Larchwood Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Larchwood Lake lies within the bounds of Regional District of East Kootenay, British Columbia. Lake country bush runs right down to the water. Roughly 15 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The full circuit measures close to 2.9 km on foot. Head to Kimberley, 34 km away, for anything you forgot. The big place round here is Calgary, 172 km distant. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Larchwood Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Regional District of East Kootenay: rainbow trout, mountain whitefish, sockeye salmon, bull trout and longnose sucker. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Read Larchwood Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 17°C, while January sits near -9°C. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early April and starts locking again about late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Time your trip to Larchwood Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A camping area sits within 330 m of here. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Johnson Lake is 2.4 km off. Rules at Larchwood Lake are worth checking on the day.