Leech Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Leech Lake lies in Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, British Columbia. The surface lies 1,216 metres up. Roughly 36 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. With about 3.8 km of edge, you can try several depths in one session. For a base, Burns Lake sits 49 km out. Fort St. James follows at 51 km, then Vanderhoof at 75 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Leech Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako include sockeye salmon, Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, pink salmon and Chum salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of Leech Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -12°C and July at about 12°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Count the season from break-up, usually early May. On average, early May opens the water and early November closes it again. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Anyone fishing Leech Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Tadpole Lake is 1.3 km off. Rules at Leech Lake are worth checking on the day.