British Columbia

The fishing options at Nicholas Dean lodge are as wide and varied as the rivers that can be fished. The specific runs of fish are seasonal, but the variety is such that regardless of when you come there will always be the possibility of some exciting fishing. Many of the rivers are ideally suited for fly fishermen who want to wade: however should you prefer to fish from a boat or use spinning gear there are places and stretches to suit all requirements.

The rivers below are just a taste of the variety of waters that can be fished whilst staying at Nicholas Dean Lodge.

• Skeena River 
  The Skeena is a huge broad flowing river which is fed by many famous tributaries which include the Babine, Bulkley, Copper, Kalum, Kispiox, Morice and Sustut amongst others. All the steelhead and salmon, headed for the tributaries, must pass through the lower part of the Skeena, where Nicholas Dean Lodge is located.
• Copper (Zymoetz) River 
  The Copper River is a premier steelhead and chinook river that also has coho salmon, pink salmon, and bull trout. It fishes exceptionally well with the fly and is world-renowned as a dry fly steelhead stream. It is a mid-sized river with mainly a boulder cobble bottom with a few ledge rock pools.
• Kalum (Kitsumkalum) River 
  The Kalum River is world-renowned for its huge chinook salmon which can tip the scales at over 100 pounds, not to mention the chance of catching equally large steelhead up to 40 pounds. It is a mid-sized river with a gravel cobble bottom and some boulder fields. It has many long sweeping runs ideally suited for swinging a fly on a long line. >
• Kitimat River
  The Kitimat is located very close to the ocean and is known for its productivity, in part due to the hatchery located on the lower end of the river. It is the perfect river for novice fly anglers to hone their skills on the unbelievably abundant chum and pink salmon runs.
• Nass Tributaries (Meziadin & Bell-Irving Rivers)
  Both are rivers that have a wide variety of ‘fishy’ characteristics but the Bell-Irving has the most fishable water with almost endless miles of gravel and classic swinging steelhead runs. The Nass tributaries are fished primarily in the autumn for steelhead.

Nicholas Dean, in April 2020 bought Yellow Cedars Lodge on the banks of the Skeena. Right on the banks of the Skeena, Yellow Cedar Lodge - a Tourism BC Approved Accommodation - features large, vaulted ceilings to highlight impressive mountain views, numerous amenities and a large, wraparound deck for guests to take in the majestic riverscape.

Yellow Cedar Lodge's spacious dining room has two large tables and several smaller custom cedar tables, plenty of room for you to relax, unwind and savour the fine dining from our experienced culinary team.  The bar – adjoining the dining room – is well stocked with wine, beer and spirits for your enjoyment. There is also a separate downstairs games room with a 75in in satellite TV and pool table.

Guest accommodations are comprised of both single and double rooms, with comfortable double or king beds, and quality linen.  Each room is equipped with its own private shower, which is supplied with abundant hot water from our private, licensed well.   Each room has ample storage for your clothes and luggage and is just steps away from all the amenities that YCL has to offer.

A state of the art, custom wader room that was just updated in May 2020.  Built with locally milled cedar, the wader room is where you will keep your fishing gear and clothing for the duration of your trip.  You are provided with a large, roomy stall, where you can leave your rods, reels and personal gear, then hang up your waders, jacket and other layers to dry overnight in front of the gas fireplace.  

To get to Nicholas Dean Lodge guests typically fly to Vancouver and take a connecting flight to Terrace. You will be collected at Terrace and driven to the lodge in anticipation of your first days fishing the following morning.