Buckhorn Lake near Prince George: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Buckhorn Lake is one of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George listings for British Columbia. Beyond the shoreline you have rolling bush. The water covers some 66 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. About 3.5 km of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. The town to know is Prince George, 24 km out. Further out sit Quesnel (86 km) and Vanderhoof (103 km). The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Buckhorn Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Regional District of Fraser-Fort George cover Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, mountain whitefish and rainbow trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Anyone new to Buckhorn Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -9°C to 15°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Buckhorn Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is a campsite 380 m from the water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Red Rock Lake is 3.1 km distant. Check the position on Buckhorn Lake before loading the car.