Fishing at Cotton Lake, Stikine Region, British Columbia

• Overview

  Cotton Lake lies within the bounds of Stikine Region, British Columbia. This is spruce and muskeg ground. It measures about 49 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Shoreline comes to about 3.3 km, small enough to learn in a day. Nearest town is Watson Lake, 124 km off. Then Juneau, 285 km, and Petersburg, 316 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Cotton Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Open biodiversity records for Stikine Region list Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and Coho salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Cotton Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -16°C to 12°C. The season is measured in weeks rather than months. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid May. From about mid May to around late October, expect open water on the long-run figures. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. At Cotton Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Pinetree Lake, 8 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm access to Cotton Lake locally before you travel.