Cornell Lake near Hanceville: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Cariboo Regional District in British Columbia is where Cornell Lake sits. The bank gives way to pine and birch. It covers about 3 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. On size it sits at the modest end of our Cariboo Regional District list. 31 km away sits Hanceville, the nearest town. The big place round here is Kamloops, 218 km distant. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Cornell Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Cariboo Regional District, recorded fish include sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, bull trout and Coho salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Read Cornell Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 14°C in August and bottoms out near -10°C in January. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and mid November closes it again. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Expect Cornell Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. 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. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Drummond Lake is 5.9 km off. Check the position on Cornell Lake before loading the car.