Fishing at Andys Lake, Thompson-Nicola Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  Andys Lake lies in Thompson-Nicola Regional District, British Columbia. The country here is mixed forest. Surface area is around 13 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. About 2.1 km of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. It is high ground by British Columbia standards. The closest town, Merritt, is 42 km away. Beyond it, Princeton at 44 km and Hope at 55 km. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Andys Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Open biodiversity records for Thompson-Nicola Regional District list Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and Coho salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Andys Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 13°C and December about -7°C. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly mid November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. On Andys Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. A campsite is mapped about 100 m away, which makes an early start easier. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Brook Lake, 1 km out. Nothing on Andys Lake should be assumed from this page alone.