Choate Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Choate Lake lies within the bounds of Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia. This is rolling bush country. About 6 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. On size it sits at the modest end of our Cariboo Regional District list. Nearest place of any size is Williams Lake, 43 km away. Quesnel is 76 km and 108 Mile Ranch 83 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Choate Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Cariboo Regional District include sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, bull trout and Coho salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Treat Choate Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 15°C, the coldest about -7°C. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early April. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. That is the shape of the year on Choate Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Dorsey Lake, 1.9 km out. Treat Choate Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.