Chilko Fly Fishing

Itinerary | Accommodations | About the Region

Chilko Fly Fishing Experience at Bear Camp

With so many fishing options – all within easy access from our safari-style camp, this Chilko Fly Fishing trip may just be the perfect fishing getaway. Situated at the mouth of the crystal clear Chilko River, Bear Camp is your base of adventure. From here you drift the first 18 miles of Chilko River or use the jet-driven jonboats on the upper 8 miles; you can wade the productive shoals near camp or head out on the lake for incredible bull and rainbow fishing. Not a flyfisher? We have spin options as well. And for the non-anglers in your group, we offer authentic wilderness experiences like hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, stand-up paddle boarding, and wildlife viewing paired with incredible scenery, great food and wonderful hospitality.

To say Bear Camp is a unique accommodation experience is an understatement. This is a place where people and bears can interact and live harmoniously. With 20-25 resident grizzly bears during summer and 80-100 grizzlies in autumn feeding on spawning salmon, we built the camp on stilts. Your waterfront tents are elevated, spacious, comfortable with hot showers and flush toilets nearby. Some call it “glamping” but we say it’s like an African safari experience with a Canadian twist!

While at Bear Camp, there are no fixed itineraries – it’s your adventure, and we go out of our way to make it work for you. And at the end of each active day, gather at our converted trapper’s cabin for cocktails, tall tales and an incredible meal before hitting the hay in a cozy bed overlooking the river. Our all-inclusive packages are 5 days, but you will be challenged to experience everything on offer as we kayak on a 55-mile long lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks, hike into the alpine with trusted guide, canoe or SUP on a crystal clear river, cast a line for record trout, photograph a grizzly feeding on salmon, take a scenic raft or drift boat ride, challenge some fun whitewater in an inflatable kayak or explore the region by mountain bike (undulating terrain or screaming single track) – the choice is yours.  Some might say “the sky is the limit” but there’s even optional heli-fishing to pristine mountain lakes!

Itinerary at a Glance

• Take a scenic flight over the Coast Mountains to Williams Lake and scenic transfer to Camp by vehicle
• Check into the waterfront Bear-Camp and get settled in our deluxe safari tents
• Guided fishing on the upper section of Chilko River by drift or jet-powered jonboat
• Fish for monster bull and rainbow trout in the deep pools and rocky shoals of Chilko Lake
• Sea kayak or stand-up paddleboard right from camp
• Hike or bike on paths enveloped by awe-inspiring mountains
• Enjoy chef prepared meals and evening “feasts” paired with eclectic wines and craft beer
• Unwind with a book, or do nothing but drink in the spectacular scenery

What’s Included:

• R/T air package from Vancouver / Williams Lake with shuttle to Bear Camp
• Experienced professional guides
• Accommodations at Bear Camp
• All meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 5
• All activities described in the itinerary
• All fishing gear (waders, rods, lures, etc
• Park fees and necessary permits

Transportation Upgrades:

• Wheeled Charter : One way Vancouver to Bear Camp: $700/person US (min. 2 pax)
• Float Charter (Beaver): One way Vancouver to Bear Camp: $1500/person US (min. 4 pax)
• Float Charter (Turbo Caravan): One way Vancouver to Bear Camp: $1000/person US (7 – 9 pax)

What to Expect at Bear Camp

We pride ourselves in running a relaxed and flexible schedule. Every trip is different depending upon the group, trip length and time of year.  The following is a sample of what you might expect.

Day One – Meet in Vancouver for flights northbound.

For those arriving at Vancouver International Airport on Day One – it is essential to arrive a minimum of two hours before our meeting time.  Please to allow enough time for possible flight delays, clearing customs and transferring from the International Airport terminal to the South Terminal area.  As soon as everyone’s gear is stowed, we will board our plane for the incredible flight over the mountains and glaciers. Upon arrival in Williams Lake, a Bear Camp representative will shuttle you across the Chilcotin Plateau to Camp with lunch along the way. Upon  arrival to Chilko Lake, your guides will give you an orientation to camp and the events ahead but there should be time to cast a line before the first of many delicious meals in our wilderness setting.

Fishing Options:

We are fully equipped for both lake and river fishing but if you have your own equipment, you’re welcome to bring it.

We provide Gore-tex waders and boots, 5/6 and 7/8 wt fly rods, all the flies and lures required. Please keep in mind that the Chilko River is “catch-and-release fly fishing only” so if you’re a spin caster, you will be fishing on Chilko Lake.
On the river, we operate jet-powered jon boats and oar powered drift boats. The power boats work the upper 8 miles of river (drifting, wading and motoring back up) while the drift boats access another 10 miles of pristine river. Bear Camp has fish cats and belly boats for your use as well.

Lake fishing is from our Hewescraft lake boat. The south end of Chilko Lake and any of the rivers flowing into Chilko are prime regions for monster bull trout and rainbows. There are also some prime fly fishing locations in the lake once the salmon start to show up in late August and Sept.

Non-Fishing Activities to choose:

Hiking: there are an endless number of great trails accessible right from Bear Camp.  Green Lake offers pretty mellow terrain for stretching one’s legs, while Mt Tullin is a challenging hike with 360 degree views.  Heli hiking can also be arranged at additional expense (but is worth every penny) and visits a number of valleys and nearby glaciers.

Kayaking:   Chilko Lake is one of the world’s premiere alpine lake destinations where you can explore by boat in total tranquility.  Surrounded by massive glacier-capped peaks and a road-less wilderness, you will spend the days paddling the lake and picnicking on sandy beaches.  Days are long but the alpenglow sunsets are worth the wait!  During bear viewing season, most of the bruins congregate right at our doorstep so we do not have to paddle far to watch bears feeding on Mother Nature’s bounty.

Mountain Biking: Flowing single track, winding dirt roads, coasting along the rivers edge or gliding through pine-scented forests, we’ve got it all.  Our fleet of Kona mountain bikes comes with vehicle support and a knowledgeable guide.  What more could you want?  Eliminate the hills?  We can do that too!

River Float or Paddle: floating right from Bear Camp, we can travel a half-day (10 miles) or an entire day (21 miles with a picnic lunch) by raft or inflatable kayak (aka “ducky”) and navigate some fun and scenic water that is still appropriate for little ones.

Drift Boat: for the ultimate in scenic rides – and ideal for photographers – try a dory ride on this breathtaking stretch.  In a drift boat you get a fun ride but soak up the scenery instead of waves.  Our drift boat is also ideal for fly fishing outings and during salmon season, the dories provide an unobtrusive way to float among the bears.

Last Day

After another morning paddle and amazing breakfast, we will leave Bear Camp and get ready for flights home. You should arrive mid-afternoon but we always recommend overnighting in Vancouver at the end of the trip in case of weather issues with smaller aircraft. ROAM would be pleased to make Vancouver accommodation arrangements on your behalf as we often get preferred rates.

OR

Whitewater Rafting:  Add a 2 night Chilko River adventure down Lava Canyon to finish your vacation on rush!  The Lava Canyon section of the Chilko River offers the longest stretch of commercially navigable whitewater in North America.  Unmatched in its diversity and enormous stretches of continuous Class IV whitewater, you will be treated to rollicking hydraulics and towering standing waves that cascade for miles through deep and narrow lava gorges.

Accommodations at Bear Camp

Bear Camp is a safari-style tent camp with ‘a Canadian twist’

Sheltered by the Pacific Coast Mountain Ranges, deep in the unspoiled raw wilderness of British Columbia, and protected by the vast terrain of the Tsilhqot’in (Chilcotin) First Nation People, lies Bear Camp. Forged out of Douglas Fir timbers and perched at the juncture of Chilko Lake and the Chilko River, it was originally built 1954 as a hunting & fishing camp, but has since been re-created into a funky, world-class adventure and wildlife-viewing destination. The main log structure is the focal point for meals, cocktails and most socializing. The surrounding tent cabins are a mixture of king or two bed rooms carefully positioned for privacy and view. There are river rock showers, flush toilets and plenty of staff to keep you dearly spoiled while keeping the adventures flowing!

About the Region

The Terrain

Our trip begins at the north end of Ts’yl-os Provincial Park. Established in 1994, Ts’yl-os (pronounced sigh loss) is 233,240 hectares in the Chilcotin Ranges of the Coast Mountains. Although Chilko Lake is the centre piece of the park, it is just one of many incredible natural features. Though there is much to explore in the region, it is rugged and unserviced leaving its visitors up to their own devices. This is where we fit in.

The Chilcotin River flows near Nazko Lakes Provincial Park and Stump Lake Provincial Park. Both were recently expanded to protect wildlife habitat and BC’s only colony of nesting white pelicans, respectively. Upstream from the confluence of the Chilcotin and Big Creek, lies the new 660 hectares of rolling grassy plateau protected in Big Creek Provincial Park.

Cultural Notes

To aboriginal people of the Nemaiah Valley, Ts’yl-os is much more than a provincial park. Ts’yl-os was a man, or at least he used to be long ago, and like any man he had his moods. Given his towering height of 3,061 meters (Mount Tatlow on a map), it is wise to respect him and especially not to point at him. His presence can be so dominating that when occasional bad weather hits the valley, the 250 native residents wonder if it is a message from their spiritual protector.

For the isolated Nemaiah First Nation, their agreement on the park represents an important, but tentative first step toward reconciliation with the outside world. It is this world that led to the so-called Chilcotin Indian War of 1864 and the subsequent deaths of many. Today, that historic uprising against the white intrusion on Chilcotin Lands continues to colour the native psyche and the park’s future.

The silty confluence of the Chilcotin and Fraser was also a major territorial boundary. The Ts’ilhqot’in people of the Athapaskan language group held a territory on the northwest side of the confluence where the Junction Sheep Range is located. Small bands of natives traveled the Chilcotin watershed, hunting and gathering food. During salmon runs, these bands would come together at the mouth of the Chilcotin.