the river?

IMG]

 

[Darryl]

quote:Originally posted by youngsteelheader

are there steelhead in new zealand or salmon? ive seen pictures of monster rainbows but do they stay in the river?

IMG]

There are Salmon runs in the South Island rivers (mainly Chinook I think),and there may be some lake Salmon - but I can't tell you much more than that. The river mouths appear to be the best place to catch a Salmon, however I have heard that the fish numbers vary dramatically between seasons.

All NZ Rainbow trout are from "Steelhead" stock, imported from California? I take it that your Steelhead are sea-run Rainbows??
There may be the odd sea-run or estuarine Rainbow over here, but there doesn't seem to be a definate run of large Steelhead to my knowledge.
The closest we get is the winter spawning runs up the Lake Taupo tributaries (ie Tongariro etc). These Rainbows start off from the lake as silver "bullets" that change to red spawning colours as they progress up the river.

So to answer your question, those big Rainbows are probably resident fish.

As you will be fishing mainly in the South Island there are a lot more Brown Trout than Rainbows. The attraction there is the back country rivers, crystal clear water, sight fishing to large Brownies with nymphs or dry fly.
I reckon the best place for big NZ Rainbows is the Rotorua Lakes district in the North Island.

 

[Cuba Libre]

Hey Youngsteelheader-- be careful ..

I grew up believing a 'wooly bugger' was a trout fly then I went to New Zealand and found out it was somewhat of a national pastime involving sheep

( Sent to me by a mate in NZ who knows about such things )

20ft Alumaweld Intruder

 

[Darryl]

quote:Originally posted by Cuba Libre

Hey Youngsteelheader-- be careful ..

I grew up believing a 'wooly bugger' was a trout fly then I went to New Zealand and found out it was somewhat of a national pastime involving sheep

( Sent to me by a mate in NZ who knows about such things )

20ft Alumaweld Intruder

Yeah - right on Cuba Libre
We call them 'blondes'!
Baaaaaa.......