Kispiox

Intro | Bulkley | Kispiox | Babine | Copper | Sustut | Lodges | Do It Yourself | Regulations | Tackle | Map

The international spotlight first focused on the Skeena system in 1954 when Field and Stream reported in its June issue that two world record steelhead--one 33 pounds and the other 36 pounds--were caught on British Columbia's Kispiox River the previous fall. According to the article, six of the ten largest steelhead caught that year as part of a Field and Stream fishing contest came from the Kispiox.

Today, steelhead fanatics know the Kispiox is home to a race of giant steelhead unmatched anywhere in the world. Kispiox fish usually have a larger girth than steelhead of the same length from other Skeena tributaries, and they can reach astonishing weights after only two years in the salt. More importantly for big-fish aficionados, three-salt male steelhead are just as common as two-salt males on the Kispiox, meaning that each time you hook a fish, the chances are greater here than anywhere else on the planet that you are into a 30-pound or larger steelhead.

Despite the glamour of the world's largest steelhead, the Kispiox is not without problems. On a good year only a few thousand steelhead may survive the ordeals of ocean life and pass the gauntlet of commercial salmon nets at the mouth of the Skeena. The Kispiox valley has been extensively logged in its upper reaches and when it rains in the fall, the river gets dirty in a hurry.

The run begins on the lower river in late August or early September when a few fish (often the largest male steelhead) trickle into the lower river. The peak of the run comes later. Your best chances at numbers of fish are later in September and into October.

A boat is not necessary, but it can help you travel from place to place on the Zymoetz, Kispiox, and Morice. There is a great deal of boating done on the Bulkley but some sections are treacherous and impassable. You may not fish from a boat due to regulations.

The Kispiox is a good destination for both guided and do-it-yourself anglers. The Ministry of Forests maintains undeveloped camping areas along the river. Three private campgrounds and lodges, also on the river, can arrange a guide or shuttle, cook a hot meal, sell a license, and/or provide accommodations. Sportsman's Kispiox Lodge (250-842-6455) rents four-bedroom cabins with a kitchen and a futon in the living room for $125 (CND). Kispiox Steelhead Camp (250-842-5435) and Kispiox River Resort & Campground (250-842-6182) also cater to fly anglers. For guided angling, call Wilfred Lee (250-842-6350) or Gordon Wadley (250-847-5933).

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