North of the Thompson River, many fine angling lakes lie between Kamloops and Clearwater. Paul, Knouff, Badger, Heffley and Little Heffley lakes, north of Kamloops, along with Morgan and Six Mile to the west, have rainbow trout up to one kilogram. West of Barrière, off Highway 5 North, Bonaparte Lake — high on the Bonaparte Plateau — has wonderful coarse-sand swimming beaches. It holds piscivorous Bonaparte rainbow trout that can top five kilograms, along with tasty kokanee. Other nearby lakes include Eagan, Hi Hium, Loon, Caverhill, Bare, Young, and Machete. All boast excellent fishing for rainbow trout to two kilograms in weight. Note that Machete Lake has a two-fish limit on its wild, unstocked kokanee. Use a four-wheel drive vehicle or hike to smaller jewels hidden in the backcountry that have excellent fishing in pristine, uncrowded settings. The Thompson River offers good
fishing throughout the year. There are many points of access to the river along Highway 1 from Lytton to Savona, or from Spences Bridge to Ashcroft on the eastern side of the river along Spatsum Road. During summer, try fishing for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden char, and whitefish. Cast flies, small spoons, and spinners, or drift-fish bait like worms or single salmon eggs. In late summer, the big river holds mature chinook salmon and summer-run steelhead that lie close to the bottom in deep, slick pockets. From October through December, there is the river’s renowned catch-and-release fishing for steelhead (most notably around Spences Bridge), when some of these red-striped, searun rainbows can reach weights of 10 kilograms. For some wet and wild summertime excitement, book a whitewater rafting trip through the many sections of raging rapids on this important tributary of the Fraser River. East of Barrière, Adams Lake
is a large, deep lake with excellent fishing for huge rainbow trout,
Tunkwa Lake Photos
salmon, and lake char. The lower Adams River, flowing out of Adams and into Shuswap Lake, has exceptional fly-fishing for rainbows. When salmon runs return in the summer, the trout are suckers for salmon-roe fly patterns. Nearby Johnson Lake, with its clear green water and superb mountainous setting, has rainbow trout up to two kilograms. View nature’s amazing late-summer spectacle at Roderick Haig-Brown Park as millions of crimson-sided sockeye crowd the Adams River spawning grounds. The towns of Sorrento, Sicamous, and Salmon Arm on Shuswap Lake – known as the “Houseboat Capital of Canada” – have many companies where you can rent one of these big freshwater campers. With its three long, narrow arms, Shuswap has plenty of warm sandy beaches where families can enjoy swimming and other watersports. Catch lake char, kokanee, eastern brook trout, burbot, whitefish, and perch on your own, or take a guided charter to deep-troll for huge Kamloops rainbow trout that can top nine kilograms. Stop by fly shops in Kamloops or in Little Fort, at the turnoff to Highway 24 from Highway 5, for the latest scoop about the fishing in the area, and to stock up on the hottest flies and lures. Four-wheel
drive vehicles are recommended to access the great fishing at remote Tuloon, TaWeel, Meadow, or Thuya lakes. Anglers can use these lakes as base camps to hike or take an ATV into dozens of smaller ponds nearby. These waters are home to mostly wild, resident Kamloops rainbow trout to two kilograms, with the odd trophy weighing up to five kilos. Lightly fished, the trout will hit wet and dry flies, as well as trolled or spincast hardware, with almost reckless abandon.
Near the town of Clearwater,
Wells Gray Provincial Park is a rugged wilderness treasure. Clearwater Lake has a boat launch, with good fishing near inlet and outlet streams. Expect excellent catch-and-release fishing for wild rainbow trout and steelhead along the Clearwater River. Family- friendly lakes with great fishing just west of Clearwater include Star, Coldscaur, Italia, and Ejas. The park is home to the spectacular 141-metre Helmcken Falls, and offers some of the world’s finest, high-altitude wilderness canoe-touring in Hobson, Azure, and Murtle lakes. There is terrific backcountry ski-touring all winter. And take a tour of the Clearwater Trout Hatchery, where you can see the FFSBC in action. n
Enter to win a trip from Charlotte Queen Adventures at
www.thesportfishingguide.com 49
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