Fishing at Weldon Lake, Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia

• Overview

  In British Columbia, Weldon Lake falls inside Cariboo Regional District. The surface lies 1,233 metres up. The water measures roughly 5 hectares, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Cariboo Regional District. For a base, Quesnel sits 68 km out. Williams Lake is 114 km away, with Prince George at 124 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Weldon 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. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Cariboo Regional District records list sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, bull trout, Coho salmon and longnose sucker among the fish reported. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Weldon Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -9°C in January to roughly 11°C in August. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Break-up comes around early May, and the run that follows is short and strong. The open-water window runs from around early May to about early November in an average year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Plan around that when you fish Weldon Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Wendle Lake at 3.2 km is the nearest alternative. Rules at Weldon Lake are worth checking on the day.