Tatla Lake Fishing in Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  Tatla Lake stands in Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia. Elevation runs to 909 metres. It covers about 17.61 sq km, which means weather matters as much as tactics. Some 57 km of shoreline means conditions can differ from one end to the other. On our Cariboo Regional District list it sits near the top for size. Anahim Lake lies 81 km from the water. Vancouver is the closest city, 317 km away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Tatla Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Cariboo Regional District records list sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon and bull trout among the fish reported. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Tatla Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -10°C in January and 14°C in July. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about mid November in a typical year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Tatla Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Pollywog Lake at 6.5 km is the sensible second choice. The position on Tatla Lake is worth confirming on the day.