Little Tsusiat Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Cowichan Valley Regional District in British Columbia is where Little Tsusiat Lake sits. The bank is 36 metres above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 3 hectares, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is a small entry by Cowichan Valley Regional District standards. Nearest place of any size is Ucluelet, 54 km away. Youbou follows at 56 km, then Port Alberni at 61 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Little Tsusiat Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Cowichan Valley Regional District include Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and Coho salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Little Tsusiat Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 16°C and January reads 4°C. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. The season on Little Tsusiat Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Mapping shows a campsite some 990 m from the water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Tsuquadra Lake, 2.7 km out. Signs at Little Tsusiat Lake carry more weight than any list.