Tabor Lake, close to Prince George, is a great all-around location. It is close to town and amenities, making it perfect for a quick trip after work or on weekends. Flies and lures both work well.
Kevin Grose from OK Tire likes fishing on Tabor Lake. “Tabor Lake has good fishing all year round, and easy access,” he says.
“Tabor is a great fishing lake,” says Dan Moffat from Northern Hardware. Both flies and lures are good choices, and with so many hatches, anglers can feel free to experiment.
“Try Hotshots, or Flatfish, or any attracting gang troll,” he suggests.
As for flies, “there are 40 different hatches on Tabor Lake,” meaning that there is always something going on. Fly fishers will
easily find something that works. “The fishing on Tabor Lake is always reliable,” he adds.
If you want to stick with a standard, leeches are good early-season patterns, Moffat advises.
There are ample shorefishing opportunities on Tabor Lake, making it an ideal place for kids
to learn. There are no particular restrictions on the lake so children will have fun learning here.
Babine Lake is home to a special strain of rainbow trout that grows much larger than common rainbow trout species. This strain of trout is
part of a rare ecotype called the Sutherland population.
These rainbow trout feed on kokanee and salmon fry, and grow quite large. There is limited information regarding the size of Babine Lake’s Sutherland population, and because it is a rare ecotype, anglers are encouraged to practise catch-andrelease when going after these
big rainbow trout to encourage the longterm sustainability of this species. Barbless hooks are also encouraged to improve survival.
Fisheries biologists and area stakeholders continue their research programs on Babine Lake to determine if the stock is sustainable at present levels. They look at the habitat and conduct surveys on tributaries as well.
Caution:
Babine Lake is known for producing trophy char, rainbow trout and salmon.
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The rainbow trout fishery offers great options for every type of angler. Fly fishers can float the section of water between Babine Lake and Nilkitkwa Lake, known as Rainbow Alley.
Fishing in Rainbow Alley can be some of the best in the province. Fly patterns that can work well are
There are three major hatches to watch for—caddisflies, stoneflies and mayflies. When imitating these flies, it is important to know your insect’s patterns. For example, when emerging, damselflies will swim straight up and then to the edge, while dragonflies will swim to the edge before heading up.
The salmon population contributes to the great trout fishing in this part of the lake. Donaldson says that during June or thereabouts, the trout from both Babine and Nilkitkwa Lakes migrate through the river to gorge themselves on sockeye fry.
Please be aware that several different
Bednesti Lake is a popular recreation lake, close enough to amenities yet far enough for a relaxing retreat. The trout are known for being aggressive fighters. They tend to prefer larger prey such as dragonfly nymphs, snails, mollusks and non-salmonid fish. They feed in the shallows and tend to be more active during the day than other strains of rainbow trout.
When targeting these trout, try a spoon in a green and nickel finish such as a Krocodile.
A flasher combined with a spoon can be highly effective, as it acts as an attractor.
Something to keep in mind hen fishing with spoons is to ensure that you are retrieving at the correct speed. Too fast, and your spoon will spin.
Please consult the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations for Bednesti Lake before heading out. A fishing closure is in effect between November 1 and April 30, and all lake trout caught must be released all year. Also no set lines are allowed.
The lake contains several species of sport fish, including Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Lake Whitefish, Lake Trout, and Bull Trout.
One survey indicated that Northern Pike also exist, but extensive surveys by fisheries staff have oncluded that it does not inhabit this lake.
Bowron Lake is one of several lakes that make up Bowron Lake Provincial Park, known around the world for its first class canoeing circuit. Although less known for the fishing, the lake has many species of sportfish and supports a
reasonable fishery. Bob Monk, from Willis Harper Home Hardware in Quesnel, says Bowron Lake can be a great fishery for bull trout—a catch and release fishery.
“The bull trout target the sockeye and kokanee fry coming down streams,” says
Monk. He suggests anglers try anything flashy with a quick retrieve.
He also suggests targeting the mayfly hatch in late June and early July.
Wedding Bands and Willow Leaves are popular lures, especially with a worm. Monk likes to use a 52 Buick for fly fishing. The
vehicle. Campsites are available on a first-come, firstserved basis, and there is a boat launch. If you are planning to canoe the circuit, reservations are required, and you can visit B.C. Parks website, at www.bcparks.ca, for further information.
Cluculz Lake is known more for its aquatic recreational activities and less for its fishing opportunities. However,
Cluculz Lake has been stocked with rainbow trout and is worth a venture out.
Dragonfly nymph patterns are good to try for fly fishers. Gear fishers may want to try a chrome and fire spoon.
Please note that in 2008 Cluculz Lake has been made a catch and release only fishery for lake trout.
Consult the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations for more information.
Caution: Do not use this map for navigational purposes. This map may not reflect current conditions. Uncharted hazards may exist. Base Map ©Province of British Columbia.
Cobb Lake is a popular spot about 70 km west of Prince George. The lake supports a healthy population of stocked rainbow and brook trout. In 2018 Coob was stocked with 20,000 brook trout.
Cobb Lake is a really good spot year round. In the fall, there is little pressure on the lake, and the trout are fattening up for winter. As the weather cools down after the heat of summer, the fish are beginning to be more active again.
In the spring and summer, there are plenty of choices. The lake is always good for small spinners. Anglers can also try Chironomid patterns and Flatfish.
Nechako White Sturgeon
Recovery initiative
The District of Vanderhoof is home to the Nechako White Sturgeon Hatchery, which is part of the initiative to recover healthy sturgeon populations in the Nechako River. The hatchery offers tours and
well worth the visit. You can see the sturgeon in their pools, learn about how they grow, and watch them up close and personal. The Recovery Initiative also offers school tours, as well as community projects designed to protect and enhance sturgeon habitat and recovery efforts. Stop by the hatchery, and visit their website at nechakowhitesturgeon. org.
On the north shore of Cobb Lake, this site is usually accessible in winter for
note there is currently a voluntary restriction on power watercraft of 15Kw (9.9 HP).
Caution:
Eena Lake is an ideal location, both for its beauty and its high catch rates. There are several shoals, making it ideal trout habitat.
Families and beginners will find this a great place to start. A couple of deeper areas at the north and south ends are perfect for angling in the heat of the summer when the trout go deep. Brian Smith, author of Fly Fishing BC’s Interior and
Seasons of a Fly Fisher, says that the west side of the island is a great place to start at any time.
The hatches on Eena Lake are a gold mine for fly fishers.
Chironomids, mayflies, damselflies, caddisflies and dragonflies are all available to the trout.
The mayfly hatch in May and June is phenomenal.
Chironomids, shrimp and leeches are all
staple patterns here. Early and late in the season, try fishing the shallows and out from the shoreline debris.
Anglers Atlas member, KyleK, had this to say about Eena Lake, “Been slaying the bows on this lake all fall trolling around in my man powered boat using various flies mostly reds, and blacks. They seem to love the Caddis Emergers, Red & Black Leeches & Buggers &
stonefly nymphs. Try some of these flies and your bound to catch some fish at this lake. I’ve even caught some nice ones from the dock as well. Fish On!”
Kamloops Lake is a large, deep, river-fed lake that supports a healthy population of large trout. The sagebrush, prickly pear cactus and desert terrain are a beautifully rugged backdrop to the fresh, cool water of Kamloops Lake.
Angler’s Atlas member FishntheLoops fishes Kamloops Lake from shore, often in winter and early spring when other local lakes have frozen over. “In the spring, just as the Interior lakes are beginning to ice off, Kamloops Lake is an awesome place to catch rainbows from shore casting
spoons,” he suggests. “It is so productive, it’s not uncommon to see many groups of people stretched out along the shoreline.” He notes that spinners such as a Five of Diamonds are popular.
FishntheLoops
says that bull trout inhabit Kamloops Lake as well. They range in size from 1 to 6 pounds, and “because they’re wild, t h e y usually fight harder than stocked trout. Like a small steelhead!” He adds: “It always amazes me how such a large lake can be so productive from shore, but the timing is key.
I’ve fished it in the summer as well, but with limited success, as the fish move out to deeper, cooler water.”
FishntheLoops has produced a great video about burbot fishing at night, and says that he often catches bull trout during these times as well. “It can be cold out there at night, but we really enjoy the peace and quiet and moonlight on the water all while waiting for the exciting moment of a bell to start ringing to let us know we got a bite.
“If I was trolling Kamloops Lake I’d make sure to have a
fish finder, and if it was spring I’d follow the shoreline. I would imagine pulling bucktails would be productive. Check out FishntheLoops’ video at https://m. youtube.com/ watch?v=nAEJ924vcY
Justten 10 minutes northeast of Quesnel, Ten Mile Lake is well known for its provincial park, but also offers good fishing opportunities.
The lake has been stocked every year for several decades. In 2019, 50,000 rainbow were released, as well as over 25,000 kokanee.
Ten Mile Lake is a great fishery for both rainbow trout and kokanee. The best time to fish this lake is in the spring. During the summer months, the fishing can be slow, so anglers may want to try going out in early morning or evening during this time of the season.
A popular technique for catching kokanee in Ten Mile Lake
is trolling a small pink flasher with a spoon, or a gangtroll using a snubber. Snubbers tend to be really helpful when targetting kokanee, because hooks without snubbers can do considerable damage to their soft mouths.
Fly fishing on Ten Mile Lake is also great. Early in the season, try chironomid and
Caution:
nymph patterns. During summer and into fall, try switching to a 52 Buick or leech pattern for best results.
Located at the confluence of the Fraser and Quesnel Rivers, Quesnel is a city steeped in outdoor adventure. Fishing and hunting is a way of life for many in Quesnel and with easy access to several lakes and wilderness areas, this is no surprise.
Ness Lake, located near Prince George, is wellknown for its recreational opportunities and the Ness Lake Regional Park. However, it is less known for its great fishing opportunities.
Rainbow trout up to 6 pounds have been reported in Ness Lake, and brook trout and kokanee are plentiful as well. Over the past two decades, Ness Lake has been stocked each year with rainbow trout
stocking program has included kokanee in their releases for Ness Lake. In 2018, 31,500 kokanee, and 20,000 rainbow trout were released.
Brook trout will prefer smaller spinners such as a #0 Mepps or Blue Fox. Panther Martin lures may work well, and leech patterns are good flies to try.
Kokanee, as well, will tend to go after smaller lures, though the presentation will need to differ. Kokanee get scared easily and
a predator, and they will flee. Keep your speed super slow for kokanee.
Jim’s Jig for early spring, or for late fall and winter, if you’re going after trout.
Visit the lake page for Ness Lake over at anglersatlas.com for more tips and tricks!
Regulations for Ness Lake limit kokanee to 10 daily.
Norman Lake is southwest of Prince George, and is part of the Chilako River Watershed. Dahl Lake Provincial Park borders its sandy eastern shore, where there is public access to this lake. Norman Lake is also a popular cottage retreat for many local residents. Several species of fish inhabit these waters, and the lake supports a moderate fishery. The lake has been stocked with rainbow trout in the past but not since 2002. Stocking details
are provided to the right.
From Prince George, head west along Highway 16 for approximately 40km, where you will meet Norman Lake Road on the left side of the highway (south). Follow this road for roughly 20 km, which will bring you to the eastern shore of Norman Lake.
Dahl Lake Provincial Park borders the eastern shore of Norman Lake, and provides access to the lake. It is a dayuse park, with a sandy beach and picnic tables. No facilities are available at the park, but there is a convenience store on the Norman Lake Road, near the entrance to the park.
Nestled on the western edge of the Rocky Mountains, Purden Lake is deep and known for its clear water.
Since 1979 the lake has been stocked annually with rainbow trout. The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC released 10,000 rainbow trout into Purden Lake in 2018 as well as 83,600 kokanee. Burbot are also abundant in the lake.
An Angler’s Atlas member was out on Purden Lake during the summer and offers this report:
Last Sunday was the first time I could get out and try the Lucky Bugs and although I wanted
to do a more scientific analysis and fish one rod with the Lucky Bug and one with my usual Purden Lake fare, Ryan and Hunter had other ideas and wanted to both try the new lures!
The Weather was hot, the water calm and I wasn’t expecting to catch much, but it was a good day out with my friend and the two kids.
I put one rod in with a black and white Bingo Bug trolling 100 feet behind the boat and was just setting up the second and Ryan had our first fish on! A nice stock rainbow which was well hooked and gave a good fight.
Not five minutes later Hunter hit a fish, using a red and white Bingo, but lost it, but made up for it a little while later with one we managed to land.
We continued to fish and were rewarded with three more fish, which we decided to release, since the two we caught were for Ryan and Hunters supper.
I must admit I’m always skeptical when new lures come on the market, offering “life like” action and new technology, but these lures do seem to entice fish to hit, and I was especially impressed since the conditions weren’t looking good for some sport.
Brian Smith, fly fisher and author, says that Purden Lake has “fair to good fishing May to August using mayflies, caddis and dragonfly nymphs.
Fish the shoals at the east end with these patterns and anglers will have good success.”
225 Hectares (556 Acres) 7.9 metres (26 feet) 595 metres (1,952 feet)
DragonLake offers “the best fly-fishing in the area,” boasts Keith Evans of Robert’s Roost RV and Campground. Stocked full of rainbow trout, the weeds and shoals allow these fish
to thrive and grow to very large sizes.
Evans notes that the largest rainbow he has pulled out of the lake has been 11 pounds, and for an interior lake that is nothing to snuff at.
Evans suggests fishing the various bays along the shore. As well, he recommends heading out to Black Bird Island for some of the deepest areas. He adds that he’s had the best luck using Leeches, however
Chironomids are a great choice also.
Dragon lake is located about 8 minutes out of town, meaning when the fishing or weather is not great, you have lots of other options for things to do. The City of Quesnel has all the amenities and activities you may need. Be sure to check out one of the many parks or hiking trails around the city.
Caution: Do not use this map for navigational purposes. This map may not reflect current conditions. Uncharted hazards may exist. Base Map ©Province of British Columbia.
Vivian Lake is a small jewel just north of Prince George. Home to brook and rainbow trout, the lake is a popular destination for fishing, boating and swimming. The fish are big and the lake is perfect for some tried and true fly patterns and lures.
Brian Ellison, former owner of Vivian Lake Resort, noted
“Try a Ford Fender or a Wedding Ring in black or dark green,” said Ellison. He added that trolling is best in the area around the boat dock, right around the island, and in a shallower area just past the dock.
Fly fishers can try black leeches, chironomids and Doc Spratleys, again in dark colours. Ellison
said that bloodworms are also good patterns for Vivian Lake. Head out about 200 feet and cast from there, or drift down around the far side across from the resort, around the bay area.
Ice fishers are in for a treat. This popular ice fishing destination can be rewarding for patient anglers. It is helpful to remember that if you are drilling
Arlene Ellison says that there are often anglers on the lake as soon as the ice is thick enough. Use the public access.
Every year Vivian Lake is stocked with approx. 8,000 brook and 7,000 rainbow trout, and the lake is a family fishing waterbody.
Vivian Lake Resort operates a public campground.
Please respect the private property on Vivian Lake.
Come
Stuart Lake is a large lake found in British Columbia’s Central Interior. It measures over 65 km in length and more than 10 km across in some places, offering some of British Columbia’s best freshwater fishing.
Stuart Lake supports a good fishery for kokanee and large rainbow trout up to 5 pounds. Three popular lures for catching big trout are the Coyote by Luhr-Jensen, Gibbs FST, and Williams Wobbler.
From Prince George head west along Highway 16 past Vanderhoof until you meet Highway 27. Turn right (north) and follow until you reach the town of Fort St. James.
There are several access points to Stuart Lake, but only three locations are profiled here. All have boat launches and are on the southern shore of Stuart Lake.
Before crossing the Stuart River into Fort St. James (Highway 27), turn left (west) onto Sowchea Road. This road goes past
two provincial parks— Paarens Beach and Sowchea Bay. Paarens Beach has a concrete boat launch at the south end of the park, and Sowchea Bay has a single lane concrete boat launch and limited parking.
The third access point is Whitefish Bay recreation site, located about half way up the lake, and is accessible by 2WD.
Again, turn onto Sowchea Road and follow for about five km, then turn left (south) onto the Cunningham Forest Service Road. Follow this road for about 40
km, until you meet the Cunningham-Camsell FSR. Turn right (north), and follow it to the shores of Stuart Lake. The Whitefish Bay recreation site is an open site with a boat launch and space for 20 vehicle units.
