Squamish Lake Fishing near Quesnel, British Columbia

• Overview

  In British Columbia, Squamish Lake falls inside Cariboo Regional District. This is lake country bush country. The water covers some 17 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Around 2.1 km of margin, front to back. Quesnel lies 32 km from the water. For a city, Kamloops is 320 km off. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Squamish Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Public occurrence data for Cariboo Regional District names 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. The near bank of Squamish Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put August near 14°C and January near -11°C. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. That is the shape of the year on Squamish Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Puntchesakut Lake is 7.2 km off. Confirm access to Squamish Lake locally before you travel.