Murtle Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Murtle Lake is a Regional District of Fraser-Fort George water, in British Columbia. What surrounds it is lake country bush. At roughly 7 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is a small entry by Regional District of Fraser-Fort George standards. The nearest town is Prince George, 36 km away. Vanderhoof lies 59 km off, Fort St. James another 81 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Murtle Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Regional District of Fraser-Fort George: Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, mountain whitefish, rainbow trout and Arctic grayling. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Murtle Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 15°C and January at -10°C. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. The season on Murtle Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Spence Lake, 2.5 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Treat Murtle Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.