Walker Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, British Columbia, this is Walker Lake. The surface lies 1,546 metres up. Roughly 22 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The bank runs about 2.1 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. The nearest place of any size is Peachland, 35 km away. Glenrosa is 38 km away, with Smith Creek at 41 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Walker Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen include sockeye salmon, rainbow trout, Coho salmon, common carp and Chinook salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Anyone new to Walker Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -8°C in December up to 12°C in August. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early May. The open-water window runs from around early May to about mid November in an average year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It holds true on Walker Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Reservoir Lake at 1.1 km is the sensible second choice. Ask locally about Walker Lake if anything is unclear.