Moose Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Moose Lake is a Northern Rockies Regional Municipality water, British Columbia side. Height above sea level is 821 metres. At some 2.41 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Shoreline length is close to 15 km, and each section fishes a little differently. Nearest place of any size is Fort Nelson, 177 km away. Watson Lake lies 228 km off, Fort St. John another 398 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Moose Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Northern Rockies Regional Municipality include longnose sucker, mountain whitefish, lake whitefish and northern pike. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Moose Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 13°C; the cold one sits at -16°C. The fishing year opens late and shuts early. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about late October. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Time your trip to Moose Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Shallow Lake, 13 km away. For Moose Lake in particular, ask before you travel.