McKay Lake near Oyster River: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  You will find McKay Lake in Comox Valley Regional District, British Columbia. The setting is mixed woodland on every side. This is a pocket water of some 6 hectares, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The nearest town is Oyster River, 16 km away. Puntledge lies 21 km off, Courtenay another 23 km. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on McKay Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Comox Valley Regional District include Coho salmon, sockeye salmon and rainbow trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On McKay Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 14°C in August and bottom out at 0°C in December. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. On McKay Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Pyrrhotite Lake, 2.1 km away. Signs at McKay Lake carry more weight than any list.