canada NICHOLAS DEAN OUTDOORS [Terrace, British Columbia] British Columbia’s Skeena River system and its tributaries are home to some of the largest and most diverse runs of wild anadromous fish found anywhere in the world. Nicholas Dean Outdoors (N.D.O.) has access to over 50 of the best rivers and lakes throughout region, a huge factor that means guests will always have numerous fishing options to choose from, regardless of water conditions and weather. Often-times you can expect to be fishing in places where there are no roads and no development; areas that are instead home to old-growth forests, gin-clear rivers, and large, wild steelhead. N.D.O.’s staff of professional, experienced guides know the Skeena and its tributaries intimately, ensuring that you have the best chance possible at landing some of the trophy fish that migrate upriver each year. Conveniently located just minutes from the easily-accessed town of Terrace, N.D.O.’s Yellow Cedar Lodge is the ideal base of operations for this area, offering wireless internet, hot tub, sauna, lounge, dining room, and a bar that is always well-stocked. 6 night / 5 fishing day package (double occupancy) $4,350.00 CDN per person. McKnight’s Home Invader Every once in awhile – when we find a fly pattern that is truly incredible – we like to feature it in our annual travel guide. Doug McKnight’s “Home Invader” is definitely a worthy, incrediblyeffective pattern! We’ve used it on everything from tiny mountain trout to triple-digit tarpon to African tigerfish, and feel strongly that this fly needs to be in every angler’s streamer box. 1. “The Home Invader streamer pattern was born nearly twenty years ago, back when I lived in Pennsylvania and regularly fished for trout and smallmouth bass. The first prototype was designed to catch fish in a secret creek near my house that had a good population of small, wild brown trout. Watching these elusive trout literally come unglued to annihilate this minnow pattern was incredible. I knew right away that I was on to something. Over the years, the design of the fly has remained pretty much the same as the original, however, the variety of colors, sizes, and variations has changed a bit along with the different types of species that have been targeted with the pattern. There is seldom a piece of water anywhere in the world where the Home Invader won’t get some attention.” “One of the reasons that this fly is so effective has to do with how much the materials move in the water. The combination of hackle, marabou and fur in the water creates the illusion of life. Even if you are simply hanging this streamer in the water, it comes alive as the materials flutter and flow in the current. You can strip it fast, slowly swing it or dead drift it. No matter what, the fly is always pulsing and moving. I currently have more than 20 color schemes of the pattern. The ‘Wilson’ color (named after the color of a Wilson tennis ball) is one of my current favorites for large brown trout on my home river of the Yellowstone. The pale olive color blends in perfectly with the ‘green is good-colored’ water that is associated with great streamer fishing. It is a light color scheme that really looks like it belongs there.” 2. SPEY LODGE & BOUNDARY LODGE [Skeena Region, British Columbia] Strategically situated on the banks of the Skeena River, Spey Lodge offers unrestricted availability to the fly-friendly waters of the lower Skeena watershed, home to the largest runs of wild steelhead in North America. The lodge has six double-occupancy rooms along with a large lounge, dining room and all other necessary amenities. Further to the north lies Spey’s sister operation – Boundary Lodge. A slightly smaller lodge built on the banks of the Bell-Irving River, Boundary was designed and constructed as a remote “out-camp” lodge catering to only four rods per week from September through November. Starting in late July, Spey Lodge offers some of the best steelhead fishing in the world, which continues into the fall. The target species and the rivers fished vary from month to month, but the techniques stay relatively the same. Swinging wet flies with floating lines and light wet-tips is most effective. You can also skate dry flies to large steelhead, catching fish on the surface that can easily exceed 20 pounds! 7 night / 6 fishing day packages (single occupancy) $5,200.00 CDN per person. 3. Hook: Your favorite #2, 3X-long, down-eyed streamer hook Thread: Flat waxed nylon - Olive Eyes: Medium painted lead dumbbell eyes plus a few wraps of .035 lead wire Tail: White and tan marabou plumes (big ones) Body: White fox tail, dyed pale olive Flash: Speckled gold Flashabou Wing: Badger colored rooster neck hackles Cement: Zap-a-Gap 4. TIGHTLINES LODGE step 1: [Fernie, British Columbia] Gord Silverthorne’s Kootenay Fly Shop was the first stand-alone fly shop and outfitting business established in the town of Fernie. Fulfilling a childhood dream, Gord opened his fly shop in 1995 before expanding his operation to offer accommodations in the adjacent Tightlines Lodge. Ideal for groups, families or couples. the lodge has five bedrooms and comfortably sleeps up to ten people. The lodge is the perfect base camp from which to experience one of the best trout fisheries in North America. The Elk River – home waters for Tighlines Lodge - is home to some of the largest (and one of the last) remaining populations of wild, pure strain Westslope cutthroat trout in the world. An incredible trout fishery with good hatches and consistent dry fly fishing, the Elk is a must-fish river for any serious fly angler. The Elk is also home to one of the strongest populations of Bull trout found in North America. On this fishery, it is not uncommon to see “Bullies” over 30 inches long. 7 night / 6 fishing day packages (double occupancy) $3,035.00 CDN per person. step 2: Tie in both marabou plumes behind lead eyes. The length should be 2 to 2 ½ times the hook shank step 3: Next, cut off a liberal amount of fox tail, spread it around the hook shank, and tie in with an initial length. Trim excess and place a small amount of Zap-a-Gap on the thread wraps gathering wrap. Then, tie a few tight wraps to secure the fox tail, and trim excess close to the lead eyes. Place a small amount of Zap-a-Gap on the bare hook shank and wrap 6-to-8 wraps of lead wire over the glue. Attach lead eyes in the middle of the lead wraps. 5. step 4: Repeat the previous step in from of the lead eyes. step 5: Tie in about a dozen Flashabou fibers extending back to the end of the Marabou. step 6: Tie in one neck hackle per side, extending back to the end of the marabou. Trim excess, whip finish, and apply Zap-a-Gap to the head. Doug works in Yellow Dog’s saltwater department and has fished extensively throughout the world. Doug began tying flies at age nine under his father’s instruction, and soon was tying flies professionally for several local fly shops. For nearly two decades, Doug McKnight has built a reputation as an expert fly designer and currently works with Umpqua Feather Merchants as a signature fly tyer. 6. Doug McKnight 72 • phone: 406-585-8667 • toll free: 888-777-5060 email: info@yellowdogflyfishing.com • website: www.yellowdogflyfishing.com • 73