Hambone Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Regional District of Fraser-Fort George in British Columbia is where Hambone Lake sits. Height above sea level is 762 metres. Surface area is around 72 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. About 4.5 km of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Some 74 km away sits Mackenzie, the nearest settlement. Prince George lies 91 km off, Fort St. James another 110 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Hambone Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Regional District of Fraser-Fort George include Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, mountain whitefish, rainbow trout and Arctic grayling. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Hambone Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -10°C to 14°C. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Anyone fishing Hambone Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows a campsite some 690 m from the water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Cat Lake sits 2.4 km off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Hambone Lake.