Molly Lake in Central Coast Regional District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Central Coast Regional District, Molly Lake is a British Columbia water. The land about it is rolling bush. Roughly 19 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. A shoreline of some 2.6 km keeps the choices simple. Most waters listed here for Central Coast Regional District are larger. Start from Anahim Lake, 50 km down the road. Bella Coola is 55 km away, with Bella Bella at 149 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Molly Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name Chum salmon, pink salmon and Coho salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Treat Molly Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 9°C, while January sits near -8°C. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Break-up comes around late May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice clears near late May and comes back about early November in a typical year. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. The season on Molly Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. You can camp 510 m off, which suits an early start. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Janet Lake sits 3.3 km off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Molly Lake before loading the car.