Fishing

Babine Lake is the largest natural lake in British Columbia; 110 miles long. Framed by low, rolling, tree covered hills, and surrounded by distant snowcapped mountain peaks, the lake is the ideal location to troll, bait or fly fish.

This legendary lake contains large Rainbows (12+ lbs.), Cutthroat (2-1/2 lbs.) and Lake Char that are capable of reaching 35 lbs. Fishing is good all year, but the best time of the year for catching larger fish is from late June to early July. At first glance, this long lake may seem just too big to fish, however fishing, especially fly fishing is fabulous in certain areas. The reason for such great fishing action is simple: Sockeye salmon. By the tens of thousands, these sockeye come home in the fall to spawn in the creeks that feed into Babine Lake. During the spring months of April through early June, small Sockeye fry leave their creeks and gather in large schools off the creek mouths. It is during this time that they become easy prey for the large Rainbow trout. Young sockeye will remain in the lake for 2 years, so about the same time the young fry move into the lake from the creeks, 2 year old smolts start to make their way to the north end of the lake, eventually entering Babine River and thus beginning their voyage to the Pacific Ocean via the Babine and Skeena Rivers.

Where Babine Lake joins into Nilkitkwa Lake is a legendary stretch of water referred to as "Rainbow Alley". Here is where some of the very best fly fishing for large Rainbow can be found, not only in B.C., but anywhere in the world! Also a third component of the Babine Rainbow's diet comes into play. While it's the fry that starts the Rainbow feeding cycle in early spring, and the 2 year old smolts that the trout follow throughout the summer months to Rainbow Alley and Nilkitkwa Lake, it's the abundant aquatic insects, which includes such notables as mayflies, caddis flies and two varieties of Stoneflies which attracts the Rainbows attention on into the fall. When they start to feed on these fluttering Stoneflies, dry fly fishing can be un-describable. This type of fishing is absolutely thrilling and should be experienced at least once during your lifetime.

Be sure to check your current BC Fishing regulations before fishing in a new lake.

Fly-in fishing to Nakinlierak Lake, No Tell-Um Lake, Elmore Lake and Canyon Lake can be arranged with Skeena Air Charters at Topley Landing (604) 697-2380.