Sunburst Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Sunburst Lake falls in Regional District of East Kootenay, part of British Columbia. The surface lies 2,223 metres up. Small at around 9 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Compared with other British Columbia water on our list, it sits high. The nearest town is Canmore, 28 km away. Then Banff, 30 km, and Radium Hot Springs, 44 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Sunburst Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Regional District of East Kootenay include rainbow trout, mountain whitefish, sockeye salmon and bull trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Sunburst Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -14°C to 8°C. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Winter locks it down, and early June brings it back. Break-up near early June, freeze-up near late October: that is the shape of an average year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. At Sunburst Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. You can camp about 860 m away, going by the mapping. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. For a change of water, Cerulean Lake is 0.6 km distant. The position on Sunburst Lake is worth confirming on the day.