Chillbilly Sport Fishing Charters

Chillbilly Sportfishing Charters offers many different types of outings, but the most popular trip is the 8-hour drift down the Columbia for rainbow trout from May to September. On a typical trip clients meet their guide at the old Robson ferry landing at 12:30pm to load their gear, ice, snacks and other necessities into the 16-foot Hyde drift boat. The boat can accommodate the guide and 3 spin-casters, or 2 fly fishers. At 1:00 pm you will cast off and immediately start fishing on productive waters.

Depending on the season, the journey often begins by pulling a streamer or nymph on the shallow, fast run. When the water slows you may switch to dry flies in the bays and big eddies. Along the way Graham will provide expert one-on-one instruction for both novice and experienced anglers as he explains the local hatches and what the rainbow are feeding on.

Along the way it is common to see an abundance of wildlife such as eagles, osprey, bear, heron and deer. The white sturgeon viewing is spectacular. These spiny aquatic dinosaurs date back to the Triassic period (245 million years ago) and are a protected species. Pull the paddles in to quietly drift over these river monsters and watch them feed 6 feet beneath the boat in the crystal clear water. Midway through the trip you may wish to do a shoreline BBQ, or just have a snack and keep fishing.

As you drift you will traverse 20 kilometers of the Columbia River. All waters are productive, so there is no traveling spot-to-spot to fish; although your guide will anchor you in the particularly good fishing holes. If your trip is in July or August as the sun sets you will experience the local caddis hatch when the big rainbows surface. As Graham put it: “The caddis hatch is amazing. It’s one of the largest hatches in North America. When the caddis drop their eggs on the water the river boils with feeding trout. It is an amazing spectacle, and a must-see for fly fishers.”

Around 9:00pm you will arrive in Genelle where you will land and be shuttled back to Robson where you may choose to end your day, or visit the smokehouse pub to discuss the days fishing or plan the next day’s fishing.

Chillbilly Charters offer personalized trips to match their customer’s needs, from experienced fly fishers to novice family outings. For a different experience they offer walk-in trips to shore-cast for Walleye and Bass, or even creek fishing excursions for brook trout. Graham relayed the story of a father and son excursion where the father was delighted, but the 8 year-old son felt confined in the drift boat. For the second day Graham suggested creek fishing for brook trout. Both father and son raved about the trip and each had their own story to tell. In fact it is not a rare sight to see Graham fishing the pools of Norms Creek with a couple of his favorite billy goats in tow. Chillbilly Charters is a customer focused charter company that accommodates all those who fish for sport and enjoyment.

Graham is the owner/operator of Castlegar based Chillbilly Sportfishing Charters. An avid fly-fisher, Graham was introduced to angling at the age of five. He was hit hard by the fishing bug, and by the age of 12 he was an accomplished fly fisher who tied his own fly patterns to mimic the local hatches. Graham has fished the Columbia River for the last 19 years and worked as a guide for the past 12. He has intimate knowledge of the fishery and local hatches. When you fish with Graham you are not only catching fish, you are also learning how to fish the world-class mighty Columbia River.

Graham’s favorite fishing is on a drift-boat for hard-fighting rainbow trout on a wet or dry fly, but he also takes great pleasure in mixing it up a bit when his clients want to fish for Walleye, Pike, Bass, or other local species. Graham is a brand ambassador for the Len Thompson lure company and will ensure you are using the right method and equipment whether it’s fly fishing, spin-casting lures, bottom bouncing, trolling, or other popular angling methods.

When he is not guiding Graham runs a small hobby farm and works as a forestry technician. He states that his work schedule is extremely flexible so he is able to fish and guide for many days of the year in all four seasons. Client safety is extremely important to Graham. He is a first responder with an EMA-3 first aid ticket and an eight year veteran of the Pass Creek Fire Department. He always carries his two-way ERT radio with him so help is a button press away. Graham says his top priorities are to ensure his clients catch fish, enjoy their trip, and remain safe at all times.