Returning the tiny fish to the river, we felt sympathy for its plight. Through cover of darkness, tens of thousands of salmon smolts would descend past bird and fish predators to the ocean, as they had for centuries. Subjected to whims of nature, only a small percentage would return as adults. We sped down Nilkitkwa Lake to a short, fast water section of the upper Babine. After only one mile a weir blocks downstream travel.
Strong currents make anchoring and fishing tricky, but with risk comes reward.
Some of the Babine River's largest rainbow trout swim in this swift stretch. After drifting a hundred feet, we spotted several active trout feeding just off a steep bank. We anchored and cast out both sides of the boat a few dozen times, then coasted down 20 feet or so and repeated the process. We drifted close, then cast a Stimulator and big Babine Special into rise rings. With a strong tug, a gleaming rainbow broke the surface.