Sockeye on the Babine
Sockeye open up on the Babine River and Babine Lake on Sunday August 1. Limit is 2 fish per day with 4 fish possession. Tackle restrictions on the river are fly fishing only, meaning a fly rod and reel and single, barbless hooks. In the lake you can use barbed hooks.
The Babine River can mean crowded fishing conditions and casting skills in tight, cramped, quarters is definitely an asset. As fly anglers we like to give each other enough room to cast but on the Babine we test each others patience. Crowding is the norm in the more popular spots, so get used to it.
A few unwritten rules are used to keep your fellow anglers friendly. Allow about a rod and a half length between up and downstream anglers. Unless you know how to cast in tight quarters find a spot that allows you more room. Ethically you should not barge in between two anglers. New anglers should start from the downstream end and work up as anglers leave or quit.
Casts should be made slightly upstream, follow the line with a high rod tip, trying for the tightest line between rod tip and fly. Raise or lower rod tip to control the depth and follow the fly and lower rod tip to the end of the drift. Making a long cast with a huge belly in the line will only catch a cooler full of frustration. If you aren't catching watch someone who is.
If you are right handed and fishing river "right" you can make a very effective cast in tight quarters by using a spey cast. At the end of your drift pick rod up and sweep upstream, now swing rod downstream raising to forward cast position and make your roll cast. This cast allows you to make an effective cast in a tight situations with no backcast room.
On river "left", just use the tension of the current to roll line upstream, you can then roll cast to your desired spot. Backcast room can be at a premium on the river and learning these casts can save you a lot of grief and flies.
Long casts are not needed, 30 feet is plenty and will catch 90% of the fish. The high rod tight line allows you to feel the take. Resist the temptation to set the hook on what are obviously foul hooked fish. Foul hooked fish must be released by law. Peer pressure assures that anglers play by the rules. If a fish is foul hooked it should be broken off immediately. Many anglers will needlessly try to pull a foul hook upstream and in the process screw up fellow anglers. Most downstream anglers will offer to unhook your foul hook quickly.
Anglers hooking into the big springs should break them off as you are not allowed to keep Springs in this area. Anglers who have caught their two fish should allow another angler to fish if there are waiting anglers.
No fish should be kept on shore, this attracts bears. Park regulations require you to take your fish immediately up to your locked vehicle and coolers must be stored inside. No lunches, little kids, dogs on the river.
This is Grizzly country and there are a lot of them on the Babine. When the bears come out on the river anglers should leave and get up on the bridge and allow the Grizzlies to do what Grizzlies do. One year we had some visiting anglers hand feeding a young Grizzly. The Ultimate stupid and often a death warrant for the bear. If you lose a couple minutes of fishing time by watching a beautiful Grizzly consider yourself truly lucky.
No camping is allowed at the river, it gives the bears a chance to feed undisturbed in the early morning and late evening. Camping is available about 3 km, away at the campsite sign.
Use common sense, I know at times it isn't so common anymore, but consider your fellow angler, be bear aware, and make sure that you or other anglers don't do anything to compromise the Babine experience. Remember you need a Salmon Stamp with your licence to keep Sockeye.
