Fishing Blanchard Lake in Stikine Region, British Columbia

• Overview

  Blanchard Lake is listed under Stikine Region, British Columbia. Around the bank it is lake country bush. At 1.29 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. The shoreline runs about 7.0 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Nearest town is Skagway, 89 km off. Haines is 102 km and Whitehorse 116 km. Other water within reach: Kelsall Lake (18 km), Goodwin Lake 31 km away, Pringle Lake (31 km), Duff Lake 31 km away and Kusawak Lake (32 km). There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Blanchard Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Stikine Region, recorded fish include Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and Coho salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Blanchard Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 9°C and January reads -14°C. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Winter locks it down, and late May brings it back. The lid tends to go about late May and return around mid October. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Time your trip to Blanchard Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Kelsall Lake, 18 km out. Signs at Blanchard Lake carry more weight than any list.