Pickle Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Pickle Lake is a Regional District of Fraser-Fort George water, British Columbia side. The setting is pine and birch. Surface area is around 22 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Roughly 3.0 km of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. Prince George sits 46 km from here and is the nearest stop. Beyond it, Vanderhoof at 76 km and Fort St. James at 86 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Pickle Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Reported across Regional District of Fraser-Fort George: Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, mountain whitefish and rainbow trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Pickle Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 15°C and January about -10°C. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The season between ice runs from about mid April to mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. The season on Pickle Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Kingfisher Lake at 9.5 km is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Pickle Lake locally before you travel.