Fishing Qualcho Lake in Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  Qualcho Lake sits in Cariboo Regional District, out in British Columbia. Height above sea level is 896 metres. This is sizeable water at about 7.56 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. Some 21 km of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. It ranks high for size among our Cariboo Regional District listings. Nearest place of any size is Anahim Lake, 73 km away. Bella Coola lies 94 km off, Burns Lake another 134 km. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Qualcho Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Cariboo Regional District: sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon and bull trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Qualcho Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 13°C and January at -9°C. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly mid November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. That is the shape of the year on Qualcho Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Teddy Lake at 2.7 km is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Qualcho Lake.