Fishing at Boot Lake, Peace River Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  Boot Lake is a Peace River Regional District water, British Columbia side. The surface lies 1,005 metres up. With some 24 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge runs 2.4 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. 35 km away sits Tumbler Ridge, the nearest town. Further out sit Dawson Creek (65 km) and Beaverlodge (65 km). One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Boot Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Peace River Regional District records list mountain whitefish, longnose sucker and largescale sucker among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Boot Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 14°C on average, January about -10°C. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Boot Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Overnight stays are possible 270 m away. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. If the gate is shut, Lockhorn Lake at 4.8 km is the nearest alternative. For Boot Lake in particular, ask before you travel.