Botel Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Regional District of Mount Waddington, Botel Lake is a British Columbia water. Elevation runs to 43 metres. Shoreline length is close to 5.1 km, and each section fishes a little differently. It is low-lying compared with other British Columbia water we list. Port Hardy sits 42 km from here and is the nearest stop. Vancouver sits 375 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Botel Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Across Regional District of Mount Waddington, recorded fish include Coho salmon, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and Chum salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Botel Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 14°C, with January the cold end at about 4°C. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Botel Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Leeson Lake, 6.3 km away. The position on Botel Lake is worth confirming on the day.