North Caribou Lake near Nakusp: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  North Caribou Lake sits within Regional District of Central Kootenay in British Columbia. Elevation runs to 1,010 metres. Surface area runs to about 9 hectares — small enough to read in one session. You are 16 km from Nakusp. For a city, Kelowna is 111 km off. Within a short drive: South Caribou Lake within 0.9 km, 6.2 km away is Larson Lake, Mosquito Lake within 10 km, 10 km away is Cameron Lake and Little Mosquito Lake within 13 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on North Caribou Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Regional District of Central Kootenay include rainbow trout, sockeye salmon and mountain whitefish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At North Caribou Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 15°C, with January the cold end at about -6°C. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. That is the shape of the year on North Caribou Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Overnight stays are possible about 900 m out, where camping is mapped. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. South Caribou Lake sits 0.9 km off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for North Caribou Lake in what we hold.