Boats and Equipment

Scott Howell's guide service provides the very best equipment, gear and boats available today.

We do our drift boat fishing out of a 17-foot Willie drift boat designed especially for fly fishing. These boats have both bow and stern cradles along with flat casting platforms. These features not only make it safe but also make it comfortable to fish standing up while the boat is drifting. This enables us to fish "Montana style" side drifting indicators as the boat drifts through the run. This is arguably the most effective way of catching steelhead on the fly.

Our jet boat is the Cadillac of the river. This 20-foot Willie Predator with full rain canopy takes us to the fly water in comfort. For you traditional swing fishermen, this boat can often be the key to enssuring you fish fresh water. In a jet boat we are able to stay one step ahead of the drift boats. This takes us out of the leapfrog game being played by the other drifters on the river.

We cut no corners when it comes to assuring you spend your day fishing with the best rods and reels. By all means bring your own gear or feel free to use ours. We provide Sage rods, both spey and single-handed, as well as Hardy reels. These are outfitted with the best lines to match the season and conditions of your trip.

Flies

Scott has been a leading innovator in developing many of our modern steelhead patterns. He was at the forefront during the evolution and introduction of what is now known as Ed Ward’s Intruder. This was the fly that spawned all the knockoffs from the Retriever, to the Predator, to the Super Spey. While living on the Skeena, he developed the Steelhead Popper and a method of fishing this revelutionary dry fly that has only just begun to hit the scene. Rest assured you will be swinging the best flies available. Feel free to bring your own favorite flies but also know that Scott provides his own proven patterns for you to use.