Rainbow Alley – Trout Fishing
Rainbow fishing in Northern B.C is a very unique experience. The lakes and rivers tend to hold large quantities of fish because of the large amounts of insect life, plus the added nutrients the populations of salmon provide. Trout will follow the salmon into rivers and creeks waiting for the opportunity to begin eating their eggs as they spawn.
Likewise, these trout that typically live in the lake drop into the rivers in the spring to gorge on salmon fry as they migrate back to the sea. Watching this spectacular sight is akin to watching saltwater fish feed on a bait ball. You will see air born trout throwing caution to the wind as they slash there way through thousands of salmon fry. This is a prime time to target these large hungry trout on the fly.
Where Babine Lake joins into Nilkitkwa Lake lies a legendary stretch of water referred to as "Rainbow Alley". Here is where some of the very best fly fishing for large Rainbows can be found, not only in B.C., but anywhere in the world! We fish the fry migration in Rainbow Alley in the springtime.
While it's the fry that starts the Rainbows feeding cycle in early spring, it's the abundant aquatic insects that keeps them there. When they start to feed on Caddis, and Stoneflies, dry fly fishing can be unbelievable.
When the weather clears and sun warms the water in mid-to-late June, you will see the large stoneflies begin to come off. They tend to stir up even the largest trout in the river.
Fish feed voraciously on a smorgasbord of hatching stoneflies – big goldens, little chartreuse greens, and a host of others. The fish average 2-4 pounds and with all the protein pumping through their system, they fight like trout on steroids. The Fry migration happens from May to mid June. This type of fishing is absolutely thrilling and should be experienced at least once during your lifetime.
