Jarvis Lake Fishing near Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia

• Overview

  Set in Cowichan Valley Regional District, British Columbia, this is Jarvis Lake. It lies 652 metres above sea level. At about 15 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The edge runs 2.3 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Nearest town is Shawnigan Lake, 12 km off. Then Mill Bay, 18 km, and Cowichan Bay, 20 km. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Jarvis Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Cowichan Valley Regional District cover Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, Coho salmon, Chum salmon and rainbow trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Jarvis Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 15°C in August and bottoms out near 1°C in December. Conditions shift steadily rather than sharply. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Jarvis Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Horton Lake, 3.4 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Ask locally about Jarvis Lake if anything is unclear.