Hansard Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George entry here is Hansard Lake, in British Columbia. The setting is rolling bush. At 3.83 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. At about 13 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. It is among the larger waters listed here for Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. Prince George lies 53 km from the water. Kamloops is the closest city, 402 km away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Hansard Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, recorded fish include Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and mountain whitefish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Hansard Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 16°C, the coldest about -9°C. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That shapes the year on Hansard Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Aleza Lake is 3.4 km distant. What applies at Hansard Lake may have changed since it was mapped.