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

• Overview

  In British Columbia, Byers Lake falls inside Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. Elevation runs to 756 metres. Roughly 17 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The bank runs about 4.5 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. The closest town, Prince George, is 34 km away. Vanderhoof lies 54 km off, Fort St. James another 81 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Byers Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Regional District of Fraser-Fort George include Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and mountain whitefish. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Fish Byers Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -10°C in January up to 15°C in July. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. On Byers Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Eskers Provincial Park runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. For a change of water, Butterfly Lake is 1 km distant. For Byers Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.