Puntledge Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Comox Valley Regional District, British Columbia, this is Puntledge Lake. The sea is 32 km distant. Surface area runs to about 5 hectares — small enough to read in one session. Nearest place of any size is Cumberland, 28 km away. Vancouver is the closest city, 164 km away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Puntledge Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Fish documented in Comox Valley Regional District include Coho salmon, sockeye salmon and rainbow trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. The shape of Puntledge Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical August readings run about 14°C; by December the average is down near 0°C. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. On Puntledge Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Esther Lake, 2.9 km away. The position on Puntledge Lake is worth confirming on the day.