|
B.C. fishermen please help! My wife and I are flying into Vancouver on July 29 and out on August 9. We are interested in an inland trip for Northern Pike and Walleye. We will go where we need to go. What location/guide would you recommend? I am 58,in good health, and have fished and hunted all of my life. My wife has not done a lot of fishing, so I would like to be sure she has a good experience. If this is the wrong time and place for Northern Pike and Walleye, tell me what you recommend.
|
|
Fishing for those species is somewhat limited in BC. However there are a few lakes that do have them. I dont know the names of them though. I do know the Columbia River has some excellent walleye fishing. You would probably better off trying some Salmon, Trout or Steelhead. |
|
some good advice-go Sturgeon fishing on the Fraser River,1 hr from Vancouver.
a guy like you who's had alot of experience could appreciate a 6,7 or 8ft fish bursting out of the River(!) http://www.guidebc.com otherwise it's a 20 hr drive north to the Pike Lakes,or 12hrs east to the Columbia River-not recommended
|
|
Rex: Wrong province if you want a pike and walleye adventure. For that you will have to go quite far north (and I mean far - like near the Yukon/NWT border) or head east to Manitoba and Ontario. BC is not renowned for these warm water species. Very few of our lakes even have bass in them. Our waters are deep and cold. Many years ago some of our interior lakes had these species but they were all poisoned and restocked with trout. The main freshwater fishing activity in this province is for salmon and trout and sturgeon. There are a few areas where bass are popular but they are limited. It's too bad in a way. When I was a kid I lived in Ontario and we used to fish for trout ('bows, speckled and brookies), perch, bass (largemouth and smallmouth), crappies, pike, walleye, muskies, catfish, carp, and eels. We could go to any body of water and catch something. Now I am confined to fishing for giant sturgeon, mighty chinook, delicious coho and sockeye, monster halibut and the revered steelhead. Sob! If you want info on that kind of fishing I can help, but can't help you with the walleye/pike situation.
|
|
Yah John! I know it's harsh.
|
|
The closest walleye/pike LAKE to Vancouver is Swan Lake on the BC/Alberta border near Grand Prairie (well, that I know of anyway). I also wish there was something closer. I know it's a completely different way of fishing but give salmon/trout/sturgeon a try. It can be a lot of fun if you've got a knowledgeable person along.
|
|
If my guess is correct, Rex is from the southern U.S. He's probably seen enough bass to last him a lifetime :)
|
|
What's that one?
|
|
I am trying to plan a fishing trip to BC. Because i herd it was such good fishing. I live in Spokane Washington USA, and a few of my buddies and i were looking for a Pike and bass lake in BC. Can you help me find one that is good fishing and located in BC. I havent had very much look with lake maps. Thanks!!
|
|
Well BC is the wrong place for what you're after my Friend-Pike aren't on the menu unless you're willing to drive for at least 18 hours from Spokane, and Bass fishing is better in the USA. Well there is Duck Lake in the Kootenays and a few others if you like. If you want some detailed info on different BC lakes try http://www.anglersatlas.com all kinds of bathymetric maps of BC lakes.
|
|
Charlie Lake near Fort St. John, BC has large Pike and small Walleye. I have caught numerous Northern's in the high teens and have missed one I figured was all of 25 lbs. I know others have caught them in that range. Swan Lake on the BC/Alberta border (your BC Lic. is good there) has excellent pike fishing altough the biggest I caught was about 10 lbs 33-34 inches. Swan has larger Walleye than Charlie (Catch & Release Only) but a five or six pounder is very possible. Swan also has a great yellow perch fishery, which is exactly where it should be in a Pike/Walleye lake and not in your local Rainbow Waters. Travelling the Cassiar Highway will find more Pike Lakes For Bass my favorites are Duck in the Kootenay's, Vaseaux in the Okanagan. These a largemouth lakes. Christina Lake is excellent for smallies. BC has an incredible diverse fishery. If you have a Lower Mainland and BC/Interior focus you might not know this, but there are very few freshwater fish that exist in Canada that you cannot catch somewhere in BC.
|
Back to Articles page