3000 Miles of Fishing...			...around Burns Lake
			by Alan A Sandercott

Surrounding the community of Burns Lake, the Lakes District comprises some 1,200,000 hectares and boasts over 1000 lakes with 3000 miles of fishing. Situated on a height of land, allowing waters to flow both to the Skeena and Fraser River systems, the area is interlaced with a combination of highways and logging roads that offer access to countless large and small lakes. All of the larger lakes are within easy driving

View of Burns Lake photo by Ann Sandercott.

distance with campsites to handle boat launching and recreational vehicles. Both Burns Lake and Decker Lake, with their warm waters, provide good recreation as well as trout fishing. Char (Lake Trout) may be taken early in the year. Thirty-two kilometers north of Burns Lake lies Babine Lake, British Columbia’s largest natural lake. Babine provides excellent fishing opportunities with rainbows averaging 3 to 4 pounds, while 10 pounders abound in the lake. Char will average 4 to 5 pounds and larger. There are also several species of Pacific salmon from the Skeena River that work their way through this lake to their spawning channels. Both the Fulton River and Pinkut Creek artificial spawning beds are popular tourist attractions.

Tchesinkut Lake photo courtesy of Beaver Point Resort

Babine Lake Resort and Birch Lane Cabin Resort are just two of the excellent fishing resorts on Babine Lake. South of Burns Lake along Highway 35 you will find Tchesinkut Lake at kilometer 16. Pronounced "Te-sing-kut" - a native name referring to the depth and clearness of the water - this lake is reputed to have some of the purest water of any lake in the province, making it a favourite recreational area.