Fishing at Stewart Lake, Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  Stewart Lake is listed under Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia. It lies 1,310 metres above sea level. The water covers around 1.30 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. You are looking at roughly 7.4 km of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. Supplies mean a trip to Anahim Lake, 40 km off. Further out sit Bella Coola (86 km) and Hanceville (173 km). The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Stewart Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Species logged across Cariboo Regional District include sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, bull trout, Coho salmon and longnose sucker. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Stewart Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical August readings run about 10°C; by January the average is down near -9°C. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. After mid May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Open water usually runs from mid May until about early November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It holds true on Stewart Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Crazy Bear (Ginny) Lake, 3.2 km away, makes the obvious fallback. For Stewart Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.