Shovel Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Out in Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, British Columbia, sits Shovel Lake. The land about it is pine and birch. The water covers some 35 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The bank runs about 3.3 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Nearest place of any size is Burns Lake, 39 km away. The nearest city of size is Kamloops, 512 km away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Shovel Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Species logged across Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako include sockeye salmon, Coho salmon, Chinook salmon and pink salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Shovel Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 13°C and January near -11°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. Open water usually runs from late April until about mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Shovel Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Owl Lake at 4.5 km is the nearest alternative. Signs at Shovel Lake carry more weight than any list.