O'Keefe Lake in Cariboo Regional District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Cariboo Regional District, O'Keefe Lake is a British Columbia water. It stands 966 metres above sea level. It covers about 5 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is a small entry by Cariboo Regional District standards. The nearest place of any size is Williams Lake, 21 km away. 108 Mile Ranch lies 63 km off, 100 Mile House another 75 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on O'Keefe Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Cariboo Regional District include sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, bull trout and Coho salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On O'Keefe Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -8°C in January to roughly 15°C in July. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. Ice clears near early April and comes back about late November in a typical year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. That is the shape of the year on O'Keefe Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Seven Mile Lake, 2.3 km away. Rules at O'Keefe Lake are worth checking on the day.