Bell Lake Fishing Guide, Stikine Region, British Columbia

• Overview

  Out in Stikine Region, British Columbia, sits Bell Lake. It lies 929 metres above sea level. At 2.71 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. Shoreline length is close to 20 km, and each section fishes a little differently. Skagway lies 132 km from the water. For a city, Anchorage is 954 km off. Within easy reach: Paddy Lake after 4.2 km, Ruth Lake (6.8 km), Llangorse Lake after 8.7 km, Katina Lake (10 km) and Tawina Lake after 16 km. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Bell Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Across Stikine Region, recorded fish include Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and Coho salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Bell Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -15°C to 11°C. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid May. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid May in spring and again near early November in autumn. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. On Bell Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Paddy Lake at 4.2 km is the nearest alternative. Treat access at Bell Lake as something to verify.