Dorothy Lake Fishing Guide, Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  Cariboo Regional District in British Columbia is where Dorothy Lake sits. The ground around here is lake country bush. About 1.62 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. At about 7.6 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. It ranks high for size among our Cariboo Regional District listings. Hanceville lies 100 km from the water. Vancouver sits 225 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Dorothy Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Public occurrence data for Cariboo Regional District names sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, bull trout, Coho salmon and longnose sucker. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Read Dorothy Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 11°C, the coldest about -8°C. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Break-up comes around mid May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice clears near mid May and comes back about early November in a typical year. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Time your trip to Dorothy Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. 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. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. If the gate is shut, Yohetta Lake at 5.9 km is the nearest alternative. For Dorothy Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.