Duten Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, Duten Lake is a British Columbia water. Height above sea level is 1,234 metres. Surface area is around 45 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The full circuit measures close to 4.8 km on foot. Head to Vanderhoof, 48 km away, for anything you forgot. The big place round here is Kamloops, 425 km distant. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Duten Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako include sockeye salmon, Coho salmon and Chinook salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Duten Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 12°C for July and -11°C for January. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near early November: that is the shape of an average year. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. That is the shape of the year on Duten Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Gluten Lake is 1.9 km distant. Treat Duten Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.