BC West Introduction
This page gives a short overview of BC West and our fishery. There’s much more information about all these topics available on our web site – but this page and the links at the bottom are a great place to start.
BC West
BC West is located less than a mile from the mouth of the Dean River in British Columbia. We fish for steelhead and chinook salmon during our short 11 week season from June through the end of August.
Why the Dean
The Dean is known in the world of steelhead and salmon fishing for having the hottest, strongest fish around. The Dean has a brutal canyon section 1 1/2 miles from its mouth; for anadromous fish to spawn in the Dean they must ascend this canyon, so they’ve evolved over the years to be uniquely muscular, powerful, resilient fish. We target these steelhead and chinooks in the lower 5 miles of the river, so they’re extremely fresh and often still have sea lice attached.
Fishing Program
We’re the only lodge on the Dean where guests fish both below and above the canyon. Below the canyon, we cover huge runs in search of the freshest of the fresh – fish within a mile and a half of the salt, often in on the previous tide. Above the canyon we cover more classic steelhead holding water, including runs that provide opportunities to fish dry flies.
All of our fishing is done using swung flies. The majority of our guests use two-handed rods, but that’s certainly not a requirement – single-handers have been extremely effective on the Dean for many years.
Our Accommodations
We call our accommodations ‘comfortable but casual’. Our lodge takes a maximum of 8 anglers, so the setting is intimate, and our small size allows us to serve food that’s often described as ‘the best I’ve ever had at a fishing lodge’.
Rates and Travel
Fishing at BC West costs between $4700 and $6600 per person, depending on the week. Travel to the lodge is via Bella Coola, BC, and those prices include our charter helicopter flight from Bella Coola to the Dean.
More Information
Contact Us
Just click here if you’d like to get in touch!