Patch Lake near Okanagan Falls: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Patch Lake sits within Regional District of Kootenay-Boundary in British Columbia. Height above sea level is 770 metres. A pocket of water where every cast reaches cover. It is a small entry by Regional District of Kootenay-Boundary standards. Head to Okanagan Falls, 35 km away, for anything you forgot. Beyond it, Penticton at 36 km and Kaleden at 37 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Patch Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Public occurrence data for Regional District of Kootenay-Boundary names rainbow trout, mountain whitefish and brook trout. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Patch Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 16°C and January reads -7°C. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Break-up comes around early April, and the run that follows is short and strong. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early April and starts locking again about late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. It holds true on Patch Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. There are toilets 1.3 km off. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Saunier Lake at 3.7 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Patch Lake before loading the car.