Ketcham Lake Fishing near Princeton, British Columbia

• Overview

  This water sits in Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, British Columbia. This is rolling bush country. The water measures roughly 3 hectares, so nothing here is far from anything else. Start from Princeton, 33 km down the road. It is 79 km to Kelowna, the nearest city. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Ketcham Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen include sockeye salmon, rainbow trout, Coho salmon, common carp and Chinook salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Ketcham Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 15°C for August and -7°C for December. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near late November in autumn. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Expect Ketcham Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this 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. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Deadman Lake is 2.7 km distant. The position on Ketcham Lake is worth confirming on the day.