Where: Highway 22A, 11 km southeast of Trail, BC Canada
Coordinates: 49.05675, -117.61446
When: All seasons. Best in spring, late summer, and fall
Accessibility: Easy: 20 minute stroll
Main Species: Rainbow trout
Airport Run is a beautiful stretch of water and a relatively easy 20-30 minute stroll through the cedar/hemlock forest from the Hwy 22A pullout. The run is especially popular with fly anglers who can wade more than a kilometre of open water, throughout the season.
As you drive south on Hwy 22A, look for the interpretive sign one-kilometre past the Beaver Creek Park turn off. You will park at the interpretive sign, and from there make your way down to the river. Airport Run is located below the Trail Regional Airport runway, but you must walk around the airfield.
Anglers start at the north end with Airport Eddy, then make their way down to Pumphouse eddy, and Car-wreck eddy. The long runs, riffles, and back eddies make for sublime fishing.
Nymphing with indicators is a favourite technique throughout the spring, summer and fall. In the evenings, casting dry flies to rising trout or going naked with emerger patterns in the heat of summer is exhilarating.
Spey casters love Airport Run as it is a great place to make those ultra-long casts and for swinging salmon fly patterns and sparse muddler minnows for the big rainbows.
Across the river is the Fort Shepherd Conservancy. As a sanctuary for species at risk, this land is closed to all motorized vehicles and is prime habitat for deer, elk and a variety of wildlife.
Other than the odd dog walker, few anglers frequent this amazing stretch of water. Perhaps this is because it is a little off the beaten path and requires a short walk. Whatever the reason, there is a good chance you will have this stretch of water all to yourself on most days.
About our fishing hole sponsor
Pacific Coastal Airlines. As you plan your next fishing vacation, why not let Pacific Coastal bring you where the fish are. Get a birds eye view of the mighty Columbia River as you land alongside Airport Run eddy. Pacific Coastal offers regular scheduled flights to more than sixty-five destinations across British Columbia. Spend your vacation time fishing, not driving.
