Mountain Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Mountain Lake lies in Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, British Columbia. It sits in pine and birch country. With some 13 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The full circuit measures close to 1.5 km on foot. Our Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako list holds plenty of bigger water. Vanderhoof lies 60 km from the water. Then Fort St. James, 106 km, and Prince George, 112 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Mountain Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako include sockeye salmon, Coho salmon, Chinook salmon and pink salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Mountain Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 14°C and January at -12°C. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly mid November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Mountain Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Johny Lake is 1.3 km distant. The position on Mountain Lake is worth confirming on the day.