Courtney Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  This water sits in Thompson-Nicola Regional District, British Columbia. The country here is lake country bush. Around 71 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. There is roughly 4.4 km of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. On our Thompson-Nicola Regional District list it sits near the top for size. Some 18 km away sits Merritt, the nearest settlement. Kamloops is the closest city, 76 km away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Courtney Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Open biodiversity records for Thompson-Nicola Regional District list Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, Coho salmon, rainbow trout and pink salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Courtney Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -7°C in January up to 16°C in August. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early April. Ice clears near early April and comes back about late November in a typical year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Plan any trip to Courtney Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A pier or jetty stands 340 m away, which helps on a crowded bank. Mapping shows a picnic spot within 440 m. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Corbett Lake, 2.4 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Courtney Lake are worth checking on the day.