Finlay Lake Fishing near Ganges, British Columbia

• Overview

  Finlay Lake is set in Capital Regional District, British Columbia. Tidal water begins 1.2 km from here. The water measures roughly 2 hectares, so nothing here is far from anything else. Most waters listed here for Capital Regional District are larger. Start from Ganges, 12 km down the road. Further out sit Maple Bay (22 km) and Point Roberts (22 km). No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Finlay Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Capital Regional District include Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, Chum salmon and walleye pollock. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of Finlay Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 16°C and January at 4°C. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Finlay Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is somewhere to leave the car, 500 m off. There is a mapped landing stage 1.4 km away. There is a toilet block some 520 m out. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Bullocks Lake is 12 km distant. Confirm access to Finlay Lake locally before you travel.