Fishing Moat Lake in Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  Moat Lake sits within Squamish-Lillooet Regional District in British Columbia. The bank gives way to mixed forest. At roughly 3 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. The nearest place of any size is Mount Currie, 18 km away. Coquitlam sits 103 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Moat Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Squamish-Lillooet Regional District cover Coho salmon, sockeye salmon, rainbow trout and Chinook salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Moat Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 14°C and January near -5°C on the long-run figures. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Moat Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Lillooet Lake, 6.8 km away. Rules at Moat Lake are worth checking on the day.