Roly Lake Fishing near Coldstream, British Columbia

• Overview

  Set in Regional District of North Okanagan, British Columbia, this is Roly Lake. The setting is mixed forest. At 5 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Most waters listed here for Regional District of North Okanagan are larger. The nearest town is Coldstream, 12 km away. Kelowna sits 36 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Roly Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name Coho salmon, sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, rainbow trout and brook trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Roly Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 14°C and January near -8°C. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about mid November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. On Roly Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. A campsite lies 1.2 km away for anyone staying over. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Doreen Lake, 1.3 km away. Check the position at Roly Lake before loading the car.