Chichonajilh Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In British Columbia, Chichonajilh Lake belongs to Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako. It stands 956 metres above sea level. Around 46 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. With about 4.9 km of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Fort St. James sits 69 km from here and is the nearest stop. Mackenzie is 77 km away, with Vanderhoof at 118 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Chichonajilh Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. County-wide records name sockeye salmon, Coho salmon, Chinook salmon and pink salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Chichonajilh Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 13°C for July and -12°C for January. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. The open-water window runs from around late April to about early November in an average year. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Chichonajilh Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. For a change of water, Gidegingla Lake is 4.3 km distant. Check the position on Chichonajilh Lake before loading the car.