Dean River | Things to Look Forward To

Dean River Chinook — Looking forward to seeing you. Photo: Dana Sturn

Dana Sturn is hosting a group of anglers at BC West next week. He’s looking forward to the trip, and he put together some reasons that…he’s looking forward to the trip.

Things To Look Forward To

Each year at this time I’m running around like crazy doing all the last minute things I always plan to do before the last minute but never seem to get to until there it is, The Last Minute, staring down at me like that Big Scary Dude who asked Belushi if he could dance with his date in Animal House. Somehow of course it all gets done, but the best thing about The Last Minute is that in between panic attacks I get to think about all the things I’m looking forward to about my trip to BC West for Dean Chinook:

The food: Jim Babb, editor of Gray’s Sporting Journal called it “perhaps the best and most consistently imaginative fishing-lodge food” around. And for good reason. Camp Host and Chef Belinda Miller is truly a culinary magician and makes it impossible to have just one serving. I always gain weight, so I just don’t fight it anymore.
Evenings at the Clubhouse: Fly tying sessions and tall tales that often go well into the night, especially if the river proves generous. I always take my headlamp with me in case “Office Hours” extend past 11pm.
Grizzly bears : Always hope to see a couple (at a distance of course).
The helicopter flight: Has been a highlight for me for years. Love it.
Jetboat rides: What can be more fun than zooming around on a remote river looking for runs full of fish? Simply put, jetboats are cool.
Checking in with old friends.
Seeing if my new fly designs actually catch fish.
The take: Nothing takes like a fresh Dean River Chinook. It isn’t a grab, a pull or even a yank. It’s a Chinook, and they take like, well, Dean River Chinook. ‘Nuff said.
That sinking feeling when you know you’re not going to land this one: When you’re after Chinook this is likely to happen, more than once if you’re lucky!
Being there: The Dean is a total experience, a complete moment in time. It lingers.