Mia Lake Fishing near Gold River, British Columbia

• Overview

  Look for Mia Lake in Strathcona Regional District, British Columbia. Everything around it is mixed woodland. The water covers some 18 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The full circuit measures close to 2.0 km on foot. For supplies, Gold River is 22 km out. Campbell River is 42 km and Oyster River 48 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Mia Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Strathcona Regional District include sockeye salmon, Chum salmon, pink 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 Mia Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 0°C in December and 14°C in August. Some winters cap it and some do not. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. On Mia Lake that shapes the whole year. The first frost of the year slows things for a few days.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Hawarth Lake, 4.9 km out. Check the position at Mia Lake before loading the car.