Barney Lake Fishing near Watson Lake, British Columbia

• Overview

  Barney Lake is one of the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality listings for British Columbia. It lies 659 metres above sea level. It measures some 6.02 sq km, and wind has room to build across it. The perimeter runs near 16 km, so plan the walk before you start. On our Northern Rockies Regional Municipality list it sits near the top for size. Watson Lake is the closest town at 71 km. Edmonton is the closest city, 1108 km away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Barney Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Public occurrence data for Northern Rockies Regional Municipality names longnose sucker, mountain whitefish, lake whitefish and northern pike. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Barney Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 15°C at the top of summer and -24°C at the bottom of winter. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early May. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about early November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Plan any trip to Barney Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Esker Lake, 5 km away. What applies at Barney Lake may have changed since it was mapped.