The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Fished the Babine Sept. 14-20. The river was very high, but dropping. The Skeena drainage had a 200-year winter. Very few fish early in the stay, but fishing improved during the week. Hooked ten [of eleven grabs], landing five. This was at Norlakes, the uppermost of the three camps/lodges on the river. Some did well on skaters. Swinging a green-butt skunk or similar fly on dry line worked well also [two of my fish]. Many of us however, went to the dark side with sink tips and Blue Moons, Intruders, etc. Rocket Pocket is gone. That whole bank lost ten feet or so to erosion. Some places lost up to 30 feet. Many pools changed. Strom's Pool has a big conifer laying in it. Can't be fished until next season. Fewer salmon also, which meant fewer Grizzlies.

A report on the Sustut for a few days before my week was that very few fish were there. Also, the Bulkley was very slow, I heard.
Perhaps the high water has just delayed the runs. Or, perhaps the very heavy netting for Sockeyes near the mouth of the Skeena took out a significant portion of the run. Time will tell.

Did see a great bird along the river: Parasitic Jeager!

I will be back next year. Dave Wallace from the board is there starting tomorrow.

Bjorns'Dad [BjornDad1 on the new Board]

Great report...always have wanted to go up there. I've heard a lot of good stories about the water up that way!

-Greg

I have retuned from Norlakes... I will provide a complete report in the next day or so... but i did post a pic of a steelie on the board today. Bjorn's dad, Hooked it at the top of "Corner" landed nearly a half mile downstream at Island... Darren commented he has only seen 1 other fish fight that hard in 8 years at Norlakes. Full report later ... I am still trying to figure out how to get multiple decent pics in a single post Dave aka Flyfishz

Hey Dave. I just joined the board and saw your post here. I am heading up to Pierce's next week to do the final week. So of course I am very interested to hear any details on your trip.

I actually fished this June at the trout camp and the water level was incredibly high and the weather very cold. It seemed like things were about a month behind what they normally would have been at that time of year. Although usually, the dry fly action is hot, we had little luck on the surface and instead primarily fished with fry patterns, which should have ended a few weeks before we got there. However, when we caught fish, they would spit out tons of fry, so no reason for them to waste their time chasing bugs.

I am tying up a bunch of intruders, voodoos, and articulated bunny leaches for this upcoming trip. So any suggestions on flies or information you or anyone else think helpful would be appreciated.

Thanks, Ron

I gotta tell ya... I came very close to going back up to Norlakes for the last week. I am going for a second week next year for sure.

Intruders and voodoos should do the trick nicely. damn I wish I was there right now... Tie big eggs on big hooks also.

I understand the run just kept coming after I left so I bet your fishing is great!