Sucker Lake Fishing near Fort St. James, British Columbia

• Overview

  In British Columbia, Sucker Lake falls inside Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. Elevation runs to 860 metres. At about 71 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The shoreline runs about 5.9 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. The nearest town is Fort St. James, 61 km away. Mackenzie follows at 71 km, then Vanderhoof at 88 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Sucker Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Reported across Regional District of Fraser-Fort George: Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, mountain whitefish and rainbow trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Take Sucker Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 14°C; by January the average is down near -11°C. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Look for the thaw near late April; the fishing lifts straight after. The water is typically free of ice between late April and mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Expect Sucker Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. The water borders Carp Lake Provincial Park, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Dace Lake at 1.5 km is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Sucker Lake before loading the car.