09104

NEW PRICE $99,000

Tenure of 700 classified angling days for guided fly fishing on the Blackwater River (also known as the West Road River) near Quesnel, BC, as per the Wildlife Act of British Columbia. The annual fee is currently $16.00 per rod day.

www.theblackwater.com

The Blackwater River area is at the northern end of the interior dry belt, in the lee of the coastal mountains, which disperse Pacific weather systems, moderate weather conditions, create spectacular cloud formations and breathtaking sunsets. The amount of water surface in the upper watershed collects a great deal of solar heat on the long summer days giving the river a very warm temperature (up to 20C) which promotes the rich insect life which in turn supports the ample rainbow trout population.

The whole system is rich in nutrients and full of life. Prolific insect hatches feed the many trout, whitefish and squawfish. A variety of stonefly, caddis fly and mayfly nymphs cling to every boulder. In slower sections, thick weed beds provide a haven for other species. The frequent large hatches and the population of wild, native rainbow trout has remained consistent through the years and presents great opportunities for the fly fisherman. Every pool or riffle holds wild, hard-fighting rainbow trout and the notable Blackwater strain attack anything that looks like dinner.

The Blackwater River is home to an abundant population of rainbow trout averaging 14 inches, with the largest just over 20 inches. They attack dry flies readily and anglers are rarely tempted to fish by any other method. At season opening, June 15, the stoneflies and caddis flies are thick. The first couple of weeks can involve some amazing stonefly activity while the caddis continue throughout the summer and the long summer days provide ample opportunity to release more native rainbow trout than ever imagined.

The Blackwater remains as pristine as ever, with remote areas and mile after mile of rainbow filled river, rounding each bend, another stretch of trout domain unfolds with no other anglers in sight. Those occasions when another fly fisher is encountered are so rare that they are curiously pleasant.

Drift peacefully down the river in this remarkable area soaking in all the beauty and overwhelming serenity of the sights and sounds.

Nestled between two of British Columbia's wilderness parks, the Itcha Illgachaz and Tweedsmuir Park lie the headwaters of the world famous Blackwater River.

The West Road River or Blackwater River is a major tributary of the Fraser River, flowing generally north-eastward from the Ilgachuz Range and across the Fraser Plateau in the Chilcotin and Cariboo regions of central British Columbia, Canada. Its confluence with the Fraser is approximately 40 km northwest of Quesnel.

The Blackwater River originates in the Ilgachuz Range northwest of Quesnel in central British Columbia. The water is stained a dark tea colour giving it the name “Black Water”. The river flows east through the Fraser Plateau collecting runoff from expansive grasslands, muskeg swamps, scattered pine and aspen forests, countless trout filled lakes and drains an area of approximately 12,000 square kilometres of varied topography, cutting a deep valley above Tsacha Lake. Below the lake, the Blackwater carves through black volcanic rock, creating a series of spectacular rapids, canyons and deep pools. The river drops over 900 metres during the 280 km course to its confluence with the Fraser River.

With the exception of three waterfalls near Tsacha, Euchiniko and Kluscoil lakes, and rapids below Tsacha and in the final few miles to the Fraser, most of the river is navigable by canoe or raft. In the open pine/spruce forest, portages are easy and trails follow the river closely.

The basin is a mixture of grassland and light forest consisting mostly of lodge pole pine, aspen, willow and Douglas fir and is also home to large populations of wildlife: moose, caribou, bear, deer, wolf, wolverine, eagles etc.

The lack of human presence and remoteness provides endless opportunities for enjoyment of outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, canoeing, rafting, hunting and fishing. The Blackwater River, in British Columbia, is home to some of the best dry fly fishing for wild native rainbows anywhere.

This is truly a land rich in history, from the Alexander McKenzie Trail to the Home Ranch of the Frontier Cattle Company.

The river is of significant historical importance to both First Nations and Canadian history. For centuries, the Dakelh (Carrier) and Tsilhqot'in peoples used a trail - the so-called "Grease Trail" - on the northern side of the river in their trade with coastal First Nations communities. The name Grease Trail refers to one of the main commodities transported along the route - eulachon grease, a highly-prized staple - traces of which coated parts of the route after centuries of use. It was this trail that Sir Alexander Mackenzie used in his historic overland journey west to the Pacific Ocean in 1793, traversing the river itself on his return.