Ant Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Ant Lake is set in Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, British Columbia. The bank gives way to mixed forest. Roughly 20 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Shoreline comes to about 2.7 km, small enough to learn in a day. Mackenzie is the closest place, 59 km off. Then Fort St. James, 77 km, and Vanderhoof, 102 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Ant Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Regional District of Fraser-Fort George include Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and mountain whitefish. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Ant Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 14°C and January reads -11°C. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It holds true on Ant Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Whisper Lake sits 3.4 km off and takes the overflow. What applies at Ant Lake may have changed since it was mapped.