Hey all, I’ve been doing a lot of digging on some smaller rivers in the central coast and broughton areas I’ve read as much information as I can find but am struggling to get a good grasp of run timing for steelhead in that area. I know the dean run timing and the northern V.I rivers but curious for any info. Maybe only way is to find out myself!
Central coast/broughton rivers run timing
- Thread starter Panks6745
- Start date
Macdeep
Active Member
Ya, it's a remote part of the world dominated by heli-guides mostly served by West Coast Heli.
The only info I can pass for sure is that one of the larger rivers on the mainland side, north of the broughtons, is that the "winter run" is more of a spring run (March, April). A buddy of mine used to have access to a jet boat and did the trip running North across to the mainland from McNeill and got into a few spring steelies, but that was 20+ years ago now when there were logging camps active across the way. He also had connections to stay in camp with the loggers, so it was just a quick jet across, unpack at the logging camp, and then go fishing! What a life!
I dont think there are any meaningful rivers worth fishing on any of the islands in the Broughton Archipelago. The islands are too small to have much size to the streams. And even if there were steelhead in these super small streams, runs would be microscopic and best left alone.
Otherwise, I've only done one fall heli fishing trip through work on the mainland side North of Port McNeill and the pilot/guide had us focused on salmon on a few medium sized rivers near Kingcome Inlet. We chatted about steelhead, and he said there were some summer runs on a few rivers that have a number of guides that work them, but really small returns and hard to find fish unless you have "the knowledge" which he didnt share with me. All he said is that even the fall steelhead heli trips rely heavily on salmon for getting guests action throughout the day. He doesnt guide winter steelhead.
Enjoy the research though!
The only info I can pass for sure is that one of the larger rivers on the mainland side, north of the broughtons, is that the "winter run" is more of a spring run (March, April). A buddy of mine used to have access to a jet boat and did the trip running North across to the mainland from McNeill and got into a few spring steelies, but that was 20+ years ago now when there were logging camps active across the way. He also had connections to stay in camp with the loggers, so it was just a quick jet across, unpack at the logging camp, and then go fishing! What a life!
I dont think there are any meaningful rivers worth fishing on any of the islands in the Broughton Archipelago. The islands are too small to have much size to the streams. And even if there were steelhead in these super small streams, runs would be microscopic and best left alone.
Otherwise, I've only done one fall heli fishing trip through work on the mainland side North of Port McNeill and the pilot/guide had us focused on salmon on a few medium sized rivers near Kingcome Inlet. We chatted about steelhead, and he said there were some summer runs on a few rivers that have a number of guides that work them, but really small returns and hard to find fish unless you have "the knowledge" which he didnt share with me. All he said is that even the fall steelhead heli trips rely heavily on salmon for getting guests action throughout the day. He doesnt guide winter steelhead.
Enjoy the research though!
Really appreciate the insight. Would definitely be jealous of those days ha. Thanks!
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