Mackie Lake Fishing in Strathcona Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  Mackie Lake sits in Strathcona Regional District, out in British Columbia. The water sits 166 metres up. With some 10 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. A shoreline of some 1.4 km keeps the choices simple. It is low-lying compared with other British Columbia water we list. Head to Campbell River, 36 km away, for anything you forgot. Oyster River is 54 km and Gold River 62 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Mackie Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Strathcona Regional District cover sockeye salmon, Chum salmon, pink salmon and Coho salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Anyone new to Mackie Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put August near 16°C and January near 2°C. A lid forms in a hard winter only. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Time your trip to Mackie Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. 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. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try McNair Lake, 3.6 km away. Treat access at Mackie Lake as something to verify.