Duffy Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Thompson-Nicola Regional District, British Columbia, is where Duffy Lake sits. It sits at 1,183 metres above sea level. With some 28 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The full circuit measures close to 2.9 km on foot. The nearest town is Logan Lake, 19 km away. Brocklehurst is 22 km and Dufferin 23 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Duffy Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Survey and observation records for Thompson-Nicola Regional District include Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, Coho salmon, rainbow trout and pink salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Duffy Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -7°C and August at about 14°C, the water has a wide range to work through. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Time your trip to Duffy Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is a campsite 410 m from the water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Dairy Lake, 3.5 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Duffy Lake are worth checking on the day.