Fishing Rainbow Lake in Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  Rainbow Lake sits in Cariboo Regional District, out in British Columbia. What surrounds it is lake country bush. The water covers some 73 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. There is roughly 6.6 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Nearest place of any size is Quesnel, 75 km away. For a city, Kamloops is 344 km off. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Rainbow Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Survey and observation records for Cariboo Regional District include 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. The shape of Rainbow Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 14°C and January at -11°C. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It holds true on Rainbow Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Stump Lake, 6.9 km away. Where Rainbow Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.