10 Must Fish Lakes in BC

British Columbia is a lake fishing paradise. There are thousands of lakes scattered across the province, from sprawling easy-access lakes found along major highways to tiny hidden alpine lakes that require lengthy hikes to reach. Serious anglers can charter a flight to one of the many lakes in the north of the province that have no road access, but lots and lots of fish. While every lake has something special to offer, in the following list we have focused on lakes that can be easily reached by car (in most cases any two-wheel drive vehicle). To get you excited to hit the road on a BC fishing adventure, here are 10 of BC's best fishing lakes recommended by the writers at BRMB!

Alta Lake

Alta Lake is conveniently located right next to Whistler Village, just an hour and half by car from downtown Vancouver. If you find yourself in Vancouver, the scenic Sea to Sky Highway is worth the drive in itself, but anglers will be pleasantly surprised with the excellent fishing found in this lake so close to the tourist hot spot of Whistler. Alta Lake is stocked with cutthroat trout, and these fish can reach up to 60 cm (24 in) in size. There is also a stocking program for rainbow trout in this glacier-fed lake, with rainbows regularly reaching 30 cm (12 in), as well as smaller numbers of kokanee and dolly varden.

Alta Lake, BC - Image courtesy of Pembertonfinder.com

Duck Lake

Located near the charming community of Creston, deep in the outdoor adventure wonderland of the Kootenays, Duck Lake is famous for its largemouth bass fishing, with the average bass weighing 1 kg (1-3 lb) and some topping 2.5 kg (8 lb). Despite being one of BC's best fishing lakes, Duck Lake sees relatively low fishing pressure, so you can expect a peaceful and productive day on the water if you make the journey to Duck Lake. There is relatively little structure on the shallow, bowl-shaped lake, but there are plenty of weedy areas to target if you bring along a small row boat.

Elk & Beaver Lakes

Elk and Beaver Lakes are located in Saanich, just north of Victoria, and with such easy access from the city, you'll be surprised at how good the fishing is here. Southern Vancouver Island enjoys the mildest winters in Canada, and this long growing season makes for some seriously big fish. The lakes are stocked with rainbow trout but are probably held in highest regard by bass fishers, with 2.7+ kg (6 lb+) smallmouth bass found in Elk Lake and 3.6+ kg (8 lb+) largemouths found in Beaver Lake. The lakes are connected by a shallow channel, which acts as a natural funnel for both species. Anglers will also find a fishing pier at the northwest side of Elk Lake, where shore fishing can be very productive, especially for the trout.

Francois Lake

Located in the northern interior's Lakes District, Francois Lake is just one of many excellent fishing lakes in the area. It is also BC's second-largest natural lake, creating endless angling opportunities. Rainbow trout reach 1.5 kg (3.5 lbs) here, with lake trout up to 10 kg (22 lbs) and char close to 13.5 kg (30 lbs) being caught annually. There are a number of access points to this 25,750 hectare (63,630 ac) lake, but the northeastern shore is rumoured to be the most productive.

Nilkitkwa Lake

This lake is a rainbow trout fisher's dream. Occupying a narrow channel between Babine Lake and the Babine River, this lake is nicknamed “Rainbow Alley” and is known for its large insect hatches and trophy-sized trout. In addition to the rainbow trout that can reach 6 kg (13 lb) this lake holds cutthroat trout up to 1 kg (2 lb) and lake trout up to 12 kg (26 lb). Nilkitkwa is a fly-fishing only lake located deep in BC's northern interior, which keeps pressure low and the fishing excellent.

Quesnel Lake

With a maximum measured depth of 610 metres (2,000 ft), Quesnel Lake is said to be the deepest fjord lake in the world and is home to many trophy class fish, including rainbow trout over 8 kg (18 lb), lake trout up to 20 kg (44 lb), bull trout up to 8 kg (18 lb) and kokanee up to 2 kg (4.5 lb). Most of the fishing on this lake is in a pristine wilderness setting, though a number of resorts, boat launches and recreation sites are found on the lake's western shores. Divided into three arms, each with its own unique characteristics and scenery, Quesnel Lake is great for both fly and lure fishing. It won't take much time after dropping a line to find out why this is one of BC's best fishing lakes.

Quesnel Lake, BC - Image courtesy of Silvertip Lodge

Sheridan Lake

Located along a secluded stretch of highway between 100 Mile House and Little Fort, Sheridan Lake is known as one of the best trout fishing lakes in the province, with rainbows reaching 8 kg (17 lb) in size thanks to an abundance of freshwater shrimp for them to feed on. The lake is home to numerous resorts and boat launches to accommodate anglers and there are plenty of hidden coves and islands to explore. With nearly 300,000 fish stocked into the lake each year, you can be sure of excellent fishing throughout the ice-free season on Sheridan Lake, one of BC's best fishing lakes.

Shuswap Lake

Known for its inviting waters and beautiful beaches, Shuswap Lake is home to 19 different species of fish that swim among its four arms, with easy access to most parts of the lake. One arm of the lake is even called the Salmon Arm and, as you would expect, there are chinook, coho and sockeye salmon here, but anglers will have better luck fishing for kokanee (landlocked sockeye salmon). However, Shuswap Lake is better known for its bull trout and rainbow trout, which can grow to huge sizes in these deep waters. 2 kg (4 lb) rainbows are common, with 10 kg (22 lb) monsters being caught on occasion.

Slocan Lake

Nestled in the shadow of the Valhalla Mountain Range, this big lake is known for its big trout, with stocked Gerrard rainbows reaching 5 kg (10 lb) and bull trout up to 4 kg (9 lb). Targeting the mouths of the many creeks that feed into this deep, cool lake is the preferred method for catching trout, while kokanee are also present and are best caught by trolling. A number of scenic marine-access campsites are found along the shores of the lake, and the small towns of Slocan City, New Denver and Silverton are all great places to stop for a bite to eat or any other supplies you may need while fishing Slocan Lake, one of BC's best fishing lakes.

Williston Lake

Covering a total area of 1,761 km2 (680 mi2), Williston Lake is the largest lake in BC and seventh largest reservoir in the world, having been created by the W.A.C. Bennett Dam back in 1968. There are numerous inlets and river mouths for anglers to target, as the lake is fed by the Finlay, Omineca, Ingenika, Ospika, Parsnip, Manson, Nation and Nabesche Rivers, along with several creeks. Arctic grayling, rainbow trout, bull trout, kokanee and whitefish all grow to good sizes here, making this one of BC's best fishing lakes. Camping spots are abundant for those wishing to extend their fishing adventure, since several provincial parks line the shores of this beautiful lake.