Fishing at Rae Lake, North Coast Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  Set in North Coast Regional District, Rae Lake is a British Columbia water. Country round the bank runs to mixed woodland. At 1.09 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. Shoreline length is close to 7.3 km, and each section fishes a little differently. It lies lower than most water we list in British Columbia. Prince Rupert lies 63 km from the water. It is 687 km to Vancouver, the nearest city. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Rae Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. North Coast Regional District records list pink salmon, Coho salmon, Chum salmon and sockeye salmon among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The shape of Rae Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 13°C, with January the cold end at about -2°C. Mild ends to the year keep the season long. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Rae Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Mitt Lake is 2.7 km off. What applies at Rae Lake may have changed since it was mapped.