Fishing at McQuillan Lake, Comox Valley Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  McQuillan Lake is set in Comox Valley Regional District, British Columbia. The sea is 31 km distant. About 7 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. By elevation it is in the upper part of our British Columbia listings. The closest town, Cumberland, is 26 km distant. Beyond it, Puntledge at 27 km and Courtenay at 30 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on McQuillan Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Comox Valley Regional District records list Coho salmon, sockeye salmon and rainbow trout among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Fish McQuillan Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 12°C, with December the cold end at about -2°C. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. On McQuillan Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Duncan Lake, 1.9 km away. Treat McQuillan Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.