Please check the BC Wildfire Maps prior to going out to any area, especially the remote areas. As most of you know the province is in a State of Emergency with most of the province in “Extreme” Fire Danger Rating, which is what we are here in the Bulkley-Nechako Valley.

If you see smoke or a forest fire, please text *5555 on a cellphone or call 1-800-663-5555 to report the fire. You can visit the BC Wildfire Service webpage for more information.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status 

RIVER FISHING REPORT

Bulkley River

The Bulkley River is now open for Coho and pink salmon fishing. Salmon fishing has been poor thus far, however the water conditions are ideal, so we are hopeful for improvement. Remember when out on the Bulkley (excluding tributaries); DFO notice FN717 states that the daily limit for Coho is 4 per day with only 2 over 50cm from August 15-October 15^th. For pinks, from August 15^th-December 31^st, the limit is 2 pinks per day.

Steelhead fishing has been decent for mid-August. We have seen a good number of steelhead throughout the river, which we hope is a good sign for the rest of the season.

Skeena River

Sockeye fishing has been very hit and miss on the Skeena. But let’s not complain... we are salmon fishing!

Coho and pink salmon fishing has been less than stellar so far on the mighty Skeena. The water is a bit colored due to high temperatures, but it is fishable. The forecast isn’t showing a large break in temperature anytime soon, but the evenings are getting down to the single digits. This should help hopefully.

Reports from Terrace regarding steelhead fishing and numbers are mixed. Wonder if the multiple commercial fishing openings have something to do with this. Hard to tell these days.

Remember that that Babine River and Kispiox River remain closed to salmon fishing until further notice. However, these two streams are open for steelhead fishing.

Please use extreme caution when traveling to the Babine area. There are forest fires in the area, so check the Wildfire map for the most recent information before making a decision to head that way. The Kispiox is also extremely low at the moment and there is a fire off the Kispiox on the Pope FSR. Just like the rest of the province, we too need rain.

Babine Lake has produced a good number of sockeye. Flasher (green seems to be the color of choice), red hook and beads does the trick!

Lee Mac is out fishing, so we will get an ocean update next week.

In the meantime, go fish!