Bidwell Lakes Fishing in Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  Cariboo Regional District in British Columbia is where Bidwell Lakes sits. Mixed forest runs right down to the water. The water covers some 31 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The bank runs about 3.7 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. The closest town, Hanceville, is 68 km away. Kamloops sits 295 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Bidwell Lakes

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Species logged across Cariboo Regional District include sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, bull trout and Coho salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Bidwell Lakes gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -11°C and July at about 13°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. The lid tends to go about late April and return around mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Bidwell Lakes runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Rawhide Lake, 7.6 km out. Signs at Bidwell Lakes carry more weight than any list.