Draining the massive Babine Lake in north-central British Columbia, the Babine River pours 118 km through cedar-spruce forest and steep lava canyons before joining the Skeena. It is celebrated for producing some of the largest wild steelhead on Earth—ocean-bright fish frequently topping 20 lb. A Classified-Waters licence quota, fly-fishing-only rules, and the river’s remote setting inside Babine River Corridor Provincial Park keep angling pressure low and fish quality exceptional.
**Upper Reach (Babine Lake weir → Rainbow Alley)** – broad runs holding resident rainbows and sockeye in late summer. **Canyon Reach (Rainbow Alley → Fort Babine/Outlet Creek)** – boulder gardens and Class III raft-only rapids where the first powerhouse steelhead stage. **Lower Wilderness (Outlet Creek → Skeena confluence)** – 80 km of emerald pools, sweeping tail-outs and famous camps such as Owl, Grizzly and Bear runs—prime September–October steelhead water accessible only by jet-boat or helicopter.
Fall-run steelhead averaging 8–12 kg headline the fishery. September also sees Chinook over 15 kg and the province’s largest sockeye migration. Resident rainbow and bull trout patrol pocket-water year-round, while mountain whitefish, cutthroat and Dolly Varden char round out the community.
Steelhead push up from the Skeena on the first August freshet, resting in boulder slots until cooler nights spur upstream migrations. Early fish attack bright intruders; by mid-September clearer water rewards sparse purple/black patterns. Resident trout gorge on stonefly nymphs, salmon fry and, from late August onward, a buffet of sockeye eggs drifting out of spawning beds.
Two-hand Spey rods (13–14 ft, 8- or 9-wt) matched with 560–600 gr Skagit heads and 10 ft T-14 tips turn over 4-inch intruders. A 9 ft 8-wt single-hand rod with a floating line excels for greased-line presentations at dawn. Leaders: 20 lb Maxima for sink-tips, 12–15 lb mono for floating lines. BC regulations allow only single barbless hooks and one hook per line—leave trailing stinger hooks behind.
“Owl Run” at km 46 offers a picture-book swing lane that holds chrome fish all season. “Grizzly Drop” below Silver Hilton camp is famed for head-hunting steelhead at first light. “Bear Canyon Tail-out” produces violent takes on dry flies when flows ease in October. Up-river walk-in anglers favour “Rainbow Alley,” a 3 km stretch just below Babine Lake known for large lake-run rainbows and early steelhead.
There are no public roads to most of the Babine. Lodges and DIY groups boat 25 km across Babine Lake from Smithers Landing to Babine River Marine Park, then run jet-boats downstream. A rugged logging route from Smithers reaches Fort Babine, but 4×4, spare tires and a VHF radio are essential. Helicopter charters from Smithers or Terrace provide the only practical access to lower-river canyon camps.
Flies: 4-inch blue/black intruder, pink squidro, purple General Practitioner, natural deer-hair waker. Lines: 600 gr Skagit with T-14 tips, 525 gr Scandi for October dry-lining. Polarized copper lenses enhance contrast in jade water. Studded rubber or felt boots with a wading staff are mandatory on slick lava ledges; pack a satellite communicator—no cell coverage exists once you leave Lake Babine.
The Babine’s steelhead are part of the Skeena’s largest wild stock. A strict rod-day quota, fly-fishing-only rule and single-barbless-hook regulation protect the run. Lodges fund a resistivity fish counter at Babine canyon to track escapement, while the Babine Watershed Monitoring Trust sponsors temperature loggers and fine-sediment studies. Anglers can help by keeping fish wet, minimizing photos and supporting the Babine River Foundation.
Grizzlies feed heavily on spawning salmon—carry bear spray, store food in bear-proof barrels and fish in groups. The lower canyon holds technical Class III drops; hire experienced jet-boat pilots or qualified raft guides. Weather shifts abruptly—pack dry bags, survival blankets and a spare prop. In October snow can close lake access; always file a float plan with a Smithers contact.
**Oscar’s Fly & Tackle** (Smithers) stocks Babine intruders, Spey lines and satellite-phone rentals. **Michael & Young Fly Shop** (Vancouver) ships gear and Provincial Classified Waters Licences. **Skeena Waters Fly Shop** (Terrace) carries backup tips, bear spray and river intel.
Support the **Babine River Foundation**, **SkeenaWild Conservation Trust** and the **Steelhead Society of BC**. Donations fund fish-counter operations, riparian restoration and advocacy against proposals that threaten the Skeena/Babine watershed.
The Babine River from Babine Lake outlet downstream to the Skeena is **Classified Waters – Class II** from 1 September – 31 October. Anglers require a Basic BC Licence plus a daily or annual Classified Waters Licence; daily quota is 20 resident and 8 non-resident rod-days below Niagara Creek. All steelhead, bull trout and rainbow trout must be released; single barbless hooks, fly-fishing-only, and no bait or scent are permitted. Salmon retention is subject to in-season notices; lake sturgeon are closed year-round. Review the BC 2025–2027 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis for current quotas, closures and coordinates.