Marie Lake near Fort St. James: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Marie Lake belongs to Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, British Columbia. The country here is lake country bush. It measures some 1.18 sq km, and wind has room to build across it. The outline measures near 8.3 km, so local knowledge counts. Fort St. James lies 20 km from the water. Kamloops sits 495 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Marie Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako: sockeye salmon, Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, pink salmon and Chum salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Work Marie Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 13°C, with January the cold end at about -11°C. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Marie Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Nanna Lake at 3.3 km is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Marie Lake locally before you travel.