Iris Lake near Jasper: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Look for Iris Lake in Jasper, Alberta. Height above sea level is 1,329 metres. At roughly 5 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. 9.4 km away sits Jasper, the nearest town. It is 285 km to Kamloops, the nearest city. Nearby alternatives: 0.8 km out stands Virl Lake, Dorothy Lake at about 0.9 km, 1.4 km out stands Minnow Lake, Rathlin Lake at about 2.1 km and 3.3 km out stands Saturday Night Lake. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Iris Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Open biodiversity records for Jasper list rainbow trout, longnose sucker, brook trout and bull trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Iris Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 12°C and January near -10°C. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early May. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again about early November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Iris Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. A camping area sits within 1.3 km of here. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Virl Lake, 0.8 km away. Signs at Iris Lake carry more weight than any list.