Fishing at Fantail Lake, Stikine Region, British Columbia

• Overview

  Fantail Lake is listed under Stikine Region, British Columbia. The land about it is mixed forest. This is big water, about 11.07 sq km, and in a wind it behaves like a small sea. With about 30 km of shoreline, local advice saves a lot of walking. On our Stikine Region list it sits near the top for size. The nearest town is Skagway, 49 km away. Further out sit Haines (68 km) and Whitehorse (127 km). The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Fantail Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Stikine Region, recorded fish include Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, Coho salmon, mountain whitefish and Arctic grayling. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Fantail Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -15°C to 12°C. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Count the season from break-up, usually early May. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly early November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Plan around that when you fish Fantail Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Brownlee Lake, 3.1 km away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on Fantail Lake is worth confirming on the day.