Fishing Black Lake in Stikine Region, British Columbia

• Overview

  Within Stikine Region, British Columbia, you have Black Lake. The bank is 1,283 metres above sea level. Surface area is around 56 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The shoreline runs about 7.8 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Nearest place of any size is Smithers, 273 km away. Kamloops is the closest city, 852 km away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Black Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Stikine Region records list Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, Coho salmon, mountain whitefish and Arctic grayling among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Black Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -16°C in January and 11°C in July. Everything is compressed into the middle of the year. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid May. In an average year the thaw lands around mid May and the freeze near late October. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Expect Black Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Kadah Lake sits 20 km off and takes the overflow. Rules at Black Lake are worth checking on the day.