Cobalt Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  British Columbia holds Cobalt Lake, in Regional District of East Kootenay. The surface lies 2,326 metres up. The water covers some 21 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The full circuit measures close to 2.2 km on foot. It is high ground by British Columbia standards. Start from Radium Hot Springs, 51 km down the road. Further out sit Invermere (58 km) and Golden (62 km). This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Cobalt Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Public occurrence data for Regional District of East Kootenay names rainbow trout, mountain whitefish, sockeye salmon and bull trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Anyone new to Cobalt Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 9°C and December near -12°C on the long-run figures. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late May. In an average year the thaw lands around late May and the freeze near late October. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Cobalt Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Juniper Lake at 6.5 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Cobalt Lake before loading the car.