Loop Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Loop Lake is a Regional District of Fraser-Fort George water, British Columbia side. It sits at 773 metres above sea level. Surface area is around 36 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The edge runs 4.7 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. 50 km away sits Prince George, the nearest town. Vanderhoof follows at 62 km, then Fort St. James at 73 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Loop Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, mountain whitefish and rainbow trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. At Loop Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 15°C in July and bottom out at -10°C in January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Open water usually runs from mid April until about mid November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Loop Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Wedge Lake is 1.9 km distant. Treat Loop Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.