Dot Lake Fishing in Thompson-Nicola Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  Dot Lake sits within Thompson-Nicola Regional District in British Columbia. The bank is 1,424 metres above sea level. Roughly 39 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. About 3.9 km of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. It sits higher than most water we list in British Columbia. The closest town, Logan Lake, is 15 km distant. The nearest city of size is Kamloops, 52 km away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Dot Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records held for Thompson-Nicola Regional District cover Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, Coho salmon and rainbow trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Dot Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -7°C to 14°C. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about mid November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. On Dot Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A jetty or pier is mapped about 720 m from here. Overnight stays are possible 300 m away. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Chataway Lake is 1.7 km distant. Check the position on Dot Lake before loading the car.