Fishing Hawkins Lake in Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  Set in Cariboo Regional District, Hawkins Lake is a British Columbia water. Around the bank it is pine and birch. This is sizeable water at about 1.75 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. The shoreline runs about 11 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It is among the larger waters listed here for Cariboo Regional District. 108 Mile Ranch lies 32 km from the water. 100 Mile House is 33 km and Clearwater 66 km. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Hawkins Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Cariboo Regional District, recorded fish include sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, bull trout, Coho salmon and longnose sucker. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. The shape of Hawkins Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 16°C and January near -8°C on the long-run figures. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early April. The lid tends to go about early April and return around late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Hawkins Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Greenlee Lake is 2.8 km distant. What applies at Hawkins Lake may have changed since it was mapped.