Blue Lake Fishing near Williams Lake, British Columbia

• Overview

  The Cariboo Regional District entry here is Blue Lake, in British Columbia. The surface lies 804 metres up. Around 40 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. The edge runs 3.8 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Nearest place of any size is Williams Lake, 22 km away. Then Hanceville, 72 km, and Quesnel, 74 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Blue Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Cariboo Regional District list sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, bull trout, Coho salmon and longnose sucker. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Blue Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 16°C in July and bottom out at -8°C in January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. From about early April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Expect Blue Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A campsite is mapped about 880 m away, which makes an early start easier. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Should this one be busy, Egg Lake is 1.3 km off. What applies at Blue Lake may have changed since it was mapped.