Burch Lake Fishing near Princeton, British Columbia

• Overview

  Burch Lake falls in Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, part of British Columbia. The bank is 701 metres above sea level. Small at around 2 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. On size it sits at the modest end of our Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen list. Nearest town is Princeton, 7.9 km off. Beyond it, Keremeos at 61 km and Peachland at 61 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Burch Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen include sockeye salmon, rainbow trout, Coho salmon, common carp and Chinook salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Anyone new to Burch Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 16°C in August and bottoms out near -6°C in January. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. After late March the shallows warm and the fish move up. The open-water window runs from around late March to about late November in an average year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Plan around that when you fish Burch Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Wayne Lake is 2.5 km off. Treat Burch Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.