Butte Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Butte Lake stands in Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, British Columbia. Height above sea level is 1,288 metres. At some 2.64 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The perimeter runs near 9.1 km, so plan the walk before you start. Watson Lake sits 148 km from the bank. The big place round here is Anchorage, 1087 km distant. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Butte Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine include pink salmon, Chum salmon and Coho salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Butte Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 11°C, while January sits near -16°C. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. Count the season from break-up, usually late May. Averages place the thaw at late May and the freeze at late October. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. On Butte Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Tuya Lake, 6.8 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm access to Butte Lake locally before you travel.