Ford Lake near Kaleden: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In British Columbia, Ford Lake falls inside Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. Mixed forest runs right down to the water. Small at around 3 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. On size it sits at the modest end of our Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen list. Kaleden lies 16 km from the water. Beyond it, Okanagan Falls at 18 km and Keremeos at 19 km. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Ford Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Fish documented in Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen include sockeye salmon, rainbow trout, Coho salmon and common carp. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Ford Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 16°C at the top of summer and -6°C at the bottom of winter. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Ice usually gives way near early April, and forms again about late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Ford Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Yellow Lake at 5.7 km is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Ford Lake.