Fishing Atan Lake in Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  Look for Atan Lake in Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia. It stands 994 metres above sea level. Roughly 29 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Around 2.8 km of margin, front to back. For a base, Quesnel sits 78 km out. Beyond it, Prince George at 121 km and Williams Lake at 128 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Atan Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Open biodiversity records for Cariboo Regional District list sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, bull trout, Coho salmon and longnose sucker. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Atan Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 14°C, with January the cold end at about -8°C. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It holds true on Atan Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is camping recorded roughly 150 m off. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Chisel Lake at 2.1 km is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Atan Lake if anything is unclear.