McGibbney Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  McGibbney Lake is set in Thompson-Nicola Regional District, British Columbia. It lies 1,764 metres above sea level. It runs to roughly 32 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The edge runs 3.2 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. By elevation it is in the upper part of our British Columbia listings. For a base, Clearwater sits 66 km out. Barrière is 91 km and Blind Bay 91 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on McGibbney Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Thompson-Nicola Regional District include Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and Coho salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of McGibbney Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 11°C and January near -10°C on the long-run figures. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid May. The open-water window runs from around mid May to about early November in an average year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It sets the rhythm of the year at McGibbney Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Sunset Lake, 11 km away. The position on McGibbney Lake is worth confirming on the day.