Hermit Lake in North Coast Regional District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Hermit Lake falls in North Coast Regional District, part of British Columbia. This is open valley ground. At about 11 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The edge runs 1.5 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Most waters listed here for North Coast Regional District are larger. Some 104 km away sits Prince Rupert, the nearest settlement. Beyond it, Metlakatla at 129 km and Ketchikan at 152 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Hermit Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. North Coast Regional District records list pink salmon, Coho salmon and Chum salmon among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The near bank of Hermit Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 1°C in January up to 14°C in August. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. The season on Hermit Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. 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. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Juno Lake, 2 km away. For Hermit Lake in particular, ask before you travel.