Fishing at Little Lake, Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  British Columbia holds Little Lake, in Cariboo Regional District. It sits in pine and birch. It measures about 70 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. A shoreline of some 3.7 km keeps the choices simple. Nearest place of any size is Williams Lake, 60 km away. The nearest city of size is Kamloops, 238 km away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Little Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. 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. County-wide records name sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, bull trout and Coho salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The shape of Little Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -8°C in January up to 15°C in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Break-up comes around early April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The open-water window runs from around early April to about late November in an average year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. The season on Little Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Prior Lake, 3 km away. Rules at Little Lake are worth checking on the day.