Bull trout fly fishing in Canada had been on my mind for a long time, but it finally became real in 2025. This trip was about planning, execution, and chasing some of the biggest bull trout in the Canadian Rockies.
I met one of my good friends Christian, who runs the YouTube channel Mountainwell Media, back in July of 2025. We connected through social media, spent plenty of time talking online, and eventually decided it was time to meet in person. Christian lives in Utah and had never caught a bull trout, so we met up in northern Idaho for a long weekend of bull trout fly fishing.
That first night we arrived late, set up camp, and prepared for the morning. We cowboy camped and were woken up a few times by rustling in the bushes. After a restless night, we started early and fished hard. We landed a few bull trout at a confluence first thing in the morning and continued picking fish off throughout the day in deeper cold pools. By the end of the day, we were completely exhausted and wrapped things up early.
That night around the fire is when Canada first entered the conversation. I told Christian I had some inside information on massive bull trout in Canada, fish over 30 inches that move into rivers to feed on kokanee. His eyes lit up instantly. I described giant flies, aggressive fish, and the backdrop of the Canadian Rockies. When I told him I was trying to find someone to go with, he did not hesitate. He said he was in.
I was not sure if it would actually happen, but Christian stuck to his word. October came fast, and we scrambled to get gear, camping permits, and fishing licenses together at the last minute. Even then, it still did not feel real.
Travel Day Into the Canadian Backcountry
The night before leaving, I barely slept. I could not stop thinking about waking up under the Canadian backcountry sky. What should have been a 14 hour drive turned into nearly 20 hours in Christian’s Tacoma, packed to the brim with fishing gear, camera gear, and camping equipment.
We missed a turn and added an extra hour to the drive. Just past the Canadian border, we were stopped due to a logging truck crash and ended up sleeping in the truck while waiting for the road to clear. We finally reached camp at 3 AM and woke up at 5 AM to start fishing. I was completely delusional the next day, but Christian’s energy kept things moving.
Days One and Two Learning Bull Trout Water
The first two days were all about learning. We found productive water, dead water, and learned quickly how picky Canadian bull trout can be when the kokanee spawn is not perfectly timed. We were hours from civilization and had to make trips into town for groceries after realizing we forgot a few essentials.
While standing in a grocery store wearing waders, a local asked how the fishing had been and if we had tried a specific spot. He told us the area we were fishing had been slow but mentioned another stretch of water that had been producing better fish. That night, we committed and drove another three hours deeper into the backcountry.
The cold was intense. Coming from Utah and Idaho where October temperatures were still mild, waking up to single digit mornings and colder nights in Canada was a shock. Campfire hot dogs and beer were not enough to keep us warm.
Days Three and Four Canadian Bull Trout Success
We woke up on day three to what can only be described as paradise. Steep rocky mountains, glacial fed rivers, and bright red kokanee moving through the river right from our camp. The energy was high.
I threw on my Adams Built waders and rigged my spey rod with custom flies I tied at camp the night before. They were far from pretty, but the bull trout did not care. We bushwhacked through thick brush to reach a prime looking run covered in fresh wolf and bear tracks.
Within three casts, I was hooked up. Day three was unreal. I landed multiple bull trout ranging from small fish to the largest of the day. Feeling bad that I was the only one with effective flies, I spent that night and the following morning tying more for the crew.
By day four, everyone was into fish. I spent time filming and soaking it all in. After long days, long drives, and time away from our wives, it felt good to see the plan come together. We landed several bull trout in the 27 to 30 inch range.
Days Five and Six Exploring New Canadian Rivers
Food was running low, so we restocked in town and ate better than we had all week. McDonald’s and Tim Hortons never tasted so good after days of hot dogs and chili.
We decided not to pressure our main spot and instead explored new rivers and drainages. We also booked an official campground with a community shower, which felt like a luxury after days in the backcountry. Paying for hot water was worth every loonie.
We continued to find bull trout in new water. While the fish were not as large or as abundant, the exploration itself made it worth it.
Final Day Bull Trout and the Drive Home
For the final day, we returned to the honey hole hoping to end the trip strong. On the way, we blew a tire deep in the backcountry on a sloped cliff. Changing it took time, but we managed and carefully made our way back.
The effort paid off. Christian landed one of his biggest bull trout of the trip that day. By evening, we were missing our wives, warm beds, and real food. Our tent had been covered in ice inside and out almost every night, making things cold and damp from the start.
Instead of setting up camp again, we decided to drive home that evening. It turned into an all night push, but neither of us wanted to open that frozen tent one more time. We made it back to my house at 6 AM, exhausted but stoked.
This Canadian bull trout fly fishing trip was one I will never forget. If you want to see the full adventure, it is documented on my YouTube channel, Firefly Fishing.
