Cass Lake near Port Alberni: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Cass Lake falls in Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot, part of British Columbia. Height above sea level is 432 metres. At 8 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is a small entry by Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot standards. Supplies mean a trip to Port Alberni, 26 km off. Further out sit Ucluelet (44 km) and Coombs (49 km). The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Cass Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, Chum salmon and Coho salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Cass Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 14°C and December near 2°C. Seasons here are moderate, and the fishing runs most of the year. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. It holds true on Cass Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Kildonan Lake sits 0.9 km off and takes the overflow. Nothing on Cass Lake should be assumed from this page alone.