Ern Lake near Rutland: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Ern Lake is a Regional District of Central Okanagan water, British Columbia side. Elevation runs to 1,274 metres. Surface area runs to about 8 hectares — small enough to read in one session. 19 km away sits Rutland, the nearest town. Okanagan Mission is 20 km and Ellison 21 km. Not far off: Waterlily Lake 0.6 km off, Knox Creek within 1.6 km, Knox Lake 2.3 km off, Weddell Lake within 2.8 km and Turtle Lake 3.2 km off. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Ern Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Species logged across Regional District of Central Okanagan include sockeye salmon, rainbow trout, common carp and largescale sucker. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Ern Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 14°C, with January the cold end at about -8°C. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. The season between ice runs from about mid April to mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Time your trip to Ern Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Waterlily Lake sits 0.6 km off and takes the overflow. Nothing on Ern Lake should be assumed from this page alone.