Keynton Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Keynton Lake lies in Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, in British Columbia. The surface lies 379 metres up. The water covers some 55 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The full circuit measures close to 4.4 km on foot. Smithers lies 61 km from the water. It is 710 km to Kamloops, the nearest city. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Keynton Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine records list pink salmon, Chum salmon and Coho salmon among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Keynton Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 15°C and January reads -7°C. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Look for the thaw near early April; the fishing lifts straight after. The season between ice runs from about early April to late November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. On Keynton Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping shows a jetty some 450 m off. A campsite is mapped about 480 m away, which makes an early start easier. A picnic site 570 m off makes this workable with family in tow. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Seeley Lake, 5.6 km away. Ask locally about Keynton Lake if anything is unclear.