Question on Sink Tip setup for Skeena Chinook

[flyaster99]

Hi, I'm heading up to the Skeena River in BC in 2 weeks time to target Chinook salmon. This will be my first trip to the Skeena. As a predominantly saltwater fly fisher, I'll appreciate some advise on the sink tip setup from those who knows about the Skeena.

The outfit I plan to bring consist mainly of single handed 9ft rods of 7wt, 9wt and 11wt. I understand that heavy sink tips are called for on the Skeena in July and plan to match my rods with the Teeny TS-250, TS-350, and TS-550 for the 7, 9 and 11wt. I use them regularly in saltwater and is comfortable to cast all day with them. The Teeny TS lines are basically 30ft of Tungsten fast sinking (8 to 11 ips) head integrated with 70ft of running line. Will this work for the Skeena? If not, would appreciate any recommendations.

I know double handed outfit are the norm on the Skeena and my guide will a have a few on loan. But I have zero experience with Spey it'll be nice if I can land a Chinook or 2 on my regular single handed rods. ;)

Thanks in advance.

[Terry Thomas]

Looks like you have it covered. Have a good trip.

[sisyphusmpn]

I just got back from there last night. You are in for a real treat. There are several rivers in the area and your setup can vary depending on location. Last week the Kitimat was hot and the Skeena very high and muddy. The Copper is starting to come into shape and that's one river where you might be able to use a single-hander. But - unsolicited advice - leave the 7 & 9 s/h's home. There is no freakin' way under the sun you could handle those fish with those rods - I don't care how good a stick you are. These fish will have you wondering how much backing you've got left in a heartbeat. They are monstrously strong and you just can't put enough wood to them to turn them with those light sticks.

It's really a two-handed game and you should let your guide teach you how to get started. It'll be a bit frustrating but you'll get the hang of it and your chances of hooking up, fighting the fish fairly and landing will be geometrically increased with the right equipment.

I spend a lot of time up there and can assure you you will fall in love with the whole experience. But if you are going to fish for springs in Terrace you've got to learn to use a spey rod.

[winxp_man]

I just got back from there last night. You are in for a real treat. There are several rivers in the area and your setup can vary depending on location. Last week the Kitimat was hot and the Skeena very high and muddy. The Copper is starting to come into shape and that's one river where you might be able to use a single-hander. But - unsolicited advice - leave the 7 & 9 s/h's home. There is no freakin' way under the sun you could handle those fish with those rods - I don't care how good a stick you are. These fish will have you wondering how much backing you've got left in a heartbeat. They are monstrously strong and you just can't put enough wood to them to turn them with those light sticks.

It's really a two-handed game and you should let your guide teach you how to get started. It'll be a bit frustrating but you'll get the hang of it and your chances of hooking up, fighting the fish fairly and landing will be geometrically increased with the right equipment.

I spend a lot of time up there and can assure you you will fall in love with the whole experience. But if you are going to fish for springs in Terrace you've got to learn to use a spey rod.



You gotta post some pics if you have any....

[sisyphusmpn]

You gotta post some pics if you have any....

My buddy took top honors on this trip so I'll post his grip-n-grin (he's the dude in the green/yellow cap, the other is Wally Faetz, owner and head guide at the Spey Lodge). I had one that might have been bigger but one of Wally's guides had lost his big net and Wally was forced to try and net it with a cradle; not easy to do on these dudes. The river is a Douglas Channel trib that shall remain unnamed.

Oh, and anyone who thinks they could land one of these with a s/h 7 wt. is having delusions of grandeur.

[Mark Kranhold]

Torpedo! I'd say that would still be a battle with a 9wt two hander! Thanks for the pic.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Big fresh wild King salmon in moving water are brutal......

This is your chance to learn how to fish with a two-handed fly rod.

[winxp_man]

Big fresh wild King salmon in moving water are brutal......

This is your chance to learn how to fish with a two-handed fly rod.


Hooked a female in the #15 range and will say that even being it was October on the American river the hen was way to crazy to try to fight on a #7 Sage One spey. It was in the riffle. If it had been as big as the picture that sisyphusmpn posted good luck trying to even standing any kind of chance against it. I know have a GoPro Hero 3 black edition and you will be seeing videos of said encounters if I hook into some of the American R salmon on a #9 TCX Spey rod.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Years ago I sold a 12 weight single handed fly rod to a guy who lives in Alaska because he got tired of fighting big King salmon on his 10 weight outfit.

Around here people use 8 to 10 weights single hand fly rods for fall King salmon.

Hal Janssen used a 6 weight Winston fiberglass fly rod for King salmon in the tide water of the Eel River?

While wading in the tide water I would use a single handed fly rod but up river I would use a two handed fly rod.

From an anchored boat I would use a single hand fly rod.
.

[flyaster99]

Sisyphusmpn, That's a beautiful Chinook in the photo!

Thanks for all the good advise. I've decided to leave the 7wt at home and had packed in my 12wt outfit. :o I've also changed out my 30lb backing to 50lb spectron just in case. Looks like there's no avoiding using a 2 handed rod for this trip... I'll be boarding my flight for Terrace BC in a few hours time, hopefully the Chinook gods will smile on me over the next 1 week.

Best Regards

[flyaster99]

Sisyphusmpn, You were spot on regarding the strength of the Chinook. I got 12 to eat my fly over the last few days and only managed to land 4 on Spey rods. Those that I connected with single handed rods, including one where I struggled for 35 minutes, were never landed. I have 2 sore arms and and happy soul now... :D Here are some photos.

A 40+ pounder, a bit too heavy to lift for the photo... :o
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/ShadowCaster88/Chinook2_zps46863c8b.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ShadowCaster88/media/Chinook2_zps46863c8b.jpg.html)

A 35 pound fish
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/ShadowCaster88/photo_zpsa35b7108.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ShadowCaster88/media/photo_zpsa35b7108.jpg.html)

A 25 pound Chrome Chinook
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/ShadowCaster88/IMG_1231_zps47f73478.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ShadowCaster88/media/IMG_1231_zps47f73478.jpg.html)

[Mark Kranhold]

Flycaster99, EPIC!!! Those kings up north with tear you up! Welcome to the two hand game and congrats on some beauties. How did you like they Spey game? Ice those arms;)

[sisyphusmpn]

Flycaster,

Those springs weren't the only ones hooked. So were you. You will dream about the experience and talk about it incessantly with your friends. Your screen saver will rotate your grip-n-grins. You will mark your calendar and count the days until your next opportunity to fish for these magnificent creatures. You will remember the expanse of their tails and how they were bigger than the trout you used to catch. Your arms will remind you of the weight of them and how it was all muscle without a hint of fat. You will remember the feeling of supreme satisfaction as they disappeared back into the liquid green. You will give thanks there was a guide there with a net and that the gravel bar was long and let you stay in the chase. You will wonder about the ones who gave you the fin as they disappeared at warp speed. You will gratefully accept that 1-in-4 landing ratio because you now know why they are called 'kings.'

You appreciate that you have been to the apex of the fresh water fishing world. You are a king salmon angler with a fly rod.

[flyaster99]

Mark, 2 days after I left Terrace Airport, my arms are still sore... :)

Sisyphusmpn, Everything you said were spot on!

Here's another photo and a release video :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/ShadowCaster88/Chinook1_zpsc20a7fdb.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ShadowCaster88/media/Chinook1_zpsc20a7fdb.jpg.html)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1z-sd1OYAg