Rev. 10/10/01

Alaska & beyond - continued 9/29 - 10/5
Telkwa BC - Frontier Farwest Fishing Lodge

I picked up Rick, Shauna, and Joe at the Smithers Airport.  They were only an hour late.  The story they got from the airline was that an earlier flight couldn't find their stewardess, so they stole the one from Rick's -- interesting excuse.

We had a great dinner in Smithers, and then I left them at their hotel.

The next morning I went over to Frontier Farwest Fishing Lodge at Telkwa.  Got acquainted with the staff and guides.  Rick, Shauna, and Joe arrived about ten.  We all got settled, into our waders and headed for the river for a half-days fishing.

Joe and I went with Dan.  We had access to the river through a private road.  Part way down the road, it branched.  The left branch lead to a Powder Magazine where dynamite was stored -- we took the right branch.

It was quite windy and Dan was engrossed, teaching me to spey cast.  Suddenly, behind us, a loud explosion -- the Powder Magazine?  Looking back toward the sound, we saw a large tree, on the river bank, crash into the current with a cloud of dust and a spray of water.  As the pieces came floating down, someone said, "A bit windy today."

The next morning we left for a two day float down the lower Bulkly River.  Collin drove us down below the Moricetown Falls.  We drifted from spot to spot, climbing out and fishing promising stretches of the river.  Kelly and Dan knew the river intimately.

Joe hooked a nice steelhead that day -- you can tell from the bend in his rod.  He finally brought it in and Kelly "tailed" it, but not before he had to hug it to keep control, and got "slimed."  Finally, we got the classic picture -- Joe, with a great, broad, grin.

This stretch of the river, while not a "white water," has some nice rapids in it.

Shauna was catching fish that first day.  At lunch she tied into a nice one without a good place to land it.  Finally got it tailed.  I'm sure Rick got a better picture than I did (but mine was "Internet ready" and Shauna e-mailed it home the next evening.)

The scenery along the Bulkly River is unique.  The Painted Cliffs, with the brilliant yellow and orange colors, are spectacular.

As you come out of this stretch, the two river banks frame the snowcapped mountains -- what a sight.

Further down stream the yellow leaves of Fall make a great display, marking steelhead season.

Just before getting down to the camp, Rick and Shauna saw a bear -- on the camp side of the river.

Kelly and Dan turned out to be great cooks.  They had everything going in short order -- the food really hit the spot that night.

And Joe shared his little flask -- something to ward off the chill.

That night, full moon, and a mist descended on the river.  Not sure what that means, but my my trusty Casio "Fish-In-Time" watch lied -- it said it was a "4 fish" day, but not for our group.  Don't think the watch is that accurate.

The next day I caught a whitefish, about 12" long.  It hit my fly hard, and I thought I was into something.  Dan came running back to tail it when he heard me whoop -- but I just reeled it in and let it go.

Just a few minutes later I finally did hook a steelhead -- with Dan's help, land it.  It took my fly exactly the same way as my whitefish had -- but then it it took off, wow!  As I recall, it was 27" long and 13" girth -- a nice fish.  And a great thrill -- trip was worth it.  

I'd several more bites, but no hook ups.

I roomed with Joe at the lodge.  He warned me that he snored.  OK, I can handle that.  But the first night on the river I found out Rick snores too.  With the two of them in the tent, in was ZZZZZ zzzzz ZZZZZ zzzzz.  When they were out of sync, it was just a dull, rhythmic, roar, but gradually their snoring would get in sync, building to a grand crescendo, ZzZzZzZzZzZzZz -- and the whole tent would shake.  So on the next trip I brought my digital voice recorder -- now I thought, I'll get proof -- maybe even put it on my web page.  But the ambient noise level from the river at the upper camp drowned out their snoring -- foiled!

Joe had a morning ritual.  Every morning, he lathered up and shaved -- no stubble for that guy.  And of course his little tin cup did double duty -- evening, for spot of whisky -- morning, for a shave.  I'm sure he never gets them mixed up.

We floated the upper canyon for two days.  And the lower canyon again.  Rick caught a 38" fish and several more.  (When I get a CD from him with pictures of his fish, I'll add them to this page). [this is it!]

Joe hooked into several more.  As for me, in addition to one nice steelhead, I learned a great deal about spey casting.  Found a line that really matches my rod, making it a lot easier to cast.  And had a chance to fish with a smaller, lighter spey rod, which should be a good match for trout.

Also found out the whole crew seems to go after cigars.

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