Included / Not Included –
Included: Accommodations and meals at lodge, guiding, round-trip transfers between Smithers and lodge, HST, room tax, wine, alcohol.
Not Included: Airfare, accommodations and meals in Smithers, fishing licenses, gratuities, arrival and departure taxes.
Travel Logistics:
Arrival Information: To get to Frontier Farwest Lodge you need to make travel arrangements to Smithers, BC, via Vancouver. The lodge itinerary is Saturday to Saturday. All guests need to arrive Smithers on Friday night and overnight (hotel not included).
Getting to the Lodge: On Saturday the lodge staff will pick you up in Smithers about 10:00AM and drive you to the lodge. You will typically be fishing by noon.
Departure Information: On your departure day (Saturday) you will be taken to the airport to catch a morning flight to Vancouver and then continue home.
Documentation Requirements:
You need a valid passport to enter Canada and it must be valid for six months after the last day of your trip.
Currency:
The Canadian dollar is the official currency in BC, however; US dollars are widely used and accepted.
Travel Cash:
As a guideline we recommend that each guest travel with approximately with $600-$1,000 for staff & guide gratuities, alcohol, licenses, etc.
Gratuities:
We recommend guide and staff gratuities of approximately $400-$600 per person. Tips are pooled and can be given to the owners to distribute. If you find service by any individual to be exceptional, feel free to give them additional direct compensation
Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are not included. Anglers must purchase their fishing licenses online ahead of time at the British Columbia Government website: www.fishing.gov.bc.ca/.
Climate:
While the weather can be mild, always be prepared for cold when visiting the interior reaches of BC. Rain and snow can occur at almost any time and typical day temperatures range from 40-60 degrees F.
Medical Facilities:
The closest medical facility is in Smithers, approximately 30 minutes from the lodge. Guests have the responsibility to disclose any special medical, physical, or dietary needs to the lodge ahead of time.
Power and Communications:
Frontier Farwest Lodge has wireless broadband internet access, land line phones and reasonable cell/blackberry reception. Cell reception is decent on the river with the exception of certain canyon sections that are part of the overnight program. The guides carry satellite phones on all overnight trips to ensure your safety.
Water:
Potable water is available throughout Frontier Farwest lodge.
Clothing:
As the climate is extremely changeable and a wide range of temperatures and conditions can be expected, we recommend layering clothes. Anglers should be prepared with thermal underwear, fleece/soft shell jacket, and a rain jacket. Synthetic fabrics are preferred to cotton. Dress at the lodge is neat but casual.
Laundry:
The lodge will happy to take care of limited laundry needs at no charge.
Beverages/Alcohol:
The lodge provides alcoholic beverages. Guests may also bring their own.
Tackle/Equipment List:
Rods: 9-10 ft single hand rods for line weights 7-8. 11-14 ft two-handed spey rods for line weights 6-8.
Reels: Any good reel with or without a disk drag and room for 100-200 yards of 30lb braided Dacron backing.
Lines:
Single Hand Lines: Rio Versi-tip system (or comparable interchangeable tip line), full floaters like the Mastery Steelhead taper, Teeny 200 and 300 grain heads,
Spey Lines: Full floating heads like the Rio steelhead Scandi, and Skagit style heads for sink tip fishing. Have sink tips in type 3-8. Also know that Silver Hilton guides like anglers to have type 8 tips in line weights 8-12.Custom spey tips made from Rio T14 in 12 and 14 foot lengths are also handy.
Leaders/Tippet: 9-10 ft leaders tapering to 12-15 pounds for floating lines, 4-6 ft level leaders tapering from 12-15 pounds for sinking lines. Maxima Ultra Green is the tippet material of choice. Rio makes nice steelhead leaders some of which are 12-15 ft long and fish well off of Scandi heads for dry fly fishing.
Flies:
Dry Flies: Bombers (black and natural), Waller Wakers, Morrish Pompador Skaters, Quigley’s dragon gurgler, Greased Liner, Mudlers, and assorted other foam and deer hair patterns in sizes 4-8.
Traditional Wets: Green Butt Skunk, Freight Train, Signal Light, Purple Peril, Blue Charm, Silver Hilton, and assorted spey flies in sizes 1-6.
Streamers: Egg sucking leech (black and purple), black leech, Morrish Medusas in black and blue, Black and pink and popsicle, starlight leeches, Woolly Buggers, Popsicle, articulated leeches, and assorted marabou and rabbit patterns in black, blue, and purple sizes 1-6. Tube flies are also becoming very popular. Flies, including Waller’s tube flies, are sold at the lodge.
Note: The Babine varies greatly from run to run so having flies of differing weights is very useful.
Boot Foot Waders & Boots: Breathable gore-tex waders are typically fine for September fishing with neoprene becoming more popular throughout October and November. For anglers prone to cold (especially feet), boot foot waders are excellent. Due to the nature of the stream bottom and the fading out of felt soles spikes/studded boots are encouraged. Anglers that use breathable waders should bring several layers of mid/heavy weight fleece leggings.
Miscellaneous: Sunscreen, lip balm, hand-warmers, bandana, hemostats, tape measure, camera with spare batteries and film, floatant, wading staff, headlamp, towel, and a waterproof bag for day gear.
