First Lake Fishing Guide, Strathcona Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  First Lake sits within Strathcona Regional District in British Columbia. What surrounds it is open valley. About 9 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Most waters listed here for Strathcona Regional District are larger. Gold River at 36 km is the nearest place to stop. Campbell River follows at 39 km, then Oyster River at 51 km. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on First Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Strathcona Regional District list sockeye salmon, Chum salmon, pink salmon, Coho salmon and Chinook salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Fish First Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 14°C in August and bottom out at 0°C in December. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Anyone fishing First Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. 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. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Second Lake, 0.5 km away. Check the position at First Lake before loading the car.