[scotsmac1]

Thinking of fishing Bell Irvine last week september for steelhead. I usually fish the Bulkley when Im up there, because its beautiful fly water and I have good knowledge of the access points to the pools, fish by walking and wading, and totally love it. Was thinking this year to fish 1 week on the Bell Irvine, then 1 week on Bulkley. Does the Bell Irvine have quality fly water ?, and is end sept a productive time for summer run steelys ?

Basically do you think I should spend 1 week on Bell Irvine ? or would I have better fishing on the Bulkley. My main thinking is that the Bulkley gets busy end sept, and there may be a lot less rods on the Bell Irvine so I would get to fish pools that have been rested. ( I would be in a tent camp with boats to get us about )

I would then fish 1st week oct on the Bulkley, when its slightly less busy.

Because I have limited time and have travelled a long way to get there, any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Troutfly1]

Didn't see any replies so I will try

Fished the Bell Irving last year at the time you are thinking about for 2014. The fishing was good with multiple hookups every day but the final day when the river blew out due to excessive rainfall. The fish in this system (Nass) do not seem to be as large as in the Skeena system but there are not many anglers on the Bell Irving.

Remember: on these wild (undammed) rivers, you never know if the fishing will be good or even available at all. Conditions can change rapidly and a big storm can take out the fishing for a week. But when it is fishing well there is nothing like this area of northern British Columbia.

Hope this helps