The Slocan River
The Slocan River may just be the most scenic stream you’ll ever fish with ready access and a rustic timberframe pub waiting at day’s end. As is the case on the nearby Columbia River, Dave Brown Outfitters is the only full-time fly-fishing guiding service in the region. On any given day you’ll see more wildlife than anglers. The season starts with stoneflies in June and ends with October caddis. In between you’ll be fishing hatches of PMDs, numerous caddis, BWOs, sallies, Green Drakes, red quills, and midges. Terrestrials like hoppers, beetles and flying ants also have their time and place. Truth is, you can match the hatch if you want, but the native rainbow trout are usually just as willing to eat a high-floating attractor pattern. Think Chernobyls, Fat Alberts, and other foam-bodied goodies.

The valley is rife with wildlife and a birder’s paradise. Deer, black bears and bald eagles are common, and the abundance of vegetation and nesting habitat attracts a huge array of waterfowl and shorebirds. The Walter Clough Wildlife Area on the upper river is worth a separate visit if clients or family want a break from fishing. The Slocan Valley itself is equally appealing, with a 30-mile 2-lane blacktop winding through quaint hamlets with names like Lemon Creek, Appledale and Shoreacres. Whether you’re after roadside espresso or a potter’s barn, this is the place to be. Just be ready to lay back and put your feet up, because that’s the ‘Slocan Pace.’

Fly Fishing the Slocan River
The Slocan River rises at its namesake lake. With a depth of almost 900 feet, Slocan Lake buffers and filters the worst of the high-mountain runoff. As a result, the river clears sooner than many other Rockies’ streams. When it opens June 15 things are typically in full swing, with stoneflies and PMDs the primary offering. Mayflies - along with caddis - continue to predominate into the early summer. The entire length of the Slocan is catch-and-release only, but the river also closes from July 15 to August 31 to protect the trout during the warmest summer period. As a result, come September 1 the rainbows are feisty and forgetful, and eagerly take dries well into October. Many anglers consider September the Slocan’s finest month, with heavy hatches of caddis and red quills, which most locals refer to as blue duns. As the fall progresses the large October caddis increase in numbers, and the trout rise eagerly to orange-bodied Chernobyls. We fish two primary stretches of the Slocan, putting you into the best trout populations. There are good numbers of rainbows from 12” to 15”, with the occasional fish up to 20”. Seeing a trout like that rise to your dry fly from the bottom of a Slocan pool is heart stopping. We mainly fish dries, but when the trout aren’t feeding on top any medium-sized nymph pattern will work. We like to tie beadhead #14 Pheasant Tails or Copper Johns a couple of feet beneath a yarn indicator and shallow-water nymph. Early and late in the season streamers such as size 6 Bighorn Buggers and Gum Drops also can be effective.

The Slocan Valley is well sheltered and it’s often calm, so light rod-line combinations are ideal. Three- and 4-weights are recommended with double-tapered or weight-forward fly lines – maybe a 5 if the wind is up a bit or you prefer it for tossing bulkier dries. Short to medium-length casts are the norm so distance isn’t a big concern.

Options
Depending on the month, the Slocan River is an ideal add-on to your Columbia River trip. After spending a day or two fishing to steelhead-strain rainbows on the Columbia tailwater, the Slocan will make you feel like you’re holding a wand instead of a fly rod. We also offer several great walk-and-wade options in the vicinity, and anglers can even “boca” fish on the lake where mountain streams plunge into the emerald water from the Valhalla peaks above. We know these waters intimately and can tailor your trip accordingly.

For those seeking the ultimate Western Canadian fly-fishing adventure, we suggest combining a West Kootenays trip with several days’ fishing out of Fernie in the East Kootenays. It’s a great way to catch wild, steelhead-strain rainbows and native westslope cutthroat in one epic trip. Better yet, it’s only a 4 hour drive from the Slocan Valley to Fernie; we can ensure you don’t miss a day’s fishing because Dave Brown Outfitters offers a tremendous walk-and-wade option at the halfway mark. Non-fishing companions can choose from a multitude of activities in the Slocan area, including hiking, mountain biking, lake boating and kayaking, whitewater rafting, birding, horseback riding and golf. The unique shops and eateries in Nelson and along the Slocan Valley can keep anyone occupied for hours.

Trip Duration
We recommend spending at least 2 days in the Slocan area – 3 or more to fully appreciate the full extent of the region’s excellent fly-fishing. Let us know what mix you’re looking for and we’ll piece together a great package.

Accommodations
We’re pleased to offer stays at Lemon Creek Lodge, situated along the Slocan River in a beautiful forested setting (www.lemoncreeklodge.com). Choose between rooms in the European-style timberframe lodge or in several authentic cabins on the property. Fine dining is available at the lodge, and there are several nearby restaurants in the Slocan Valley. For those seeking urban accommodations we recommend the vibrant mountain city of Nelson – 40 minutes from the Columbia and Slocan rivers. Long considered the “funkiest” town in the B.C. Interior, Nelson is beautifully perched on the hillside above Kootenay Lake and famous for its heritage buildings and eclectic flair. The dining is world-class and so is the lodging at the Hume Hotel (www.humehotel.com), Nelson’s heritage hotel since 1898.