The Blackwater (west road) River

[boonerbuck]

Has anyone fished the Blackwater?

I'm in the process of setting up a couple of days fishing there with a friend. We would like to do some day floats with our pontoons.

Is there any good drop off/pick up spots for a day float?

Any info on access would be appreciated.

[scadamso]

had some kids out fishing up Titetown way two weeks ago, only caught a couple squaws.

[Dogbite]

Originally Posted by boonerbuck

Has anyone fished the Blackwater?

I'm in the process of setting up a couple of days fishing there with a friend. We would like to do some day floats with our pontoons.

Is there any good drop off/pick up spots for a day float?

Any info on access would be appreciated.

Nazko to Gilles Crossing would the best bet now. There is a bridge across the West Road River (Blackwater) at UTM coordinates 10U 469567 5900321 that is a good put in point. Permission may be granted to park a vehicle at the nearby ranch. When you hit the confluence with the Euchiniko, you could make your way upstream to the Gilles Crossing bridge UTM coordinates 10U 466232 5901035. Risky below that during the spring freshet. Might end up in Vancouver as a corpse below that. Later on you can float from the West Fraser bridge UTM 10U 469567 5900321 to the lower bridge at UTM 10U 490607 5904104. This is a long float with few areas that give take out access and there is a shear wall on river left and a steep broken wall on river right that produces a very small gap to navigate and a drop that varies in height depending on water flow.
Here are the caveats: (1) All bridge soordinates are approximations and should be checked out in person. The upper float is nice and lots of places along the way where the river is accessible from the road. (2) DO NOT PROCEED BELOW THE LOWER CROSSING, VERY DANGEROUS WATER

[boonerbuck]

Awesome details!!

I was just discussing the float from Nazko to Gilles with another fellow on a forum but he wasnt as detailed as you.

How long of a float would you say that is if we fish plenty?

Thanks a ton!

[Dogbite]

The distance from that Upper bridge that I refered to in the earlier post to the confluence with the Euchiniko is about 22km and it's another 2km up the Euchiniko to the Gilles Crossing bridge. If you're planning lots of fishing, it would be best to break it into 2 days. You could take some camping gear along and overnight along the way. That stretch has plenty of access points along the way. I don't know how the natives are these days, but you don't want to leave a vehicle un-attended too long. It would probably be better to take the Blackwater Rd out rather than the Nazko, that way you can see some of what to expect as you travel from Gilles to the Upper bridge. The ranch that I refered to has a mail box on the top end of a long pole, the sign indicates it's for Airmail. That's where you want to see if you can leave your vehicle. There is plenty of parking at the bridge, but you are at your own peril there. The bridge is a short distance south of the ranch.

[boonerbuck]

OK, great.

I live in the Quesnel area now so I have opportunities to scout it out.

Maybe what I'll do is find a pull out along the road somewhere else. I asked my fishing buddy if he wants to do a over nighter on the float but he's eager to stay in his new canmper and we will only be on small pontoon boats.

We would be happy with launching early morning (8am) and pulling out somewhere at say (6 pmish) with plenty of fishing in between.

We are planning this for the first week of July.

Thanks again.

[Dogbite]

PM sent to you