Rainbow Alley

[phearless]

Well I have been gone for a few days to one of my most favourite places on earth.
The north end of Babine Lake including Rainbow Alley, Nilkitkwa Lake and the upper Babine River proper.
The only way in is boat or floatplane.
As many know I guided up there for two seasons and it was like going home.
My wife and I stayed at the world famous Babine Nor-Lakes lodge where I worked at the trout camp for a season.
We had one of the housekeeping cabins, sunset cove it is called.
We dragged the sled up so we could have some fun.
There is something about having your own dock that is just so cool.
To start off, I haven't been up there for about 12 years and things have changed a bit.
The landing we used to embark from was not there anymore. So Joan and I drove back and forth looking for the road to the lake.
After an extra 60 klicks or so I finally decided to check out a road that looked kind of familiar. WRONG!
After getting in a 2 km's or so I decide that this is not the way to go. Too late, no where to turn around and I have gone down a steep hill, no backing up that baby.
So on we go looking for a place to turn around.I spot a good place finally, but something looks odd. I stop and check it out. There has been a jimmy rigged culvert in the road and it is starting to fall apart. Now I know I have to go across, turn around and then cross back over again.
I don't tell my wife. Hold my breath and make it over. We get er turned around and have to head back over. Truck makes it O.K. trailer is coming and all of a sudden the road give out under the boat and the trailer hits the frame as the wheels drop into the hole where the road used to be. Without saying a word I stomp on it before everything comes to halt and bounce the trailer out of the abyss. I have never seen a boat trailer 2 feet off the ground before.
We only lost a 1/4 tank of gas out of the day tank as it landed up side down and bounced a few times. Thank god for 4 wheel drive.
Well we made back up the hill and back onto the road.
At this time I decided that we should check out the new cabins on the south side of the lake and, sigh, ask for directions.
I turn in and lo and behold, the cabins are built on the old landing site.
After conferring with a couple of workers who were staying there and they assured me it was O.K. to leave thetruck and trailer for a few days in the day use area Joan and I head for the water.
As soon as I got out to undo the straps on the boat I remembered the old nickname.
Blackfly Landing.
Got er loaded and backed in in about 7 minutes.
I had just changed the plugs before we left and the old girl didn't want to run very well. Seems to me everytime the auto blend falls over and the sensor thinks there is no oil it takes awhile to get it primed again.
Park the truck and sprint back to the truck where Joan is waiting with the boat idling nicely.
Off we go. 2 1/2 miles to the Lodge.

Stay tuned............

[phearless]

So it was a very nice boat ride over to the lodge.
Stopped at the main dock as we weren't sure where we were staying.
Larry greeted us there and directed me down to sunset cove.
The furthest cabin from the lodge.
Our own dock and everything.
We spent the rest of the evening settling in having dinner.
I also got some rods out and got them strung up in anticipation of the new day.
Joan almost had to pinch me. I just couldn't believe I was finally back there and I didn't have to look after anybody and could fish all the spots I had wanted to try when I was guiding.
Where to first?
Which fly to use.
What will the morning be like.
It is so quiet and peaceful.
18 years seems like 2 weeks right now. It is almost like I never left.
There is something about falling asleep to the sound of the water lapping on the shore.
pictures at 11:00

[phearless]

Well monday was pretty crappy weather wise.
I gave Joan a tour down the lake, we drifted down rainbow alley with storm clouds brewing all the way. But being the adventureous type we carried on past Smokehouse Island and down Nilkitkwa lake. When we got down to the river proper I started to get a little excited. The fishing can be stellar if everything is right. Today it was not. I let us drift down to the weir so Joan could have the full tour. The weather was getting worse and I could tell Joan would rather be in front of the fire back at the cabin.
Sooooo, batten down the hatches and head back up to the shack.
Upper river not bad. Just starting to rain.
Nilkitkwa lake, wind stating to pick up and I was using the islands for cover and to break the waves for me.
Rainbow Allley, nice at the bottom and out into a 2 foot chop on the lake with wind just howling. Perfect for my jet to pick up some air and give us a little engine race every second wave. That really sucks. Pun intended.
Once we got back and into some dry clothes and got a fire going would you believe the sun came out for the rest of the afternoon.
Ah such is life. And I was ready for dinner anyway.
I used the evening for some catching up with old friends and getting my tieing gear ready for the morning.
Oh ya, I did catch fish in Rainbow Alley on epoxy fry.
I got a couple above Hay barn on Nilkitkwa on Pornomids.

[phearless]

Well tuesday dawned quite nicely.
I was up at 6:30 and the lake was like glass.
So what could I do but brew up a pot of coffee and tie flies.
After a couple of cups of joe and half a dozen flies later I woke up Joan, who I let sleep in since we were on vacation.
Since i was in such a good mood I let her make me breakfast while I got all my gear together and mapped out my day.
After a great brekky I got a cup of coffee to go and a lunch that Joan made for me while I wasn't looking and headed for a day of solo fishing.
I was stoked. Here I go to fish all the spots I drifted by all those years ago.
It started to get a little ugly with a cold front that was blowing in so I geared up with my new Loop Opti jacket. Waders and boots so I didn't have to worry about anything mother nature threw at me.

[phearless]

A quick wave to the boys at the lodge on the way by and I am off. Down Babine Lake to Rainbow Alley.
Stopping just below the bridge at Fort Babine, I throw out the hook and rig up my rods. By this time the weather has gotten decidedly nicer.
The sun has come out and just a light breeze.
I decide that I have to go with a " Freddie ". Mostly because it is hard not to use a fly that was named after you.
Now Pierce and his family have come out to do a bit of fishing for the morning as well visit grandma at her cabin across from smokehouse island.
As I lifted the hook to continue my drift the total number of boats had risen to 5. A mix of local cabin owners and lodge guests.
We spent a pleasant morning hop scotching around each other down the alley. As one boat got a fish usually we would just go wide around them and continue on, that is if we were fishing the same side of the river.
Pierce and crew hooked two or three on the way down. I had one come up and look at it. Finally at smokehouse Island I stuck one good and got em' in.
While releasing my prize I couldn't help but notice a good fish busting fry on the way past me. This repeated a couple of times on both sides of the gravel bar at the top of the island. Well what is a guy to do but put on a favourite epoxy fry pattern and see what happens.
I am alone at this time as everyone else has down the usual one or two drifts down the allley and are now heading to The flats or Hay barn at the narrows on Nilkitkwa Lake for some nymph or dry fly fishing in the very slow current in the area.
First pass through for me was denied. Figuring maybe the fish were after larger fry seeing how it was so late in the season, I put a large fry candy on and waited to see a fish moving down with the bait. It wasn't long until I was rewarded. Here comes Mr. Trout chasing lunch. A well placed cast ( if I do say so myself ) two strips and HELLO, we are off to the races. This one was a great jumper and then bulldogged straight down stream. I teased him back up and into the net. A very nice cutt-bow. I had forgot about these very beautiful natural hybrids. This was just great for me as I had wanted to do this while I was guiding.

Time to pull stakes and head to the narrows for some lake fishing myself.

[Rick Baerg]

Ok, so where is the fish porn?

[Fish Finder]

Yeah it's been awhile since I've seen some good fishy pics.

Finder

[phearless]

I am heading out to the fraser/harrison right now and will try and post a few later.
Just remember, I am computer challenged and any fish shots my loving wife took

[phearless]

When my computer crashed I lost all the porn.
You are going to have to use your imagination.

[phearless]

Getting to the narrows I stopped just above haybarn,pretty self explanatory.
I was getting my rod ready to go and had a pornomid hanging off the side.
Bamm,fish on and I hadn't even cast yet.
Picked up a few more,mostly smaller guys. This must be like a teenage drop in area. The Larger fish are elsewhere. Seeing how Pierce and his buddies are over on the flats I decide to drift with the very slight current to the downstream side of the narrows and have a look. The fish working the surface brought a smile to my face. I just motored into position and let the wind drift me back to the fishy area. Casting " Freddies " I hooked a fish everytime I was in the zone for an hour or so. After this tapered off I just did a bit of exploring. Nothing serious as my mind was on the outlet of the lake and the stoneflies I suspected were bringing the fish to the top. I could have trolled a big Zonker or the like down to the outlet but I hightailed it so I could get a couple of hours in before heading back for an excellant dinner I knew my wife Joan was preparing. And dessert with Pierce and Anita at the lodge.
As I rounded the corner to the outlet I cut the engine and reached for my six wgt rigged with the killer fly and..........