Recommended Fly Fishing Equipment

Depending on your target species & style of fly-fishing you prefer, you basically only need 3 diffferent weight system rods to enjoy the steelhead, salmon and trout available throughout northern BC's coastal rivers.

Basic Recommendations

Steelhead Fly Rods

• Length: 9' or longer (longer in a spey system)

• Weight: 7wt - 9wt

• Style: single or spey (two-handed)

• Fish Size | Weight: avg. 8-15 pounds / trophy size 15-30 pounds plus

• Recommended: freshwater flies

An enormous variety of fly-fishing systems are on the market today and can be confusing when trying to choose the right one for your preference of style and species. The class of rods we describe here are a perfect fit for average to trophy steelhead fishing in northern BC, Canada.

Chinook Salmon (Kings)

• Length: 9' or longer (longer in a spey system)

• Weight: minimum 9wt - 11wt

• Style: single or spey (two-handed)

• Fish Size | Weight: avg. 15-30 pounds / trophy size 30-70 pounds plus

• Recommended: freshwater flies

A well made 9wt or heavier fly rod is recommended to fish for these large pacific salmon. A heavier rod will allow the angler to cast bigger & heavier flies along with a much faster grain sink tip.

Chum Salmon (Dogs)

• Length: 9' or longer (longer in a spey system)

• Weight: minimum 8wt - 10wt

• Style: single or spey (two-handed)

• Fish Size | Weight: avg. 8-20 pounds / trophy size 20-30 pounds plus

• Recommended: freshwater flies

Chum salmon caught on the fly are an extremely exciting fish to play out. These fish are very aggressive on the take and are well known for their reel busting runs and acrobatic leeps in which a well built system is required.

Coho | Pink | Sockeye Salmon (Silvers, Humphy's, Reds)

• Length: 9' or longer (longer in a spey system)

• Weight: 7wt - 8wt

• Style: single or spey (two-handed)

• Fish Size | Weight:

  • Coho avg. 8-15 pounds / trophy size 15-25 pounds plus

  • Pink avg. 5-10 pounds / trophy size 10 pounds plus

  • Sockeye avg. 5-10 pounds / trophy size 10 pounds plus

• Recommended: freshwater flies

Pink salmon are aggressive fly chasers and provide plenty of non-stop action when large schools of them are moving through a run. A 6wt is fine to chase pinks with but it is not uncommon to hook into larger or more aggressive fish like coho, chum or sockeye. This why we recommend a 7wt or an 8wt as a better choice.

Trout | Char

• Length: 9' or longer (longer in a spey system)

• Weight: 4wt - 6wt

• Style: single

• Fish Size: avg. 12-20 inches | 30-50cm

• Recommended: freshwater flies

Small trout are extremely enjoyable to catch on light fly systems. Whether dry fly or nymph/wet fly fishing, these fish provide anglers with hours of enjoyment throughout the world. Here in the northern region of British Columbia there are excellent numbers of trout and char throughout the coastal and inland rivers and streams.

Fly Reels

Nautilus Reels

Great choice of reels for both saltwater and freshwater fishing. These reels are USA made by members of the Mustad (the famous hook manufacturer)family. Excellent variety of stylish colors to choose from and easy to order a custom make with logos and signatures.

Islander Reels

Top of the line for quality and design. Made in Canada and are developed for both freshwater and saltwater use. These reels are nothing but world-class.

Fly Lines

Scientific Anglers

Scientific Anglers "Sharkskin" premium model fly lines are a fantastic choice for cold, big water steelhead flies. The steelhead taper is ideal for delivering long casts.

Line Type: Floating

Rod Weights: 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

RIO Products

RIO Skagit flight head spey lines are designed for ease of casting long distance. Varied head lengths allows the angler to fine tune their casts.

Line Type: Floating

Line Sizes: 425, 450, 475 | 500 | 525 550 | 575 | 600 | 625 | 650 | 675 | 700 750

Rod Weights: 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10