Richardson Lake Fishing near Westsyde, British Columbia

• Overview

  Set in Thompson-Nicola Regional District, British Columbia, this is Richardson Lake. It stands 1,778 metres above sea level. With some 11 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The bank runs about 1.3 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. It sits higher than most water we list in British Columbia. Westsyde sits 26 km from the bank. Batchelor Hills is 31 km and Brocklehurst 31 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Richardson Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Thompson-Nicola Regional District include Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, Coho salmon and rainbow trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Work Richardson Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -8°C and August at about 12°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early May. From about early May to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Plan any trip to Richardson Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Wentworth Lake sits 1.4 km off and takes the overflow. The position on Richardson Lake is worth confirming on the day.