Hidden Lake near Coombs: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Look for Hidden Lake in Regional District of Nanaimo, British Columbia. Tidal water begins 17 km from here. It measures about 16 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. About 1.6 km of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. For supplies, Coombs is 14 km out. The nearest city of size is Richmond, 104 km away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Hidden Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Regional District of Nanaimo list rainbow trout, Coho salmon, Chum salmon and Chinook salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Hidden Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 0°C to 14°C. The season stretches long at both ends here. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. The season on Hidden Lake rarely departs from it. Water temperature lags behind air temperature by days, not hours.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mount Arrowsmith Massif Regional Park (RDN) covers this ground, which means extra rules to check. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Fishtail Lake at 0.8 km is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Hidden Lake before loading the car.