Included / Not Included: –
Included: Accommodations and meals at the lodge, guiding, round-trip transfers from Smithers, CAD $250 contribution to the Babine River Foundation, HST, room tax.
Not Included: Airfare, accommodations and meals in Smithers, alcohol, angling and classified waters licenses, tackle, staff and guide gratuities.
Travel Logistics:
Arrival Information: To get to Babine Norlakes Lodge you need to make travel arrangements to Smithers, BC, via Vancouver. All guests need to arrive in Smithers the night before your start date at the lodge and overnight (hotel independently arranged and not included).
Getting to the Lodge: The morning of your arrival to the lodge your hosts will pick you up and transfer you to the Babine River weir. The drive takes about 1.75 hours. You will be met by the guides, who will then take you down river by jet boat to the lodge.
Departure Information: On your departure day plan to spend another night in Smithers (hotel independently arranged and not included.) or depart Smithers on the evening flight.
Documentation Requirements:
You need a valid passport to enter Canada and it must be valid for six months after the last day of your trip.
Currency:
The Canadian dollar is the official currency in BC. However, US dollars are widely used and accepted.
Travel Cash:
As a guideline we recommend that each guest travel with approximately $600 for staff and guide gratuities, alcohol, etc. Note: The lodge does not accept credit cards.
Gratuities:
We recommend guide and staff gratuities of approximately 10% of your package price. Tips are pooled and may be given to the Pierce Clegg, at the end of your stay for distribution to the staff. While checks are accepted, cash is greatly appreciated.
Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are not included. Anglers must purchase their fishing licenses ahead of time Please go to the British Columbia Government website: www.fishing.gov.bc.ca/. You will need to purchase the BC basic angling license, steelhead stamp and classified waters license.
Climate:
While the weather can be mild, always be prepared for cold when visiting the interior reaches of BC in the fall. Rain and snow can occur at almost any time and typical day temperatures range from 30-60 degrees f.
Medical Facilities:
The closest medical facility is in Smithers, approximately 1.5 hours from the lodge by car. Guests have the responsibility to disclose any special medical, physical, or dietary needs to the lodge ahead of time.
Power and Communications:
The lodge has standard US style outlets and the generator remains on until 11:30PM. A headlamp is useful at bedside for late night necessities. A radio phone and satellite phone are available in case of emergencies.
Water:
Filtered water is available in each cabin.
Clothing:
Dress at the lodge is neat but casual. As the climate is extremely changeable and a wide range of temperatures and conditions can be expected, we recommend layering clothes. Anglers should be prepared with thermal underwear, fleece/soft shell jacket, and a rain jacket. Synthetic fabrics are preferred to cotton.
Laundry:
Laundry service is not available. Please pack accordingly.
Beverages/Alcohol:
The lodge does not have a liquor license and cannot sell alcohol. Please bring whatever alcohol you would like for the week. Please pick up your alcohol in Smithers or contact us with an order that we can forward to the lodge expediter. Orders will be paid for at the end of your stay.
Tackle/Equipment List:
Rods: 91/2-10 ft single hand rods for line weights 8-9, with eight weights being ideal. 12-15 ft two-handed spey rods for line weights 7-10.
Reels: Any good reel with or without a disk drag and room for 100-200 yards of 30lb braided Dacron backing.
Lines: Full floaters like the Mastery Steelhead taper, Mastery wet tip type 4 sink tip line, Teeny 200 and 300 grain heads, Rio Versi-tip system (or comparable interchangeable tip line), floating spey lines as well as ones with interchangeable sink tips. The most poplar spey tips will be type 6 or type 8. Custom spey tips made from Rio T14 in 12 and 14 foot lengths are also handy.
Leaders/Tippet: 9-10 ft leaders tapering to 10-15 pounds for floating lines, 4-6 ft leaders tapering from 10-15 pounds for sinking lines. Maxima Ultra Green is the tippet material of choice. Rio makes nice hand tied steelhead leaders from Maxima for floating line fishing.
Flies:
Dry Flies: Bombers (black and natural), Waller Wakers, Morrish Pompaor Skaters, Quigley’s dragon gurgler, Greased Liner, Mudlers, and assorted other foam and deer hair patterns in sizes 4-8.
Traditional Wets: Green Butt Skunk, Freight Train, Signal Light, Purple Peril, Blue Charm, Silver Hilton, and assorted spey flies in sizes 1-6.
Streamers: Egg sucking leech (black and purple), black leech, Morrish Trailer Trash in black/blue, nightshade and sherbet, Morrish Medusas in black and blue, Black and pink and popsicle, starlight leeches, Woolly Buggers, Popsicle, articulated leeches, and assorted marabou and rabbit patterns in black, blue, and purple sizes 1-6. Tube flies are also becoming very popular.
Note: The Babine varies greatly from run to run so having flies of differing weights is very useful.
Waders & Boots: Breathable gore-tex waders are typically fine for September fishing with neoprene becoming more popular throughout October and November. For anglers prone to cold (especially feet), boot foot 4-5 mm waders such as the Simms Boot Foot Extremes are excellent. Due to boat travel, spikes/studded boots are discouraged. Anglers that choose use breathable waders should bring several layers of mid/heavy weight fleece leggings.
Miscellaneous: Sunscreen, lip balm, hand-warmers, bandana, hemostats, tape measure, camera with spare batteries and film, floatant, wading staff, headlamp, towel, and a waterproof bag for day gear.
