Wanetta Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Wanetta Lake lies in Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot, in British Columbia. It sits at 57 metres above sea level. At roughly 10 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. About 1.7 km of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. It is a small entry by Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot standards. For supplies, Ucluelet is 19 km out. Tofino follows at 20 km, then Port Alberni at 63 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Wanetta Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot include Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, Chum salmon and Coho salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Wanetta Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 16°C, with January the cold end at about 4°C. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. On Wanetta Lake that shapes the whole year. Cloud cover is worth more than temperature on a bright week.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. 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. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Macallan Lake, 1.1 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Where Wanetta Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.