Rock Island Lake near Clearwater: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Thompson-Nicola Regional District end of British Columbia holds Rock Island Lake. The country round it is rolling bush from end to end. With some 65 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The margin runs to about 8.1 km in total. It ranks high for size among our Thompson-Nicola Regional District listings. The nearest town is Clearwater, 24 km away. Barrière is 42 km away, with 100 Mile House at 67 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Rock Island Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Thompson-Nicola Regional District records list Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, Coho salmon and rainbow trout among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Rock Island Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -9°C and August at about 14°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. The season on Rock Island Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Should this one be busy, Crater Lake is 1.9 km off. For Rock Island Lake in particular, ask before you travel.