Fishing at Ashlar Lake, Strathcona Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  This water sits in Strathcona Regional District, British Columbia. The sea is 1.2 km distant. It covers about 10 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Campbell River lies 30 km from the water. After that come Oyster River at 48 km and Courtenay at 70 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Ashlar Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Strathcona Regional District cover sockeye salmon, Chum salmon and pink salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Fish Ashlar Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 16°C in August and bottom out at 2°C in January. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. On Ashlar Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Chonat Lake is 2.1 km distant. Check the position on Ashlar Lake before loading the car.