Fishing at Murray Taylor Lake, Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  Murray Taylor Lake sits in Cariboo Regional District, out in British Columbia. The country here is mixed forest. It measures about 93 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. At about 5.2 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. Hanceville at 71 km is the nearest place to stop. Vancouver is the closest city, 279 km away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Murray Taylor Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Cariboo Regional District include sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, bull trout, Coho salmon and longnose sucker. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Murray Taylor Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 13°C, with January the cold end at about -9°C. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. On average, late April opens the water and mid November closes it again. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Expect Murray Taylor Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Brittany Lake, 2.3 km out. Rules at Murray Taylor Lake are worth checking on the day.