Tootsee Lake Fishing Guide, Stikine Region, British Columbia

• Overview

  Tootsee Lake is one of the Stikine Region waters in British Columbia. The surface lies 1,115 metres up. At some 4.55 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The shoreline runs about 24 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. On our Stikine Region list it sits near the top for size. Watson Lake is the closest place, 103 km off. Anchorage is the closest city, 1066 km away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Tootsee Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Stikine Region, recorded fish include Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, Coho salmon and mountain whitefish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of Tootsee Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -18°C in January to roughly 10°C in July. A short, intense season is the rule this far north. After late May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Expect the water usable from around late May until roughly mid October. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Tootsee Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Plate Lake at 11 km is the sensible second choice. Where Tootsee Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.