Northern Rockies Adventures

From the small airport in Pitt Meadows, just outside of Vancouver, you'll board "The Spirit of Muncho Lake," a Beech 300 Super King, and fly about two hours north to Fort Nelson, B.C. There, you'll hop into a comfortable shuttle van for a three-hour ride along the Alaska Highway even farther north to the shores of Muncho Lake and Northern Rockies Adventures. You'll be greeted by the lodge's staff and shown inside, where a cold beer awaits. Then, after a quick "orientation" talk with the lodge's team, you'll be shown to your cabin, where you can unpack and get your gear ready for an eventful week of fishing.

On your first full day at the lodge, you'll get a preview of what you can expect each morning at Northern Rockies Adventures. The views from the plane as it lifts off from the placid surface of Muncho Lake are simply stunning. As the pilot guides the plane between towering, craggy peaks, you're told to keep your eyes open for snow-white mountain goats and wild sheep that thrive among the alpine tundra. The breathtaking flight is mesmerizing, but, before you know it, the plane is descending and within minutes, it's gliding across the surface of a hidden mountain lake, right near the inlet of a cold, clear river that looks a bit unassuming at first blush. But it doesn't take long for fly-fishing addicts to appreciate this remote destination — it might be one of the best native rainbow trout rivers in North America. 

Affectionately named "Rainbow River" by the lodge's guides, this uber-productive trout river is home to plus-size rainbows up to 28 inches, as well as ill-tempered bull trout and more mountain whitefish than you can imagine. This trophy trout fishery rivals any similar river anywhere, including Alaska, New Zealand or Patagonia. These incredible trout will readily hit dry flies and chase streamers — they'll even track a skated mouse pattern pulled across the river and smack it just as you're about to lift it for a recast. 

You'd think this wild Canadian River would be better known and fished more often. But, in order to keep the fishing pressure down and to protect the quality angling, the lodge only allows guests one shot at the river per week. But don't fret — the lodge has other rainbow trout fisheries that are just as productive, so your rainbow fishing isn't over — it's just getting started if this is the fish you're after.

The underappreciated Arctic grayling that swims the waters of northern Canada might by the ultimate dry-fly fish. These opportunistic and aggressive game fish, known for the sail-like fin and eager disposition, will put a smile on every angler's face. Some might disparage the grayling as "too easy," too small or too gullible, but any day spent chasing these incredible fish is a good day. 

And, from Northern Rockies Adventures, a short float-plane ride puts guests at the head of a river channel that connects two mountain lakes. Here, a robust population of grayling awaits any angler lucky enough to cast a dry fly over this stunning stretch of wild water. And if you think all grayling are small, you're mistaken. In the northwest corner of British Columbia, a 20-inch grayling is not unheard of, and the river channel produces fish between 16 and 18 inches at a regular clip. 

Better yet? You'll be able to fish for these acrobatic critters well into the evening — you're staying the night at one of several of the lodge's remote cabins. Tomorrow morning you'll wake up and be able to wander down to the lake for some more fishing. And grayling aren't the only fish on the menu — big lake trout often push into the river mouths in search of food, and a well-cast streamer can tempt one of these voracious char.

The toothy northern pike is a popular north woods angling target, even if it is underappreciated by many fly anglers. Just a 40-minute flight into the boreal forests of northern B.C., from the lodge, fly fishers can experience the thrill of chasing big pike on a fly. The lake, surrounded by black spruce and birch trees, boasts plenty of shallow weed beds and froggy backwaters that pike absolutely love. Pike are incredible hunters, but today the tables turn — you're hunting this aggressive predator.

In many instances, you'll see the fish you're targeting and put a streamer, popper or gurgler in its path, only to watch the hungry fish absolutely savage your fly. Other times, you'll blind cast along the edge of a shoal or lily pad only to have a northern show up, seemingly out of nowhere, and crush your pattern. It's one of the best takes in fly fishing, and today, you and your fishing buddies have this incredible lake all to yourselves. And here, you can catch pike that stretch the tape longer than 40 inches, making this trophy opportunity really special.  

Today, rather than fly out to a remote fishery, you'll commandeer a lodge vehicle and do some exploring. The first stop is Smith River Falls Provincial Park, a beautiful diversion off of the Alaska Highway and a stunning backdrop from which to cast to and catch feisty Arctic grayling and some surprisingly big bull trout. 

Here, the Smith River tumbles nearly 115 feet over two rock ledges as it courses its way to its wedding with the Liard River. And enterprising anglers armed with dry flies and a willingness to brave the froth of the river can spend an afternoon putting a serious bend in a light-weight fly rod. The grayling here aren't massive, but there are bull trout present. If you choose to chase these bigger char, a 5-weight rod and a fistful of streamers might be a better option. The Smith is one of several rivers and streams within driving distance of the lodge, and a day spent exploring via the Alaska Highway could easily include visits to a number of quality, road-accessible fisheries. With a vehicle and a tank of gas, a day on your own can be plenty fishy.

It's your last day at the lodge and, after nearly a full week of wilderness fishing, it's time to relax. A short drive from Northern Rockies Adventures is Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park, a cool and kitschy natural hot springs that flows through the woods just off the Alaska Highway. Here, anglers can soak tired muscles in the natural springs that range from a piping hot 125 degrees at the source to a nice and cool 78 degrees where a handful of little rivulets enter the springs.

It's a great last-day diversion on a trip to this gorgeous corner of British Columbia, and it's here where you'll make plans for your return journey. This is an adventure you'll definitely want to repeat.