Bear Lake Fishing Guide, Stikine Region, British Columbia

• Overview

  Stikine Region, British Columbia, is where Bear Lake sits. The bank is 781 metres above sea level. At roughly 18.68 sq km it ranks among the larger waters in the region. The perimeter is close to 60 km, and wind can be flat in one arm and rough in the next. Few waters listed in Stikine Region are bigger. The closest town, Smithers, is 148 km distant. Telkwa is 156 km away, with Houston at 189 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Bear Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Stikine Region cover Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, Coho salmon, mountain whitefish and Arctic grayling. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Fish Bear Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 13°C and January about -13°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about early November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Bear Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. 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. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Azuklotz Lake is 5.5 km off. Check the position at Bear Lake before loading the car.