Finding Bull Trout in Vancouver is half the adventure
The other half is hooking up and being surrounded by a living breathing rainforest and glacial capped mountains !!
It’s April 17 and one of our fly fishing guides Jason and myself have the afternoon to go chuck some flies for Bull trout on the Squamish river. This well known and magically scenic river lies just north of Vancouver BC. I decide to take him into a secret run I know. A run that is sure to produce something. Getting to this ideal piece of water requires a 20 minute hike from the logging road where we parked the 4 X 4. The route to the river required trekking through some very cool looking Elk trails and finally popping out onto the river where a sweet piece of water is beckoning a cast.
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Single hand or Spey? That is the question
Jason packs along a 13 foot 7 weight spey rod and I pack a 7/8 weight single hand equipped with a Hardy Demon 7000 fly reel loaded with Rio fly line. We both started chucking some big streamers out in the walking speed current of a majestic looking tailout. Bull Trout had to be waiting there to ambush their next meal of salmon fry or Sculpin. I knew they were. My first cast landed perfectly, just past the deep trough where hungry trout were sure to be waiting. A quick mend is followed by some fly twitching on the swing. Suddenly the line goes tight. I feel power at the end of the line. This is no average Bull trout. It is having no problem taking line from the reel and heading across the river. Big Bull trout sure know how to pound out the fight. My rod tip is thumping hard with every head shake from my fishy friend at the other end. This goes on for a good few minutes. But in reality it seems like 20 when you’re caught up in the excitement and adrenalin. But finally the fish is brought to the shallows and surrenders.
We take some great photos and the fish is released. I’m sure it wants to get back to it’s buffet.
Now it’s spey man’s turn
I told Jason it was his turn now. I laid down my rod and picked up my iphone instead. It was set on video. I filmed the perfect scene. He rolls out a beauty cast, does a mend and then gets that magic tug! What timing. Let the video do the talking:
