Shesta Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George end of British Columbia holds Shesta Lake. It stands 832 metres above sea level. With some 54 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Roughly 4.0 km of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. Head to Prince George, 36 km away, for anything you forgot. Kamloops is the closest city, 377 km away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Shesta Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Regional District of Fraser-Fort George list Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and mountain whitefish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Shesta Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 14°C, with January the cold end at about -10°C. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about mid November in a typical year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. The season on Shesta Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Overnight stays are possible 620 m away. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Hutda Lake, 2.3 km out. None of that is settled for Shesta Lake in what we hold.