british columbia 2010

images: 100+ foot log on the banks of the upper skeena, flys-r-us pretty much sums it up, the king of the bush, amanda setting up a afternoon cast, adipose fin on lady steel.

by the numbers

it's all about the girth

Kathy Stockner and Philip Young break it all down with a lenght and girth weight chart for Kispiox steelhead

fall floats away

what a stunning fall it was here in bc. as temps hold on the cool side, the river flow is up and green but will drop back to low flows soon. winter is close, but the late season steelie fishing is just getting going. more fall shots and steelies in the next few days.

skeena coho with a nasty lamprey suck wound. most of the ho are up the small tribs now doing their thing. bears continue to search them out as they pair up on redds.

steel

40x21.5 (doe!)gotta love when a wild goose chase pans outon the swingnosing her in
39x21

More Babine images from the new ava galleries

images: Babine at Corner, Darren and doe, NO FISHING, volume check, Spencer-"This steelheading makes me sleepy".

"I've tried every leech, slub-a-dub, moon, boss and intruder in my box...i wonder what this little orange ball will do?"

Here is a shot of my friend Pierce Clegg. He owns and operates Babine Norlakes Steelhead camp and has a trout lodge on Babine Lake. He is an amazing guy, and as it turns out a wicked angler. His time and energy off the river as a steward for the Babine and entire Skeena system is unmatched. Check older posts for other shots of Pierce.

New AvA Gallery: Kateri Clay and Kispiox Steelies

Kateri Clay rocks-she can fish all day, out drink a logging camp all night and do it all with style and grace. Check out Kateri's gallery at AvA by clicking the link near the top right of the blog.

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the New Year!

Steelheading BC 2008

images: Kispa standing magestic at the end of a Morice over-nighter. Hooked up on a steelie in a remote location in north-central BC. Kispiox buck in full launch. Last two shots are on the Kispiox River.

20 days and counting...BC wilderness and steelhead

image: Kispiox tuckered out at Root Pond near Dolores Colorado. photo: will blanchard

Welcome to the blog. This will be a place for friends, family and those who are interested in checking out my adventures, photography, guide service and other random goings-on.

As of right now my focus is on the rest of the guide season and gearing up for British Columbia. I'll be finishing up the main push of my 15th guide season on the 22nd of September. I'll be back to guiding in early December. The 23rd of September will be a day full of packing and snugging up loose ends for the business. As for now, the 24th will be the day we depart for Hazelton BC. My self and Kispa (my 9 month old black lab) will load up in my over-packed 04 Dodge Ram 2500 pick-up and head north for another fall adventure in the wilds of north-central BC.

Check list will include: 12 fly rods, 6 reels, fly lines, flies, fly tying supplies, passport, dog papers, shot gun, ammo, shot gun papers, camp gear, blankets, gloves, hats, Simms waders, clothing, cooler, grub, extra fuel, chainsaw, GPS, cameras, tripods, computer, dry boxes and dry bags, raft, frame, repair, pumps, bike, down jacket, guide jacket, fleece, fleece and more fleece, socks, boots, two-four (the way Canadians say 24 pack of beer) of Ska brew for my buddy Todd Stockner...you get the point.
Stay tuned for more...

Cheers,

Will Blanchard