2 weeks in BC, where do you go?

LBL

LBL

Steelhead
Forum Supporter
Ok, say you’ve got 2 weeks mid May to fish stillwater in the Kamloops/Merritt (or so) area with either pop-up 4x4 camper or trailer, what lakes are on your list!
There’s loads o lakes up there and I’m trying to narrow it down. PM if you feel you might be hot spotting and thanks for your help!
 
Don't mean to sound like a wanker but look at a map and note all/most of the lakes around there in say a 1 hr drive radius and then google search for info on them, there's loads. You may trim these re if you have an outboard or not, re good access to bigger areas of water. Also be careful f'ing about on a big lake if in a float tube, the winds can be strong, waves big and come up fast.

A lot of folks in BC will fish >1 neighboring lakes in a day so maybe think like that vs plunking on one. Another good/parallel approach would be to go to Casting Loops Fly & Tackle, the only (I think) fly shop in Kamloops, drop some $$ on flies/stuff and get up to date info. Pretty sure it'll be a fair exchange and you may find out which local lakes are hot vs the many others that may not be, then...Timing is everything :cool:

Dave
 
Thanks Dave. Before asking the forum I’ve been doing my homework. I’ve looked at old posts, listen to Phil R, Brian and others for dropped hints. I’ve scoured the maps. I have the regs document that identifies the no ice fishing, selective gear etc lakes that would offer a potential best bet.
Part of my homework is asking the folks on this forum for their advise based on their experience. Forums are a good source of information. I respect anyone’s decision to not reply. Please feel free to PM if it’s more comfortable.
I’m responding to your message just to assure folks that I’m not looking for an easy way out in terms of doing my research. Just using another tool. Thanks for taking time to provide some feedback!
 
LBL said:
Thanks Dave. Before asking the forum I’ve been doing my homework. I’ve looked at old posts, listen to Phil R, Brian and others for dropped hints. I’ve scoured the maps. I have the regs document that identifies the no ice fishing, selective gear etc lakes that would offer a potential best bet.
Part of my homework is asking the folks on this forum for their advise based on their experience. Forums are a good source of information. I respect anyone’s decision to not reply. Please feel free to PM if it’s more comfortable.
I’m responding to your message just to assure folks that I’m not looking for an easy way out in terms of doing my research. Just using another tool. Thanks for taking time to provide some feedback!
Click to expand...
Fair shout, I do a lot of digging around. I look a lot at the Kamloops area, just because it's easy to get to from Seattle. I've been up to Cariboo but why drive for 10 hrs when you can do 5? You may get 10 hrs extra on the water :) Re the lakes, August is the time for Tunkwa and its bomber hatches it seems, but of course the fish there don't know that.

I'd think about at different lake elevations and associated temps to think where to fish, after ice off it'll be 'mids but a bit later it'll be callibaetus and then damsels and then there's always leeches and scuds and possibly sedges. Wind too re lakes getting blasted vs one with cover depending on the wind direction. The BC forum will give you some ideas for sure.

Dave
 
@LBL - Another thought - you might hire a guide for a day or two. The second year I went up with two friends, we found a fly shop in Logan Lake (close to Tunkwa). We hooked up with the guy in the shop. Maybe in today's gps world, finding a lake is easier than it was back then but that first year we spent lots of unfishing hours looking for this lake or that lake (yes, that can be fun and an adventure too but it can cut into fishing/catching).

Good luck, BC's sure fun to explore/Pat
 
I haven't been back to Canada since 9/11 but used to be a regular up there. The usual drill was to fish Highway 24 by taking a trailer up and putting it in a campground then fishing area lakes. The Little Fort fly shop always gave some guidance and was a valuable resource. Some years lakes right along the road were big producers, I assume because they were not glamour hot spots and therefore not as appealing. If you can walk a mile or so with a float tube some of the walk-in lakes can be dynamite and they get just a fraction of the pressure.

My biggest trout ever came out of Sheridan Lake-a 30"+ fish over 15#. If you can believe 'Fishing With Ladin' every 14" fish is "Awesome"! but that fish was truly awesome taking a size 14 caddis pupa and spooling the reel. Still my most memorable trout in 72 years of fly fishing.
 
iveofione said:
I haven't been back to Canada since 9/11 but used to be a regular up there. The usual drill was to fish Highway 24 by taking a trailer up and putting it in a campground then fishing area lakes. The Little Fort fly shop always gave some guidance and was a valuable resource. Some years lakes right along the road were big producers, I assume because they were not glamour hot spots and therefore not as appealing. If you can walk a mile or so with a float tube some of the walk-in lakes can be dynamite and they get just a fraction of the pressure.

My biggest trout ever came out of Sheridan Lake-a 30"+ fish over 15#. If you can believe 'Fishing With Ladin' every 14" fish is "Awesome"! but that fish was truly awesome taking a size 14 caddis pupa and spooling the reel. Still my most memorable trout in 72 years of fly fishing.
Click to expand...
Sent you a PM
 
ABITNF said:
No. No fish left up here. Heard of one caught last year but no details so I'm guessing it's just BS. Best to check local waters. Nothing to see here.
Click to expand...
I agree......We heard there was one seen in the river here, so we surrounded it with no luck.
 
A couple things to consider for you.

May 22 is a holiday so get a place well before then to last you over the weekend. Try moving on a Saturday to any of the high use areas like Tunkwa, Leighton, Peterhope, etc., you likely won't find a camping spot. It's generally best to keep travel to mid-week.

Check the gofishbc website. Lots of stuff there.

Google bathymetric maps BC and you'll find a website with depth charts for many BC lakes.

Look over the regs. A lot of lakes that have zero retention or one over 50cm tend to keep away the hookem and cookem crowd.

And finally in my opinion and learned from fishing with others, avoid the idea of camping one spot and travelling to other lakes nearby. This is usually more work than it is worth. It might take a day or so to figure out a lake or turn it on. And why commit to travel to another lake if the one you're at is fishing well. Choose a lake, fish it well, then move if you want.

Best of all, and contrary to my attempt to make light of your plans, welcome, come on up, have a great time and build some good memories.
 
ABITNF said:
A couple things to consider for you.

May 22 is a holiday so get a place well before then to last you over the weekend. Try moving on a Saturday to any of the high use areas like Tunkwa, Leighton, Peterhope, etc., you likely won't find a camping spot. It's generally best to keep travel to mid-week.

Check the gofishbc website. Lots of stuff there.

Google bathymetric maps BC and you'll find a website with depth charts for many BC lakes.

Look over the regs. A lot of lakes that have zero retention or one over 50cm tend to keep away the hookem and cookem crowd.

And finally in my opinion and learned from fishing with others, avoid the idea of camping one spot and travelling to other lakes nearby. This is usually more work than it is worth. It might take a day or so to figure out a lake or turn it on. And why commit to travel to another lake if the one you're at is fishing well. Choose a lake, fish it well, then move if you want.

Best of all, and contrary to my attempt to make light of your plans, welcome, come on up, have a great time and build some good memories.
Click to expand...
Great insights, thanks. The more I dig the more BC is offering in available information.
The problem I’m having now is just trying to narrow the choices!
 
LBL said:
Ok, say you’ve got 2 weeks mid May to fish stillwater in the Kamloops/Merritt
Click to expand...
Some lakes will still be frozen at that time. I'm thinking you should be good for 3000 ft but you can still get snowed on.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top