Growing up an avid angler, I have always had an urge for new species of game fish that I could improve my skills with. I have found that with each new body of water and species, that my knowledge and more importantly, my patience, has been tested.
I was extremely fortunate to grow up on the North Coast of BC. It was a luxury to explore and fish many of the world-class river systems in my own backyard and I was constantly in search of impressive Salmon and Steelhead. It never occurred to me to add Bull Trout to my pursuit.
My first encounter with a Bull Trout was on the Skeena River and to be fair, I was quite disappointed. I was winter Steelheading and had a solid grab at the end of a run. I was immediately filled with a sense of excitement, only to be let down when I reeled in a 2 lb Bull. At first I thought it was a Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) a species that I had seen back home in the Kitimat River, but the characteristics of the fish differed slightly. Research and Pictures determined it was the reclusive "coastal" Bull Trout, a notorious culprit for stealing wary Steelheader’s dreams on the coldest winter days. Being a fishing magazine fanatic, it was common to see a large Bull Trout posted on the front of fly fishing magazines with enormous streamers hanging from their mouths. Until then I had always ignored Bull Trout and instead looked towards articles geared towards Steelhead, Salmon, and exotic fish from all over the world. Now, I quickly analyzed the articles looking for season, techniques and of course area where I could hook into an impressive Bull.
Almost all the articles in the magazines about BC Bulls discussed fish in the Southeast portion of the province. It was not until I moved to Northern BC (Peace River Area) that I realized there are many massive Bulls elsewhere within the province.
Before I get into the descriptions and details of fishing for Bulls in the North, I must err on the side of caution. The Northern portion of BC is quite remote. There are communities but many of them are limited in what they can provide and have great distances between them. There is a ton of wildlife that must be respected, and in order to have the best experience fly-fishing for Bulls one must travel to the most secluded rivers and creeks.
Almost all river systems in the North Peace area will produce descent Bulls in the 2-8 lb range but to catch the 15-20+ pounders, one must find a system fed by a good size lake or large river. Secondly, the river must see low fishing pressure (which many in the North do) because of the slow growth rate and high mortality rates due to improper fishing techniques. A popular area would include rivers feeding in and out of Williston Lake. By traveling far distances up these rivers you will find mere creeks and streams that could lead to incredible fishing days.
It is not uncommon to have 20 fish days with the average fish in the 10+ range if you venture into these remote regions. The Bulls here are extremely aggressive; missing a strike from one fish will usually result in another fish ripping out and crushing the fly.
Fly selection for these fish seems to be less about style or color (forgiving the absolute wacky bright colors) and more about size and sink rate. A fly must be large enough to make it worthwhile for a large Bull Trout to move out and chase it, while at the same time having a fast sink rate will get the fly down quickly to the fish. Most prime fishing spots are small deep pools that don't require far casts but test the anglers ability to cast in tight locations. Many times you will find yourself casting in quite unorthodox ways.
Fishing these rivers requires hopping from pool to pool with limited time in each section. If the fish are sitting in an area they will hit the fly almost immediately creating an exciting and adrenaline pumping experience.
While the North may be more intimidating in comparison to the rivers of Southern BC, the rewards of searching for virgin waters in the North can produce life-changing results. It is sure to test all the skills and knowledge of the angler while continuously feeding the dream that your next cast could hook you the fish of a lifetime.
