Stuart lake area

[Te Anau]

Hi you guys,
I'm moving to Fort saint James for the season from New Zealand as of tomorrow and are a fly fishing nut.Can anyone enlighten me on the rivers and streams that run into Stuart lake for fly fishing.I normally fish 5 or 6 weight for brown trout to 10lb and rainbows to 6lb,quite small mountain streams,what am I in for around there.Do the streams hold resident fish,or do they move up during the pre sporn?Do you catch Bull trout around there? May fly hatchs ,nymphing,dries,streamers, sight fishing,whats going on.any info appreciated.
Cheers Nathan.

[The Dawg]

Dont just limit yourself to Stuart...there are literally hundreds of streams, lakes and rivers within an hour or so of there.

Lots of streams hold resident trout, dont be afraid to just get out and try. Im sure you will find your own spots on the first day!

Good luck, and enjoy the season!!

You will also find out that a lot of people here call the Brown trout 'Dollies'. So get used to that term ;)

And they are around too!

[835]

Noah, Lot of people on here call Bulls, Dollies. Not Browns.
Dolly Varden and Bull trout are kinda like Steel Head and Rainbows. Bothe are similar but not the same.

[ryanhuntslots]

the Stelako River is world famous and only an hour from Vanderhoof, you will need a clasified waters license, but totaly worth it

[The Dawg]

Noah, Lot of people on here call Bulls, Dollies. Not Browns.
Dolly Varden and Bull trout are kinda like Steel Head and Rainbows. Bothe are similar but not the same.


Hmmm. I always called them Dollies..lol.

Thats why I hunt. Not fish so much :D

[Te Anau]

Cool,what techniques are you all using for Dollies and rainbows up there,will they take a dry fly at times when it's warm and the food is abundant on the surface?

[moosinaround]

Cool,what techniques are you all using for Dollies and rainbows up there,will they take a dry fly at times when it's warm and the food is abundant on the surface?
In the old days a chunk of hotdog, or bacon, and a hook! Not anymore though! A fly will work too! Moosin

[The Dawg]

Bows will take flies at pretty much all times.

I prefer to use spinners and spoons for them though.

Dollies, I cant speak for now..lol

[scoutlt1]

Dolly Varden are a pretty aggressive fish. They have been know to take mice and frogs off the surface. Shiny lures or streamer flies work well. They hit pretty hard most of the year.
Incidentally they are not a trout, but a char.

[moosinaround]

Bows will take flies at pretty much all times.

I prefer to use spinners and spoons for them though.

Dollies, I cant speak for now..lol
I can, and they will eat anything shiny. I like a red and white spoon, or a trout pattern fox lure, or a frog pattern fox lure, or a black with yellow Meppes, or .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ........................get my drift?;) Moosin

[Te Anau]

hmmmmmmm,will you ever find them in the smaller streams where you can actually spot them,work out what they're up to,then fool them into a take,they look like wsome fish,5 wt might take the back seat to 7/8 wt find.

[scoutlt1]

hmmmmmmm,will you ever find them in the smaller streams where you can actually spot them,work out what they're up to,then fool them into a take,they look like wsome fish,5 wt might take the back seat to 7/8 wt find.

I wouldn't worry too much about the details...find a nice pool, a tributary, any area that normally hold a meal. There are fish in most if not all of the streams in that area. If there are Dollies around they won't be hard to find :-)

[GoatGuy]

If you're there, maybe head up to the Omineca as well to give grayling a try. They aren't fussy. Anything seems to work, although black seems to be a favorite colour.

You won't be too far from the bulkley for some steel in the fall - that's a must do.

[Te Anau]

Thanks you guys,sounds like a MEKA,I thought the hunting was supposed to be the best in the world,but the fishing sounds crazy to,better finish packing,cheers.

[ianwuzhere]

the Stelako River is world famous and only an hour from Vanderhoof, you will need a clasified waters license, but totaly worth it
stellako X2

[horshur]

dollies take egg and baitfish patterns as well gaudy flies.....I have caught them on big stonefly nymph patterns.

[BromBones]

stellako X2

X3

Awesome river. Drift from the francois lake bridge is the best, some excellent fishing on the upper stretch.

[1980skywalker]

You are in for a treat Nathan, the lakes and rivers up there are literally boiling with all sorts of fish, as said don't limit yourself to any one spot. Stay in touch we are planning our moose hunt as the LEH is now out and we will be heading up your way late september if you are still around.

[Te Anau]

Cheers Skywalker,I'll keep that in mind and thanks for the heads up everyone about the area.