Little Squalicum Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Cowichan Valley Regional District, Little Squalicum Lake is a British Columbia water. The coast is 8 km away. With some 22 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge runs 3.0 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. It lies lower than most water we list in British Columbia. For supplies, Youbou is 50 km out. It is 110 km to Saanich, the nearest city. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Little Squalicum Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, Coho salmon, Chum salmon and rainbow trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Little Squalicum Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 16°C and January about 4°C. A lid forms in a hard winter only. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Time your trip to Little Squalicum Lake by conditions rather than dates. Autumn feeding runs harder as the light drops away.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Sort the permit out before you load the car. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. If the gate is shut, Tsusiat Lake at 3 km is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Little Squalicum Lake if anything is unclear.