Nelson Lake Fishing near Aberdeen, British Columbia

• Overview

  Set in Thompson-Nicola Regional District, Nelson Lake is a British Columbia water. It stands 913 metres above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 2 hectares, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Most waters listed here for Thompson-Nicola Regional District are larger. For a base, Aberdeen sits 4.5 km out. It is 8 km to Kamloops, the nearest city. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Nelson Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Thompson-Nicola Regional District include Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, Coho salmon and rainbow trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Fish Nelson Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 17°C at the top of summer and -7°C at the bottom of winter. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late March. From about late March to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. On Nelson Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. 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. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Galaxy Lake at 0.6 km is the sensible second choice. For Nelson Lake in particular, ask before you travel.