Fly fishing for Steelhead on the Gold River
The Gold River on Vancouver Island
How to Get to the Gold River on Vancouver Island in British Columbia for fly fishing
.
The Gold River being on Vancouver Island, you better get there first. Mostly, the ferry from Vancouver is used to get to the island. It sails from either Tsawassen or Horseshoe Bay and in both cases takes you to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. From there you take the Inland Island Highway (see also: Campbell River) to the town of Campbell River. There you switch to Highway 28, a.k.a. Gold River Highway. Of course you may also fly into Campbell River from Vancouver Airport.
.
After some 80 kms you reach the town of Gold River. This little town had its good days until about 10 years ago. Then a controversy between the administration and the owner of the local pulp mill was resolved by taking down the mill and shipping it to California. This cut employment in Gold River in half, and in consequence the local population dropped by 50%, too.
.
Today, Gold River is a rather sleepy little town on Vancouver Island's west coast, and struggling to make ends meet. Accommodation is available, the market leader being the Gold River Chalet in midtown. Shopping possibilities are good enough, even for travelers in motorhomes. The Lions Campground just might be the last existing campground. Don't expect too much!
Picture on the upper left: Junction of Muchalat and Gold River. Picture on the upper right: Below the junction there's a nice pool and tailout
.
Once the Gold River was considered one of the world's best steelhead rivers. Unfortunately later on a good percentage of those steelhead found their way into the stomach of an Orca who chose to make the inlet of the Gold River his home for several years. As the Orca is now no longer around, the steelhead-population is expected to come back over the years to come. In summer, the Gold River is always worth a try because of considerable summer runs of several species of pacific salmon.
Picture on the upper left: In the town of Gold River, the Heber runs into the Gold. Picture on the upper right: In low water conditions, this is the place to try a dry while fly fishing.
.
Driving to Gold River, you may enjoy beautiful scenery all along your ride. It takes you by the Upper Campbell Lakes, partly through Strathcona Park. I'd advise you to take a stop at the Strathcona Park Lodge. N.B.: the area is practically packed with black bears, so don't push your luck!
.
.
Fabisch Fly Fishing english
.
Fabisch Fliegenfischen german
- Wolfgang Fabisch
- Nürnberger Str. 45
- 90542 Eckental / Germany
- Phone 011 49 9126 288640
- Fax 011 49 9126 288643
- Copyright: Wolfgang Fabisch
.
.