BRITISH COLUMBIA

AFTER FISHING THE BABINE RIVER IN BRITISH COLUMBIA FOR MANY YEARS, TWO OF MY STEELHEAD FISHING BUDDIES, DICK ABRAMS AND DON GARNETT, DECIDED TO TRY A DIFFERENT RIVER AND LODGE. OUR CHOICE WAS THE SUSKEENA LODGE ON THE SUSTUT RIVER.

THE SUSTUT IS A REMOTE TRIBUTARY TO THE SKEENA RIVER SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM IS MADE UP OF THE , BABINE, BULKLEY, KISPIOX, MORICE, NASS, SKEENA, SUSTUT AND A FEW OTHER RIVERS AND KNOWN FOR HAVING THE LARGEST STEELHEAD IN NORTH AMERICA. OUR PAST EXPERIENCES HAVE PROVEN THIS TO BE VERY TRUE.

THE SUSTUT IS FISHABLE FOR TWELVE MILES BEFORE JOINING THE SKEENA, AND FISHED FROM TWO LODGES ON THE RIVER, THE SUSKEENA BEING ONE OF THEM. IT ACCOMMODATES NINE ANGLERS FOR THE WEEK LONG STAY. OUR GROUP CONSTSTED OF ONE FROM FRANCE, TWO FROM ITALY, ONE CANADIAN AND FIVE FROM THE USA.

WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO BE THERE BETWEEN TWO HEAVY RAINSTORMS. FORTUNATE, AS IT MOVED SOME FISH UP INTO THE SUSTUT AND DROPPED AND CLEARED TO MAKE FOR GOOD FISHING! IN FACT IT WAS SO FISHABLE, THAT I WAS ABLE TO ENTICE THREE FISH TO TAKE MY DRY FLY OFFERING. AS YOU WILL SEE FROM THE PHOTOS, THESE FISH ARE LARGE AND HEALTHY. THEIR GIRTH IS AMAZING GIVEN THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE TRAVELED OVER 250 MILES FROM THE PACIFIC BY THE TIME THEY REACH THE SUSTUT. OUR LARGEST WAS 37"X20" WHICH ESTIMATES AT 22LBS.

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
SUSKEENA LODGE OUR CABINS MORNING LAUNCH THE SUSTUT ANOTHER VIEW
SUSTUT SUNSET GARNETT HAS ONE ABOUT TO LAND IT THE THREE OF US BACKING DOWN

FISH PORN
THE FIRST ONE CAUGHT ON A DRY A HEN SEE THE DRY FLY A BUCK