The mighty Columbia River may just be North America’s largest and least-known tailwater.  From the bottom-draw dam at Castlegar to the U.S. border north of Spokane, Washington, the Columbia River features 30 miles of the most intense caddis dry-fly fishing you’re likely to experience. The steelhead-strain rainbows will leave anglers breathless as they rise in immense pods along the seams and back eddies. The Columbia River is a great addition to a Fernie-area trip and a 3 hours’ drive from the Spokane airport. Dave Brown Outfitters is pleased to offer the only full-time fly-fishing guiding service on this magnificent stretch of river. We specialize in dry-fly fishing to trophy trout in shallow water - something no other Columbia outfitter can claim, either in Canada or the U.S.!

The Columbia River
The upper Columbia redbands are “steelhead” to the core. When Washington State dammed the lower river, thousands of wild, native-run steelhead were trapped in the free-flowing upper Columbia. The steelhead trout quickly adapted to the freshwater habitat, becoming the spectacular-fighting rainbows we fish to today. The upper river also boasts strains of the world-famous Gerrard rainbows - long associated with the Kootenay region. Keeping all these fish well-fed are a myriad of insects. The afternoon and evening Grannom caddis hatches are the dry-fly mainstay, bringing the Columbia’s rainbows to the surface almost daily from mid-June to September. Other hatches include BWOs, PMDs and midges, and terrestrials like hoppers, beetles and ants are also effective at times. During your float you’re likely to see an abundance of birds and wildlife. Bald eagles and blue herons soar above while deer, elk and the occasional black bear make appearances along the water’s edge. Average daytime and evening temperatures are warm compared to other mountainous areas, making for a very comfortable fishing experience. But the Columbia remains cold year-round owing to its tailwater origin and volume of flow, guaranteeing hard-fighting rainbows that will take you deep and far into the river.

Fly Fishing the Columbia River
Fly-fishing with Dave Brown Outfitters is experiencing the Columbia done right. You’ll be fishing from our specially equipped Power Drifter. The 50 horsepower jet outboard enables us to safely navigate the big river while we cruise to and from the best spots. Then, once we’re set up in the prime water, we cut the motor and drop the oars, meaning you’ll be casting from a conventional drift boat just like on any other big Western river. The jet drive also lets us access shallow water where wading is the norm - places where 20-inch-plus rainbows eat dry flies and you won’t see another angler. It’s a setup we’re pleased to offer our clients to maximize your Columbia fishing experience. The Columbia River rainbows average 16 to 18 inches, but 20”+ trout are commonly landed on dries each day. These trout love to run, fight and jump spectacularly. Between hatches or early and late in the season, streamer fishing is also effective, but you’ll want to bring a heavy rod and strong arm because the water is big and so are the trout waiting in the swift currents.

Season
Mid-May and Mother’s Day typically marks the start of the Columbia’s signature caddis season, which continues well into the fall. In fact, mid-September to early October feature some of the best dry-fly fishing of the year, with big Orange Caddis tossed into the mix. Owing to the region’s relatively mild climate, hopper season extends well into autumn as well. Fly fishers willing to toss streamers like buggers and Clousers in late spring and again in the fall will have a legitimate shot at double-digit trout, though landing them in the mighty river is another thing entirely!

Options
The nearby Slocan River and smaller tributaries round out the tremendous West Kootenays fishing experience. Rainbows are the mainstay, offering a great complement to the world-class cutthroat fishing in the East Kootenays, where Dave Brown Outfitters dropped first anchor in the commercial guiding business.

For those seeking the ultimate Western Canadian fly-fishing adventure, we suggest combining a West Kootenays trip with several days’ fishing out of Fernie in the East Kootenays. It’s a great way to catch steelhead-strain rainbows and native cutties in one epic trip. Better yet, it’s only a 4 hour drive from the Slocan Valley to Fernie; we can ensure you don’t miss a day’s fishing by offering a tremendous walk-and-wade option at the halfway mark. With the magnificent Selkirk Mountains and scenery of Interior B.C. as the backdrop, other Columbia-area attractions are bountiful: hiking, mountain biking, lake boating and kayaking, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, and golf – all are available in the immediate vicinity.

Trip Duration
We recommend spending at least 2 days in the Columbia area, and 3+ if you want to experience all the fishing has to offer. In addition to the Power Drifter, our West Kootenays guides use standard Mac boats and catarafts to tailor the boat to the river. Fitter anglers also have numerous walk-and-wade options.

Accommodations
We’re pleased to offer stays at Lemon Creek Lodge, situated along the Slocan River in a beautiful forested setting (www.lemoncreeklodge.com). Choose between rooms in the European-style timberframe lodge or in several authentic cabins on the property. Fine dining is available at the lodge, and there are several nearby restaurants in the Slocan Valley. For those seeking urban accommodations we recommend the vibrant mountain city of Nelson – 40 minutes from the Columbia and Slocan rivers. Long considered the “funkiest” town in the B.C. Interior, Nelson is beautifully perched on the hillside above Kootenay Lake and famous for its heritage buildings and eclectic flair. The dining is world-class and so is the lodging at the Hume Hotel (www.humehotel.com), Nelson’s heritage hotel since 1898.