Gladstone Lake near Princeton: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  You will find Gladstone Lake in Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, British Columbia. Elevation runs to 993 metres. Small at around 8 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The closest town, Princeton, is 34 km away. Merritt lies 41 km off, Peachland another 64 km. Water in the same corner: Summit Lake within 0.4 km, Green Lake sits 0.9 km out, Taylor Lake within 1 km, Prosser Lake sits 1.3 km out and Gulliford Lake within 2 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Gladstone Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Reported across Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen: sockeye salmon, rainbow trout, Coho salmon, common carp and Chinook salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Gladstone Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 16°C for August and -6°C for January. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early April. The open-water window runs from around early April to about late November in an average year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Anyone fishing Gladstone Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. A carry of 1.3 km from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. There are toilets mapped about 1.3 km away. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Summit Lake at 0.4 km is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Gladstone Lake before loading the car.