Imagine yourself standing by the banks of the Elk River, surrounded by crisp autumn air, and the stunning backdrop of British Columbia’s rugged wilderness. You have a 7-weight rod in your casting hand rigged with a streamer. This isn’t your typical trout fishing experience – this is bull trout fishing at Brooks Creek Ranch (BCR), and it’s as exciting as it is exclusive. You can travel to BCR this fall for some fantastic Bull Trout fishing, the week of September 30th-October 6th, 2024.

Bull Trout are one of North America’s most elusive and sought-after fish. Due to their status as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, targeting bull trout is heavily restricted across much of their historical range. In the past, one could find these fish in most regions of the Pacific Northwest and northern Rocky Mountain regions, but today, 80% of the world’s bull trout are found in western Canada.

For an angler in the Lower 48, fishing for bull trout is familiar yet refreshingly different. If you enjoy streamer fishing for browns or rainbows, you’ll find the experience here similar, but the rewards are on another level. Despite their name, bull trout are technically a species of char, not trout. Bull trout are known for their size and aggression. Picture it, the thrill of a fifteen or twenty-pound fish smashing your fly and then giving you the freshwater equivalent of a heavyweight boxing match. It’s the kind of experience that you’ll tell around the dinner table or bar, likely for the rest of your lifetime.

In Fernie, BC, these fish are thriving, and can be legally pursued, providing anglers adhere to provincial regulations, including the use of barbless single-hook flies. There are also governmental limitations on the number of guided days for various river systems in British Columbia, which regulates the angling pressure to protect these fish.

Fortunately, BCR has access to the permits and guide days to give anglers like you the chance for a trophy bull trout. With only six single ensuite rooms and a fast-growing reputation for excellence, don’t hesitate if you want to book the limited space at BCR. The lodge has luxurious off-the-grid accommodations and access to some of the finest trout waters in British Columbia. Whether by foot, boat, or even helicopter, the lodge offers access to the Elk River and a variety of smaller, less-traveled streams and lakes. This combination of seclusion, luxury, and top-tier fishing for bull trout makes Brooks Creek Ranch an ideal place to be for traveling anglers this fall.

Autumn is the perfect time for catching truly trophy-sized bull trout around Fernie. You can expect excellent guides that are dialed-in to current conditions and techniques. In smaller streams, you may occasionally sight-nymph to bull trout that have moved up from larger. On larger bodies of water, expect to swing and strip streamers in deeper holes and likely holding water and ambush points. Be ready for an aggressive take and the type of fight usually reserved for ocean-dwelling fish.

For more information about Brooks Creek Ranch, or to book a trip, contact me, Hank Ingram.

RELATED POSTS