Gates Lake in Squamish-Lillooet Regional District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Within Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, British Columbia, you have Gates Lake. It lies 483 metres above sea level. At about 67 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The whole outline is near 4.3 km, and most of it is walkable. It ranks high for size among our Squamish-Lillooet Regional District listings. Mount Currie sits 19 km from here and is the nearest stop. The nearest city of size is Coquitlam, 133 km away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Gates Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. 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. County-wide records name Coho salmon, sockeye salmon and rainbow trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Read Gates Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical August readings run about 14°C; by January the average is down near -6°C. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. On average, late April opens the water and mid November closes it again. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. It holds true on Gates Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping shows parking within 260 m. Fishing from a pier is possible 280 m away. This sits inside Gates Lake Recreation Site, so read the reserve notices first. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Birkenhead Lake is 8.1 km off. Check the current arrangement for Gates Lake.