Thunderwater Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Thunderwater Lake is a Regional District of East Kootenay water, British Columbia side. The bank is 2,140 metres above sea level. It runs to roughly 44 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The full circuit measures close to 3.1 km on foot. Few waters listed in Regional District of East Kootenay are bigger. 36 km away sits Radium Hot Springs, the nearest town. The big place round here is Calgary, 180 km distant. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Thunderwater Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Regional District of East Kootenay records list rainbow trout, mountain whitefish, sockeye salmon and bull trout among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Take Thunderwater Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 9°C in August and bottom out at -12°C in January. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Look for the thaw near early June; the fishing lifts straight after. Open water usually runs from early June until about late October. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It sets the rhythm of the year at Thunderwater Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Whirlpool Lake is 1.1 km off. Treat access at Thunderwater Lake as something to verify.