Northern BC Fishing

Welcome to the dramatically expanded second edition of the Northern BC Fishing Mapbook. This book is the latest in our continuing quest to produce the perfect fishing guide. New this edition are a lot more lakes in the North. In addition to the much expanded area of coverage, anglers will now note that it includes the more popular rivers and streams in the area. The north is well known to be home to some of the best trout, steelhead and salmon rivers in the world. Less obvious, but just as important is the fact that many of the write-ups have been expanded to provide even more detailed fishing information. Everything has been tweaked, updated, and simply made better, to help you find the perfect fishing experience.

Of course, different people have different definitions of what defines the perfect fishing experience. Some people love fast and furious action. They would rather snag 100 small fish in a day than spend time waiting around for the big one. Others would rather sit patiently waiting for The One. Some people prefer bar fishing for salmon, sitting with a dozen other anglers and shooting the breeze; catching a fish is almost secondary to the experience. Still others enjoy the pure fly-fishing experience, standing knee deep in a fast flowing mountain stream searching for trout, and the experience is sullied somehow if there is another angler within 5 kilometres. As a result, there is a vast diversity in the lakes and rivers we present here.

Northern BC is a vast area, and this book covers well over half the province, from the 100 Mile House area all the way north to Atlin Lake, which spills over into the Yukon. The lakes and rivers span the province, some rivers draining into the Pacific Ocean, others flowing east into Alberta. It is an area of raw beauty and some of the most remote locations in BC. It encompasses the awesome Coast Mountains, the Chilcotin Plateau, the Cariboo and Northern Rocky Mountains and even a chunk of prairie on the east side of the Rockies.

To complement the surroundings, there is an abundance of lakes, both large and small, allowing fishermen of all ages to enjoy a successful outing. Whether you are an ardent fly fisherman or prefer the old fashion bait and bobber, there is surprisingly good lake fishing very close to the urban centres. The Cariboo is notorious for its excellent lake fishing even during the hot summer months. The prolific fly hatches, nutrient rich environment and clear, crisp water make this area a fantastic lake fishing destination. Another unique thing about many of the lakes in the area is the lack of people fishing. There are literally thousands of lakes to discover and it is quite easy to find a lake all to yourself. The incredible fishing, peace and quiet and stunning scenery makes this an ideal family fishing and camping destination.

The Skeena Region is an area dominated by its rivers. While we have listed some of the best fishing lakes from this area, expect to get a few odd looks if you ask at a local tackle shop about lake fishing. In a land where 6 kg (12 lb) steelhead are the average and where Chinook salmon can get to 15 kg (30 lbs) and more, it seems a bit odd to some to fish a lake for a 0.5 kg (1 lb) rainbow. But taking a feisty rainbow with a light rod on a surface fly can be every bit as exciting as fighting a monster Chinook. As you get farther north and east, the fishing season gets shorter and shorter, as the ice-free season gets shorter and shorter. Lakes in the Omineca and Peace, especially those lakes farther north, are extremely susceptible to over fishing. You will also find fish in the north that you don’t find anywhere farther south, like the pretty Arctic grayling.

Since a lot of the lakes require you to weave your way through a maze of backroads, we recommend you pick up a copy of the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast and the Northern BC Backroad Mapbooks as well as the BC Backroad GPS Maps. The detailed maps along with descriptions on everything from camping areas to other fishing opportunities make the perfect complement to the Fishing Mapbook series.