Nelmes Lake in Thompson-Nicola Regional District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In British Columbia, Nelmes Lake belongs to Thompson-Nicola Regional District. Height above sea level is 1,417 metres. This is a pocket water of some 2 hectares, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is a small entry by Thompson-Nicola Regional District standards. Westsyde is the closest town at 32 km. Further out sit Brocklehurst (34 km) and Batchelor Hills (36 km). It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Nelmes Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and Coho salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Nelmes Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 14°C and January near -8°C. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Plan any trip to Nelmes Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Truda Lake at 2.9 km is the sensible second choice. For Nelmes Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.