Willow Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Willow Lake is set in Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, British Columbia. It sits at 874 metres above sea level. At 8 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. For supplies, Hope is 58 km out. For a city, Chilliwack is 73 km off. Near neighbours: Ridley Lake some 1.8 km off, Hozomeen Lake a shade over 2.8 km, Freezeout Lake some 7.8 km off, Ross Lake a shade over 8.5 km and Thunder Lake some 9.9 km off. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Willow Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name sockeye salmon, rainbow trout, Coho salmon and common carp. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Work Willow Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 16°C and January reads -3°C. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. At Willow Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. A camping area sits within 690 m of here. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Ridley Lake is 1.8 km distant. Rules at Willow Lake are worth checking on the day.