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

• Overview

  Butterfly Lake lies within the bounds of Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, British Columbia. Elevation runs to 753 metres. Surface area runs to about 6 hectares — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. Prince George is the closest place, 33 km off. Beyond it, Vanderhoof at 55 km and Fort St. James at 82 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Butterfly Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Across Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, recorded fish include Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, mountain whitefish and rainbow trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Butterfly Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -10°C in January to roughly 15°C in July. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around mid November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. On Butterfly Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. 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 a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Bow Lake at 0.5 km is the nearest alternative. Where Butterfly Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.