Skeena River Lodge

Located on the banks of the lower Skeena in the greater Terrace region, Skeena River Lodge is a world-class fly fishing lodge dedicated to the pursuit of BC’s brightest, sea-run steelhead and salmon. Guests have access to the region’s finest classified waters, including multiple reaches of the Skeena, the Copper, and Kalum as well as the unclassified Kitimat. During their fall season, Skeena River Lodge’s robust Copper permit makes it the only lodge that can offer guests up to two days on this renowned steelhead river.

Skeena River Lodge, located 15 minutes upstream of Terrace, is one of the nicest facilities in the steelheading world. The main lodge overlooks handsome cabins and a private casting pond with trout. Guests stay in very nice, single-occupancy rooms or cabins with attached baths. The lodge has a large dining room, bar, multiple sitting areas, an outdoor hot tub, a hot indoor steam bath, an indoor and an outdoor sauna, as well as exercise equipment. There is a game room with a pool table, ping pong, darts, and foosball. Massages are available with advance notice. With incredible accommodations, skilled, passionate guides and the region’s most robust classified waters licensing, this lodge is one of the world’s most desirable steelhead and king salmon locations.

Guests at Skeena River Lodge focus their efforts on the main Skeena, Kalum, Copper, and Kitimat Rivers as well as smaller, lesser-known systems when needed. The guides have many years of fly fishing experience and can provide Spey and single-handed casting instruction as well as share their knowledge about fly selection, sink tip usage, line control, and presentation methods. They use 14-foot Aire rafts and a range of nice jet boats to access water. All fishing is done while wading, and all fish are released unharmed. In most cases, guests who sign up for their premium package will fish two to three rivers per week, but they will not fish more than two days on the Copper, as rod days are limited.

Skeena River Lodge enjoys a long season. Late March through the end of April is spring steelhead season. June through mid-July is the time to target chinook. Late July through mid-August is Grand Slam time with the widest variety of fish in the system, including king, coho, chum and sockeye salmon, as well as summer steelhead.  By mid-August, the lodge is primarily targeting summer steelhead, and that season continues until the end of October. In the fall, during periods of high water, guests might also target great northern coho in smaller systems.

Skeena River Lodge offers some of the nicest accommodations in the steelhead space. The main lodge overlooks handsome cabins and a private casting pond with trout. Guests stay in very nice, single-occupancy rooms or cabins with attached baths. The lodge has a large dining room, bar, multiple sitting areas, an outdoor hot tub, a hot indoor steam bath, an indoor and an outdoor sauna, as well as exercise equipment and a game room with a pool table, ping pong, darts, and foosball. Massages are available with advance notice. Guests dine in the main lodge dining room. The lodge employs at least one internationally trained chef who oversees the preparation of a wide range of delicious and thoughtfully prepared meals. Breakfasts are of the highest quality, both buffet and made-to-order options. Lunches are served on the water and include sandwiches and delicious hot soups.

Day 1: Arrive Terrace Airport (YXT) in the afternoon, where you will be met by a representative of the lodge and ground transferred 25 minutes to the lodge. Unpack and prepare for the following day’s fishing.

Days 2 - 7: Full days of guided fishing with riverside lunch.  Return to lodge each night for appetizers, drinks, dinner, and lodging.

Day 8: Breakfast at lodge and transfer to Terrace Airport (YXT) for flight back to Vancouver and points beyond.

2025 Rates: Per person based on single occupancy and shared guiding

Spring Steelhead (March 30 - April 27): 7 night/6 day package: CAD $7,690 

Chinook on the Fly (June 1 - July 6): 7 night/6 day package: CAD $6,790 

Grand Slam (July 5 - August 9): 7 night/6 day package: CAD $7,690 

Fall Steelhead (August 10 - October 26): 7 night/6 day package

• Premium (Two Copper Classified Waters days): CAD $9,190
• Deluxe (No Copper Classified Waters days): CAD $7,690 

Included: Accommodations and meals at the lodge, guided fishing, transfers between Terrace airport and the lodge, taxes.

Not Included: Airfare to/from Terrace, staff and guide gratuities, alcohol, fishing licenses.

Species: All five species of Pacific salmon; summer, winter, and spring steelhead

Season: March–November

Capacity: 10-14 anglers

Who is best suited to this destination?
This trip is best suited to anglers who like to fish for fresh anadromous fish and enjoy a high level of service and comfort at day’s end. Guests will be swinging flies, most often with Spey rods, while wading. The spring season requires being able to fish through varying degrees of wet and/or cold weather. Chinook anglers should be prepared to throw long, heavy sink tips and heavy flies. This is a great destination for seasoned experts and anglers new to Spey fishing alike.

Where is the lodge?
The lodge is in the Skeena River valley, approximately 16-miles upstream of Terrace, BC.

How do I get there?
To get to Skeena River Lodge, guests will need to arrange flights to Terrace, BC,
which will initially require flying to Vancouver, BC. The lodge asks that guests book a late afternoon / evening arrival. A lodge representative will pick you up at the airport and transfer you 25-minutes to the lodge.

When should I go?
Skeena River Lodge enjoys a long season. Late March through the end of April is spring steelhead season. June through mid-July is the time to target chinook. Late
July through mid-August is Grand Slam time with the widest variety of fish in the system, including king, coho, chum and sockeye salmon, as well as summer steelhead. By mid August, the lodge is primarily targeting summer steelhead, and that season continues until the end of October. In the fall, during periods of high water, guests might also target great northern coho in smaller systems.

How will I fish?
Two handed Spey fishing is the primary method of fishing throughout all seasons. All fishing entails swinging flies down and across while wading. Sink tips are used
often, and they may be very light with unweighted tube flies or quite heavy with large, heavy flies during king season. During August and September, guests might experience great dry fly fishing for steelhead as well. The lodge trailers both jet boats and rafts to various put ins.

Is there wade fishing?
Yes, all fishing is done while wading.

Where will I fish?
Depending on the time of year and conditions, guests may fish the Skeena, Kitimat, Copper or Kalum rivers in addition to a few lesser-known systems that shall remain nameless.

How long does it take to reach the fishing grounds?
The guides will trailer boats to a wide range of rivers and or put-ins. The shortest drive is around 15-minutes and the longest will be 45 – 50 minutes. Once in the boats, you will typically be getting out to fish in very little time.

What type(s) of fish will I catch?
Spring steelhead in March and April, king salmon from June through mid-July, and a wide range of Pacific salmon, including king, coho, chum, pink and sockeye salmon, as well as summer steelhead from mid-July through August. From September through October, guests will primarily target summer steelhead.

How many fish will I catch?
The nature of swinging flies for any anadromous fish is that there is a lot of variation in catch rates. Ocean abundance, water conditions, angler skill, and plain old luck all play into the end result. That said, we feel that guests should go into the trip with the expectation that hooking 1 – 1.5 fish per day is a great trip.

Will I see other anglers?
Depending on the river and the time of year, yes you will see other anglers on the water. The rivers are not busy by American standards, and everyone conforms to standard downstream fishing ethics, and they tend to be respectful in terms of not crowding one another.

What are the guides like?
The guides are full-time professional fish hunters. Given variations in personality, the guides all do their best to put their clients onto the best water at the best times. . These guides are hard chargers and all about getting out early and claiming prime pieces of water. With that said, they are kind, patient, and good instructors as well.

What are the physical demands?
While not strenuous, guests need to be able to wade all day and climb safely in and out of jet boats and rafts. The rocks on the main Skeena tend to be large and somewhat awkward.

Are there any special skills required?
The ability to cast a Spey rod with sink-tips is helpful. Guests are best served by a willingness to fish confidently for long periods in between fish.

Does the lodge provide equipment?
The lodge has plenty of single hand rods as well as full Spey set ups for guests to use. With that said, most guests elect to bring their own gear.

What is your favorite setup for the trip?
In the spring season we recommend 7- to 8-weight Spey rods in the 12.5- to 14-foot range. Summer chinook fishing is time to break out the big sticks. 9- to 10-weight Spey rods are the norm in lengths 13- to 15-foot. Fall steelhead fishing is the time to bring back the 7- to 8-weight rods. We recommend guests string up two rods in the fall, one with a floating line and another with a sink-tip.

What are the top flies?
Skeena River Lodge relies heavily on tube flies for most of their fishing. The size, color and weight of those tubes will vary with season and species. Pink is popular in the spring and black and blue is popular in the fall. Typically, these flies are unweighted or lightly weighted and 2-3 inches long. Size 2 barbless trailing hooks are popular for steelhead. Hobo Speys are popular as well.

What are the options if water conditions become challenging?
While the lodge has multiple systems to choose from, some of which are very stable under heavy rains, in the event of a major blowout, some guests may be able to fish some smaller lower Skeena tributaries for northern coho.

What is a typical day like?
After an early, hot breakfast, guests will head out for the day. Lunch will be served streamside. Guests should plan on fishing all afternoon unless they have expressed a desire to get back a little earlier. Everyone is generally back to the lodge in time for cocktails and appetizers. Dinner is served around 7:30PM.

What is the general vibe, atmosphere, and style of the lodge?
The lodge is large, spacious, well-equipped and at the same time casual.

Is there an on-site owner, manager, or other point-person at the lodge?
Yes, the lodge manager, head guide and other guides will always be available to help with any questions or concerns that guests have.

Where do we eat, and what are the meals like?
Guests will dine in the main lodge dining room. The lodge employees at least one internationally trained chef who will oversee the preparation of a wide range of delicious and thoughtfully prepared meals. Breakfasts will be of the highest quality and have buffet and made to order options. Lunch will be served on the water and will include sandwiches and delicious hot soups.

What is the alcohol policy?
The lodge has a full bar and liquor license. Folks can run a tab and settle at the end of the week. Folks may also bring their own alcohol, but it must remain in their rooms.

Where do we stay, and what are the accommodations like?
The Skeena River Lodge is one of the nicest facilities in the steelheading world. The main lodge overlooks a private casting pond with trout in it. Guests stay in very nice single occupancy rooms and or cabins with attached baths. The lodge has a large dining room, a bar, multiple sitting areas, an outdoor hot tub, hot indoor steam bath, an indoor and an outdoor sauna, as well as exercise equipment and a game room with a pool table, ping pong, darts and foosball. Massages are available with advance notice.

Is there internet and/or cell service?
Cell service is respectable at the lodge, especially surrounding the main lodge. Wi-Fi at the lodge is provided by satellite internet and is acceptable for basic tasks.

Are there other activities?
No, this lodge is focused on fishing, but the facility is comfortable enough for a non-angling companion who is happy to enjoy the facility and surrounding area.

Are there any other expenses?
On top of the package price, guests are expected to pay for alcohol, fishing licenses and gratuities

Do I need a visa?
No

Are there any health concerns, dangers, or annoyances?
Rafting, jet boating and wading all come with some risk, but they are negligible. There are black bears in the area, and the very occasional grizzly but they are not a serious concern. Biting insects are rarely an issue and are primarily limited to the summer months