Pinto Lake Fishing Guide, Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  The Cariboo Regional District end of British Columbia holds Pinto Lake. It sits at 970 metres above sea level. Nearest town is Anahim Lake, 82 km off. After that come Hanceville at 101 km and Bella Coola at 161 km. Alternatives close at hand: Pollywog Lake out at 4.6 km, Rant Lake a shade over 6.3 km, Martin Lake out at 6.7 km, Whitesand Lake a shade over 8.8 km and Patterson Lake out at 9.1 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Pinto Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Cariboo Regional District records list sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, bull trout and Coho salmon among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Pinto Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -9°C to 14°C. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about mid November in an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It holds true on Pinto Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. You can camp 240 m off, which suits an early start. A picnic area is mapped about 220 m away. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Pollywog Lake at 4.6 km is the nearest alternative. For Pinto Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.