The Skeena River

• British Columbia's Skeena River is one of the longest rivers in the world without a dam. It starts in the coastal mountains of the Spasizi Plateau and winds for 350 miles before hitting the delta at the port of Prince Rupert. The river picks up more than 30 tributaries, including the Bulkley, the Babine and the Kispiox. These three account for most of the steelhead caught in the Skeena due to the large amount of fly fishing-friendly waters.
  
  

The Bulkley

• A river in its own right, the Bulkley is 80 miles of winding flat waters that are ideal for spey anglers. According to MidCurrent, this Skeena tributary may have more impeccable steelhead water than any other river on Earth. However, it is not known for having the largest steelheads. The average fish caught in the Bulkley weigh a little more than 10 pounds, but there have been many tankers caught that are in the range of 15 to 20 pounds.
  
  

The Morice

• Along with the Bulkley, the Morice is the second of the two largest Skeena tributaries. These two account for more than 40 percent of the steelhead going back from the Pacific Ocean to spawn in the Skeena system. The upper part of this river is easily accessible from the Yellowhead Highway and nearby logging roads. The lower part of the river is less accessible as it narrows into canyons.
  
  

Prime Fishing Months

• The best fishing months for steelhead are September and October. Steelhead begin returning to the system in mid-August, but the main push of fish come through in early September. New fish arrive in the system daily until early November. Good fly fishermen average two to five catches per day during these two months. The downside is that the crush of fish also bring a push of anglers to the region, which makes late bookings for accommodations harder and increases competition for space and fish.
  
  

Off-Peak Fishing Months

• While September and October are the prime months for catching steelhead in the Skeena system, fishing in mid-August also can be rewarding for steelhead fishermen. At this time, many steelhead will have entered the Bulkley and Kispiox tributaries. There also will be less competition from other anglers at this time, and the weather will be pleasant for fishing.
  
  Fishermen who wait until early November, just after the prime months, still can find a large number of steelhead to fish but only a small number of fly fishermen to compete with. Anglers who fish after October can continue to fish for steelhead until there is too much ice on the river to fish effectively.