Stellako River

The Stellako drains François Lake at Glenannan and runs about 14 km east to Fraser Lake, west of the village of Fraser Lake and south of Highway 16. Because a big lake feeds it, it runs clear and steady when other rivers in the region are high. Its wild rainbows rise well to dry flies, and every one goes back. It is a small river by Interior standards, easy to wade in most places, with riffles, runs and a falls on the way down.

The river opens on May 15. Fishing picks up as the water warms in June, and dry flies work through the summer and into September. In the fall a run of sockeye spawns in the river, and the rainbows feed behind them. Read the Glenannan gauge at the lake outlet: the river fishes well between about 8 and 35 m³/s, and over about 70 it is high in a big snowmelt year. In a hot spell, fish early and late in the day.

The Stellako is Class II classified water whenever it is open, but no Steelhead Stamp is needed. It is closed November 15 to May 14, and every rainbow must be released. The water from about 250 m to 4 km below the bridge at the François Lake outlet is fly fishing only, and no powered boats are allowed from the lake to the falls. The outlet area of François Lake has its own rules and opens later, on June 1. The river runs through Stellat'en First Nation land near its mouth, so ask before you cross reserve land.