Pitoney Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Pitoney Lake lies within the bounds of Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, British Columbia. The water sits 928 metres up. At about 7.8 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. On our Regional District of Fraser-Fort George list it sits near the top for size. The nearest town is Prince George, 57 km away. Quesnel is 78 km away, with Vanderhoof at 137 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Pitoney Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Public occurrence data for Regional District of Fraser-Fort George names Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, mountain whitefish and rainbow trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Pitoney Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 14°C and January reads -9°C. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at mid November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Pitoney Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. You can camp about 810 m away, going by the mapping. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Ispah Lake, 9.4 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Pitoney Lake are worth checking on the day.