SLOCAN RIVER FLY FISHING GUIDES
The Kootenay's are home to a number of excellent drift boat fisheries. The classified Elk, St. Mary and Wigwam river systems are likely some of the best dry fly cutthroat fisheries available to fish by drift boat. Further west of the Rocky and Purcell mountains there are a few more fisheries that can be navigated by drift boats and provide some excellent dry fly fishing for native redband, rainbow trout. Our main focus is the stunning Slocan River near Nelson BC
Our season starts in mid June and runs to mid July before they close for the summer due to warmer water temps in an effort to protect the native trout population. During this month of fishing the river provides us with a mix of hatches. Mahogany Duns, Green Drakes and Golden Stoneflies are the usual suspects here and provide fly anglers with some explosive top water action. Trips on these smaller waters can be paired with trips on the Columbia as they are only 45 minutes to an hour away from each other.
In September as the water temps cool we re visit these rivers and find their grassy banks full of hoppers, beetles and other terrestrial victims. The takes are fast and the fish pull hard and are not shy of aerials. Although not as big as the brutes of the Columbia River, they are a very catchable 12 to 16 inch average with many reaching the 18" mark.
As September progresses and the nights become cool we start to see large October caddis appear. Orange foam patterns in sizes 8 to 12 bring up some quality fish particularly after a twitch is employed to the fly. Due to their lack of pressure and excellent dry fly fishing, these rivers are an excellent choice for beginner fly anglers. Veteran fly anglers will also appreciate the numerous stumps and overhangs to cast to throughout the float.
