Sweden Lake Fishing near Prince George, British Columbia

• Overview

  British Columbia holds Sweden Lake, in Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. The setting is pine and birch. At about 34 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The edge runs 2.2 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Prince George lies 27 km from the water. The big place round here is Kamloops, 395 km distant. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Sweden Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, recorded fish include 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. Sweden Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 15°C and January about -10°C. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It holds true on Sweden Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. 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. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. If the gate is shut, Square Lake at 7.4 km is the nearest alternative. Check the current arrangement for Sweden Lake.