Fatox Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Fatox Lake is listed under Thompson-Nicola Regional District, British Columbia. It lies 1,136 metres above sea level. At about 17 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. There is roughly 2.3 km of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Start from Barrière, 47 km down the road. For a city, Kamloops is 59 km off. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Fatox Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Public occurrence data for Thompson-Nicola Regional District names Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, Coho salmon, rainbow trout and pink salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Fatox Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 14°C and January about -8°C. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and mid November closes it again. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. The season on Fatox Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Duck Lake, 0.8 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position on Fatox Lake before loading the car.