Fishing Skelton Lake in Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  Skelton Lake lies in Cariboo Regional District, in British Columbia. The water sits 759 metres up. It runs to roughly 77 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The edge covers about 5.2 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. You are 47 km from Williams Lake. Kamloops is the closest city, 244 km away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Skelton Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Cariboo Regional District include sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon and bull trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Anyone new to Skelton Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 15°C and January at -8°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. Ice clears near early April and comes back about late November in a typical year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Plan any trip to Skelton Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Claude Lake, 1.4 km away, makes the obvious fallback. For Skelton Lake in particular, ask before you travel.