Each summer Chinook migrate up northern rivers towards the spawning grounds, and each year thousands of fishermen head for the rivers to pursue them. For years these monsters were just fished for, with heavy gear.

In more recent years a new breed of fisherman has appeared on the scene, the fly fisherman.


Although these fish can reach
weights of 100 lbs, the fly fisherman is not deterred.

The Fly, Spring Terminator is a very effective fly, as is the Scarlet Dancer show at the bottom of this page.

Since the appearance of spey rods more and more fly fisherman are pursuing these magnificent beasts. True single hand rods of no less then a 9 weight should be used if you are going to try for these fish with a fly. This is one fish that I like to retain for food and it is the only time my gear rod will come out, although I am not all that proud of doing so, but can tell you as soon as the meat is on the table so to speak, out comes the fly rod.


The rivers at the beginning of Chinook runs are usually to high to fly fish for Chinook unless you are on one of the small coastal rivers that does not have a massive snow melt like the River and others, but still has a good run of Chinook. More of these rivers can be found more to the north.

The closest you are to the coast the brighter the fish will be. By the middle of August the Chinook have reached the spawning grounds and are then left pretty much alone to finish the life cycle.

These two Chinook were taken for food and on bait cast rods, but with artificial lures. These fish are great tasting no matter how they are prepared, but smoked is nice for shore lunches when
fly fishing for steelhead in the fall.

The weather is great the fishing is spectacular, and its just a great time to be outdoors enjoying it all.
This next picture is me holding a very healthy male Chinook, that was caught in the Skeena River. The water was cold but very clear for mid July. Here Jim proudly hold up one of his smaller Chinook.


The scenery is just as breath taking.














Fish like these and even much bigger were being caught for nearly 300 miles of the Skeena River. It truly can be called the King of all rivers. At least it will always have my vote. I have met a lot of fly fishers, and I say fly fishers because of the abundance of ladies that have not only taken up the sport, but have mastered it.

I guess you could say that the ladies just seem to have a knack at taking us down, lol as you can see in this next picture, no words can say it better then wow!



There is one problem for most of the ladies, unless of course they are truly addicted, like I am. well at least thats what I tell my wife. I have tried to get help but unfortunately there is no cure. Back to the ladies, most can not get up at 1 or 2 in the am to go fishing, hell we even stay up to watch the news and head out, right after, pick up a double, double, in a magnum, and we are good for the day.

Putting food on the table is not all fun and games when it comes to Chinook, but a real job.
B. C. fishing regulations allow anglers to retain 10 of these beauties each year, and what a great way to get all the omega 3 fats needed for your healthy diet.

Fly fishing for Chinook with spey rods is becoming more popular, and of course gives you a little more power that is needed to battle these giants.



Andy displays a bright Chinook taken in coastal water of Alaska.

Alaska is a great fishing paradise that fly fisherman from all around the world head for each year, not on;y to target Chinook on a fly, but to take in the breath taking scenery, and to photograph the bears and other wildlife abundant in this vast wilderness.

Summer is a great time to head out after Chinook. The only down side to the Summer are the bugs, especially the black flies, that seem to have their own cutlery.


So a good bug spray or oil should be part of your equipment, and avoid sweets.

It is possible to fish the estuaries of some rivers, for monster Chinook on a fly, but normally you are never alone, grizzly bear are always close by fishing, and constantly looking for food.
No matter what part of the northern B.C. coast or Alaska you visit in the Summer fisherman are out after these fish.

While many fly fisherman prefer the spey rod, my choice of sticks is a single hand 10' 10 weight Loomis. You will find out along the way, there will be a limit as to how many Chinook you can handle in a day before you say uncle, my record is seven, although I wanted to fish more, my arms said no.

Although it is possible to hook many more then seven in a day, it comes down to physical ability, not to over do it, so you will be able to lift your cup of coffee to your mouth the next morning.



No matter which of the northern rivers you elect to fish for Chinook Salmon, you will encounter big fish.

This is a picture of a Chinook taken on the world famous Kispiox River. The Kispiox is a great river to drift to find lots of action.

Be sure to bring a camera, as the Kispiox is also a vast wilderness river, and wildlife is also abundant, of course a few memories of giant fish will be well worth recording.


This Chinook is smaller then the average but it does not take away from the power of these fish.

A Chinook of any size is not only a spirited power house, but the best tasting Salmon in B.C. waters.

There are to types of Chinook ( Red ) Chinook and ( White ) Chinook, the white Chinook being the larger of the two, but there is no difference in the taste of their flesh.

For fly fishers an average Chinook will weigh in at about 25 to 30 lbs, and on a fly rod will take about 1 hour to subdue at your feet.

I have fought these brutes for over 2 and a half hours, like this 42lb Chinook taken in the Kitimat river years ago, on a #1 Scarlet Dancer.


These pictures were also taken on an old camera, but for all the Chinook that I have hooked on a fly this is the one I remember the most. It was May on the Kitimat River, and I had hooked three steelhead the same day, and then hooked this fresh Chinook. The last little clip on the lower right is another year in the same spot, but on a sunny July day.
It does not matter if you are throwing with a spey or single hand fly rod, Chinook are the ultimate challenge.


Here I am holding a 32lb Chinook caught June 27, 2007. This was a White. Both Red and White Springs migrate these waters. The whites seem to be bigger and are certainly stronger.

These are great tasting fish, and I don't find a taste difference between the two. The whites may have a little more fat in them, making them the best to smoke.

After the Steelhead are heading back to the ocean Chinook are migrating up river. You can often hook both Steelhead and Chinook on the same day, and on the same run.


Here Marco shows off a bright 22lb Chinook, also taken on the Kitimat River.