Upper Arrow Lake near Nakusp: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  You will find Upper Arrow Lake in Regional District of Central Kootenay, British Columbia. Around the bank it is lake country bush. Nakusp sits 30 km from the bank. The nearest city of size is Kelowna, 131 km away. Also worth knowing: Catherine Lake 12 km away, Margie Lake about 18 km, Grady Lake 18 km away, Fawn Lake about 19 km and Riley Lake 20 km away. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Upper Arrow Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Regional District of Central Kootenay records list rainbow trout, sockeye salmon and mountain whitefish among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Upper Arrow Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 17°C; the cold one sits at -5°C. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Look for the thaw near late March; the fishing lifts straight after. Open water usually runs from late March until about late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Plan around that when you fish Upper Arrow Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Catherine Lake, 12 km away, makes the obvious fallback. For Upper Arrow Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.