I know you can’t feel it yet, but I’m starting to sense that fall is close. It’s not that there’s a change in the temperature yet, or snow settling on the surrounding peaks, although that often does occur by the end of August, it’s more inside my brain where a mental clock is saying, “Archery elk season is almost here and steelhead follow after that.” Is it ever too early to think about steelhead?
Steelhead. It is about time to get your lines and tips set up so you’re ready when late September rolls around. And then October? Ah, the best month. Don’t know where you’ll be but I’m planning on some sort of trip to British Columbia, maybe even a jaunt up to the Kispiox country that I’ve always wanted to visit, but have never gotten around to seeing.
If I do that I’ll definitely take a piece of gear that I discovered in June on a pike foray in the Yukon—Simms’ Bulkley Jacket ($279). I talked to Simms prior to the trip and requested this jacket because June in the Yukon can be cold, and I knew we’d be making long runs from one end of Wellesley Lake to the other. Running in an open skiff on big water is a setup for getting cold. But I didn’t get cold—not once. The Bulkley jacket offers the perfect combination of Gore-Tex waterproofing with Thermaloft insulation so that
Elements beware. The Bulkley jacket is here to fight you.
you stay warm and dry but you don’t feel like the Pillsbury Dough Boy because you either have on too many layers or your jacket is too puffy. For steelhead (and Atlantic salmon when I hit the Gaspe next month) I’ll just wear a base layer of longsleeve underwear, top that with an intermediate layer, such as Simms’ brand new Montana TechWool Zip Top ($179.95), which uses local ranch and farm-sourced wool fibers for a moisture-dumping, heat-holding companion, and then cover when necessary with the Bulkley jacket. I don’t plan on being cold.
A couple more notes on this jacket: the Bulkley has a great hood that you can cinch tight so that you’ll stay warm even in windy conditions or when running in a boat; there is a fleece linging around the collar so when you cinch the hood up it’s comfortable and warm; it’s hand warming pockets are comfortable and actually do keep your hands warm; the jacket comes with a solid zipper, which is covered by a velcro-sealed zipper flap—this is key I learned on the Yukon trip when a competitor’s jacket zipper self-destructed and there was no secondary way to keep the jacket sealed (a friend, who was wearing it, was pissed off and wet); in the event of a zipper failure on the Bulkley, you could just velcro the Bulkley’s flap and be good to go. Just call it a built in backup plan.
Here’s the specs on this jacket: Simms’ Bulkley jacket combines a GORE-TEX® 2-layer shell, with the innovative all-weather insulation of PrimaLoft One technology. River-inspired features include corrosion-fighting Nylon YKK® zippers and sliders, super-sized chest and fleece lined hand-warmer pockets, and the water-resistant convenience of easy-cinch cuffs.
THE Features: GORE-TEX® 2-layer Performance Shell fabric with PrimaLoft® ONE insulation – 100g in body/60g in sleeves & hood for warmth without bulk
PrimaLoft® ONE insulation offers the best warmth-to-weight ratio available while compressible and soft
Nylon YKK® zippers & zipper sliders minimize corrosion from saltwater use
Generous chest pockets and fleece-lined hand warmer pockets
Comfortable, water-resistant, easy cinch cuffs
Longer length with adjustable shock cord hem offers flexibility for all wading & boat situations
Approximate weight: 28 oz
A killer fall and winter steelhead jacket. Waterproof and warm. That’s what you want while hucking spey for Northwest steel.