Hi,
I am the founder of a fishing travel site and a former Skeena/Bulkley Guide. I know most of the operations above, on a basic level all are good options.
Norlakes is the furthest up steam option on the Babine and as mentioned above fishes well for the full season. Billy and Kerry at Norlakes are great people and incredibly good in a professional setting. I worked with the Collingwood's in Spatsizi and you will really never find a better couple to manage a lodge anywhere.
The Silver Hilton is very high end and they run a super tight ship. They have some of the best water on the planet for steelhead and the Babine supports monster fish in good solid numbers. If size of fish is your thing then the Babine or Kispiox are great options. The Babine usually has a dark stain and that makes it a little different from most streams in B.C. It can be cold late season, so if your father is elderly be sure to take this into account. Skeena country generally is below freezing from October 1st onwards in the morning.
In the upper stretches the Babine is high sided and this reduces the sunlight hours still further and keeps it cold. The River is lake fed which really does help to keep the fish good and active into the late season. Other rivers such as the Bulkley get colder water and in turn this slows the fish down.
The Dean has had good and bad seasons, if your anything like me, steelheading is an experience. It's more than the fish alone, it's about everything which is around you, and if thats the case for you the Upper Dean could be a great option. Im sure you have seen the images but seriously this is the place to fish if you are going on the trip of a lifetime with your father. Even driving around the river is an experience you will never forget. This is wild water and the fish are super charged.
The Bulkley is where I guided and I worked for Bob Hull. Jill is Bob's wife and sister of Danny Hodson. These families are steeped in guiding history and and it shows. Bob Hull is the fishiest guy you will ever meet, hands down. I have no idea how it's possible to catch so many fish, he is a steelhead machine. Bob has such deep knowledge of this river, even if it's high and dirty he continues to pull them out. It's a very relaxed lodge/home, very much a family affair and that might or might not be for you. It's not a heavy drinking lodge and the Hulls are about the kindest people you will meet. The Bulkley has so much variety and Bob shows a different stretch of the river each day. The canyons are quite as the as most will not run the driftwood canyon in jet boats.
I have never fished the Sustan but its has a die hard group that fish and love this stream so I believe it to be great but not something I can comment on.
My advice over all would be early season on any stream. The fish change dramatically during the season and it's like fishing for polar opposite species. Early season is where its at, it's not as safe as late season but one early fish is worth 10 late IMO. Some guys love late season but Steelhead are at their most aggressive with good 45+ water temps.
Sam Franklin
Pesqa