Fishing at Saul Lake, Thompson-Nicola Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  Saul Lake is a Thompson-Nicola Regional District water, British Columbia side. This is lake country bush ground. With some 33 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Shoreline comes to about 3.3 km, small enough to learn in a day. It is high ground by British Columbia standards. The closest town, Westsyde, is 26 km distant. Further out sit Brocklehurst (28 km) and Batchelor Hills (29 km). The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Saul Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, Coho salmon and rainbow trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Saul Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -8°C to 14°C. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near mid November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. On Saul Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Overnight stays are possible about 210 m out, where camping is mapped. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Strachan Lake, 2.3 km away. The position on Saul Lake is worth confirming on the day.