Butternut Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Butternut Lake is set in Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, British Columbia. It sits at 728 metres above sea level. At about 34 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Shoreline comes to about 3.3 km, small enough to learn in a day. Nearest place of any size is Mackenzie, 36 km away. Further out sit Fort St. James (97 km) and Chetwynd (120 km). The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Butternut Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Public occurrence data for Regional District of Fraser-Fort George names Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, mountain whitefish and rainbow trout. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Butternut Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -11°C to 15°C. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Plan any trip to Butternut Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A camping area sits within 1.1 km of here. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try Blue Lake, 1.5 km away. Nothing on Butternut Lake should be assumed from this page alone.