How do I get to BC West?
You travel however you like to Vancouver, British Columbia. There you connect to a Pacific Coastal Airlines flight to Bella Coola, BC. You travel from Bella Coola to our lodge on the Dean using a chartered helicopter. The helicopter flight is included in the price of your trip with BC West.
More information about travel can be found on our Travel page.
What do you fish for?
King or Chinook Salmon and steelhead, mostly. We also catch pink and coho or silver salmon, but most of our guests target kings and/or steelhead.
Do I have to use a spey rod?
No. Anglers were catching fish on the Dean for many years before the ‘spey revolution’ took hold. Most of our guests fish spey rods because they think spey rods make their lives easier, but every year we host guests who fish only single-handed rods, and they do just great.
How much does it cost?
Check out our Rates page.
Where on the Dean do you fish?
We fish both the Lower Dean – the 1 1/2 miles between the Canyon and the mouth of the river, and the Upper Dean – from just above the Canyon up to 5 Mile.
What if I’ve never fished for steelhead?
Our program is definitely designed for guests who have swung flies for anadromous fish before. Half of your days you’re fishing with a guide below the canyon, and half of your days you’re fishing on your own above the canyon. You need to be comfortable wading on your own and reading water. If you’ve never fished for steelhead or salmon before, we’d be happy to recommend other locations for your first trip.
