Cataract Lake near Ucluelet: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot, Cataract Lake is a British Columbia water. It sits at 93 metres above sea level. This is sizeable water at about 1.44 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. The edge covers about 8.0 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. Size puts it in the front rank of our Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot list. Ucluelet sits 22 km from the bank. Then Port Alberni, 43 km, and Tofino, 50 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Cataract Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. 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. Fish documented in Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot include 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. At Cataract Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 16°C for August and 4°C for January. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. At Cataract Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Beckon Lake sits 3.5 km off and takes the overflow. Treat Cataract Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.