Fishing Yankee Lake in Regional District of East Kootenay, British Columbia

• Overview

  Yankee Lake sits within Regional District of East Kootenay in British Columbia. It stands 997 metres above sea level. Small at around 8 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Kimberley sits 37 km from the bank. It is 166 km to Calgary, the nearest city. Within a short run: Canuck Lake within 0.7 km, 3.3 km out stands Premier Lake, Rockbluff Lake within 3.5 km, 10 km out stands Lazy Lake and Johnson Lake within 11 km. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Yankee Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Regional District of East Kootenay: rainbow trout, mountain whitefish, sockeye salmon and bull trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Take Yankee Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -10°C and August at about 15°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around mid November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Time your trip to Yankee Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Canuck Lake, 0.7 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the current arrangement for Yankee Lake.