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TIME FOR SOME NEW RAIN GEAR?

It was one of those kind of days. The spiffy weather caster on TV told me the night before, with a twinkle in his eye, that there was a zero-percent chance that it would rain today. And perhaps he was correct, for what was pouring out of the storm-gray skies was definitely not rain. It was more like I had accidentally parked the boat under Niagara Falls. Great sheets of water continuously broke loose from the low clouds, gathered a head of steam and then shattered over my head like a pane of window glass. Every few seconds, a strong gust would break up one of the watery sheets and turn it into a hailstorm of liquid buckshot that would blast into me from a low angle.

As the storm raged around me, and the wind-driven water volleys stung my eyes and bare hands, as icy water leaked down my cuffs and dribbled down the back of my neck, I cursed myself for getting into this situation…again. I’d been down this road way too many times, fished in far too many storms to let myself get wet, yet here I was getting another serious soaking. Rain gear was always an afterthought -- something that was way down the list of important things to bring on a fishing trip.

Soaking wet and shivering uncontrollably, I vowed to make this the last time I’d be so miserable while fishing. And so, I’ve been in search of the perfect foul weather setup for years and I think I finally have a system down well enough now to give you some advice on how to prepare for the upcoming season of wet angling.

LAYERING: The first step to staying warm and dry is to wear the proper layers. There are lots of great modern fabrics out there that work wonders, so it’s time throw out your old thermals and flannel and get with the program. Start with a good, tight-fitting base layer. I’ve had good success with Patagonia’s Capilene, which is a fabric that, don’t ask me how, wicks moisture away from your skin. A new product that looks even better is Poly Diamond underwear by Redington, which wicks well but also is impregnated with an anti-microbial and anti-bacterial treatment, which helps keep you from stinkin’ up the joint after a hard day of fishing.

Over the top of your underlayer, go with the magic fabric: fleece. If you’ve yet to try fleece pants, jackets or sweaters, do yourself a favor and buy some. The stuff is super soft, breathable and stays reasonably warm even when wet. There are countless choices for fleece out there and I’ve tried them all. Eddie Bauer, Redington, REI, Patagonia and Cabela’s are all excellent choices -- just remember fleece comes in several different weights from light (for mild weather) to heavy (for super cold conditions), so you need to figure out what suits you best.

STAYING DRY: Okay, so now you’ve got a warm, moisture-wicking and breathable core. It’s time for the outer layer. If you’re not going to get in the water, a waterproof and breathable set of bibs and a jacket made of the same material is a good way to go. Now, before I go on, I’m sure some folks are wondering how something can be waterproof and breathable at the same time. Good question. To fill you in on how it all works would bore you to tears. All you need to understand is the basic principle: garments made out of this type of material protect you from moisture caused by sweat and rain.

Remember that old rubber rain suit? Sure, it kept the rain out, but your clothes would get so clammy and wet underneath from perspiration, it felt like your suit had sprung a leak, right? That’s the beauty of breathable and waterproof gear: sweat evaporates through the fabric but rain doesn’t come in.

So getting back to our outfit, a waterproof set of boots, coupled with a set of bib overalls and a coat will work wonders. Cabela’s Guide Wear has been the staple for many years, though I’ve also had good luck with Helly Hansen and Bass Pro Shops’ goofy-looking but effective 100 mph suit.

My favorite stay dry system, however, is a set of breathable chest waders and a breathable jacket. With that set-up, you’re absolutely covered from head to toe -- plus you have the ability to wade. After trying a pair of Hodgman breathable waders a few years ago, I took my old faithful neoprenes and tossed them in the trash. The neoprenes were warm, for sure, but they were hard to move around in, and talk about a high clam factor! Breathables are extremely lightweight and are almost as comfortable as wearing a pair of old sweats. There are tons of different wader companies out there that put out a good product. You should be happy with waders by the likes of Simms, Redington, Cabela’s, Patagonia and Hodgman, to name a few.

As far as jackets go, I’ve tried them all and have finally found one that’s about as close to a perfect rain coat as there is: the Q-Nimbus jacket by Redington. I bought one of these bad boys for a trip I took to the rainy Oregon coast recently and ended up giving it a real workout in 80 mph winds and sideways rain for several days in a row. Unbelievably, I stayed completely dry -- something I’ve never been able to say before about a rain jacket.

The Q-Nimbus has a bunch of cool bells and whistles on it, none more appreciated however, on a cold, wet day than fleece-lined pockets. I’ve always hated jamming stiff, frozen fingers into slimy, wet pockets, so the fleece was a wonderful thing. All my previous rain jackets had hoods with floppy, nearly useless bills. The brim on my new coat is stiff so it actually protects your face from rain and spray. Another feature that sets this one apart is it comes with a fleece chin patch. When you’re all zipped up and ready for Mother Nature’s worst, the fleece protects your face from rubbing on the zipper --something that greatly enhances your comfort if you end up wearing the coat all day. There are many other nice features to the coat, but you get the idea -- it’s sweet!

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: Get a good layering system going and top it off with some breathable rain gear and you’re going to be able to fish comfortably on days when everybody else is taking cover…or freezing to death like I used to do.

J.D. Richey 12-6-01

Photo of past guest Raleigh Werking with a Monster Red Drum caught on light tackle. Raleigh travels around the world breaking records on light line. He was a guest with Westcoast Fishing Adventures in 1999 and smashed the world record for Chum Salmon, one of the most under rated salmon in the world ! See you in 2000 Raleigh .

KITIMAT RIVER SILVERS ( Coho Salmon )

The beautiful Kitimat River is located approximately 45 minutes from the town of Terrace, British Columbia, which can be reached after a short 2 hour flight north of Vancouver, B.C.

The river flows directly into the Pacific Ocean into the Douglas Channel. The result of this proximity is fresh, bright chrome fish  entering the river directly from the ocean.

The Kitimat has a year long motor boat ban which makes this river perfect for the use of drift boats and rafts. We have 3 separate drifts that we use, each showing off different aspects of this sweet river, from slow and easily accessible runs  to more remote sections rarely fished by the average angler.

Filled with many different pools, runs, riffles and back channels the Kitimat will surely please any angler from the neophyte to the expert from fly fisherman to bait casters. The river banks are lined with stands of alder and huge cottonwood trees which make an incredibly scenic drift in the late summer and autumn. Amid these leafy giants are immense Sitka Spruce and large Cedar trees some of which tower hundreds of feet tall  and have enough wood in them  to frame entire houses.

Now on to the fantastic fishing opportunities!

Coho begin entering the river during early August . These early fish are typically smaller than the later fall run although as in fishing ,this is not always the case. While guiding a client from Italy this past summer we lost what was potentially a world record silver . A very skilled fly angler this person had already landed a 25lb. coho early in the morning as well as numerous other coho including a 20lb.  chum, so we are not talking rookie material here. He was using one of our patented blue marabou coho flies on a 12 ft. long 12lb.test leader ( water clarity dictated small diameter line ) with a full floating Cortland fly line. This fish hit like a freight train catapulting out of the water end over end easily a half dozen times tearing line of Robertos reel faster than Ben  Johnson on steroids, peeled off 150 yards of expensive fly line and backing  in a matter of seconds, busting off at the end with a loud bang, which sounded like a rifle shot ,sending Roberto ass over tea kettle; and landing in a heap all the time hollering, "That Was The Fight Of My Life". It was the best entertainment money can buy!

Tips and Tricks

One of the most successful techniques we use is the something that bass fishermen have been using for years , we have adapted the jig ,.to salmon fishing. Over 90% of our conventionally caught coho are caught using marabou jigs which we make ourselves. The coho absolutely hate these things, we have spotted coho chasing jigs from clear across the other side of the river only to miss then turn around and hit them again after another cast. Its sounds crazy but we have never seen another method catch so many fish. We have had clients catch and release coho literally until their arms are ready to fall off. Although an assortment of jigs make up most of our coho fishing on the Kitimat (other than fly fishing) It's a good idea to bring a few spoons or floats in the unlikely case that the coho aren't turned on by the jigs. If you are a spoon fisherman try lighter copper or silver plated spoons such as Nortach's wobblers. People make the mistake of fishing spoons to fast and erratic, try slowing your retrieve down and you will pick up more fish. For the float fisherman there are some fantastic runs for floating roe or wool patterns through, that will produce silvers for you as well. ( caution ) Be sure to check your regulations before using roe, as there are times when it is prohibited.

From white water rapids suitable for the experienced oarsman or slow moving drifts the Kitimat River can accommodate any boater. The upper drifts are for the professional while the neophyte can navigate the lower drift with little risk.

With large runs of good clean silvers entering  the river well into October,  the Kitimat River can produce some of the best coho fishing in the world. There is no shortage of fish here. As well as excellent salmon fishing the Kitimat has a world class cutthroat trout fishery with fish exceeding the 5lb. mark caught every fall. On light tackle or fly gear,  fisherman can have a ball with these colorful acrobatic fish.

A stop of interest after a beautiful day on the river is the Giant Spruce Park, home of the worlds largest Sitka Spruce standing over 200 ft. tall with a circumference of over 35ft. This a true giant.

With lots of different water to cover, coupled with fantastic scenery the Kitimat River has something to please everyone.

Justin Gyger
Westcoast Fishing Adventures

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