Teigen Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Teigen Lake is one of the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine waters in British Columbia. It sits at 992 metres above sea level. At some 2.14 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. You are looking at roughly 8.3 km of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. Supplies mean a trip to Wrangell, 138 km off. Petersburg is 170 km away, with Ketchikan at 181 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Teigen Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine include pink salmon, Chum salmon, Coho salmon, sockeye salmon and Chinook salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of Teigen Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -9°C and July at about 10°C, the water has a wide range to work through. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Once it clears, about mid May, the fishing comes on quickly. Break-up near mid May, freeze-up near early November: that is the shape of an average year. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It sets the rhythm of the year at Teigen Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. 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. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Hodkin Lake at 6 km is the nearest alternative. The position on Teigen Lake is worth confirming on the day.