Amid the rolling hills of the Nicola Valley lies the spectacular Nicola Lake. Renowned for its depth and its fabulous fishing, Nicola Lake is a popular recreation lake. The trout and kokanee in Nicola Lake are large as well, and the cool, deep water helps to keep the fishing consistent even through the heat of the summer. Nicola Lake is home to rainbow trout and kokanee, as well as burbot. Burbot make for great ice fishing, as they are most active in the depths of winter.

Johnny Garland, from Surplus Herby’s in Kamloops, notes that burbot is a popular winter sport fishery. Buzz Bombs are great for jigging, partly because of their flashing action. Keep in mind that burbot is catch-and-release in Nicola Lake. Rainbows may go after Panther Martins, Mepps and Blue Foxes, Garland says.

While lure fishing is an effective way to make the most of big waters, fly fishing on Nicola Lake can be rewarding, too. Later in the season, Garland suggests Half-backs and shrimp patterns, especially for later season fishing. Kokanee have been known to prefer flashy colours. Red is a good choice for these feisty fish, and red and silver or orange and silver combinations can be useful to have on hand. Garland says that for kokanee, even a simple gang troll or a hook and worm can be effective. Ford fenders are popular.

Remember to pay attention to your speed when you're trolling. Different pieces of equipment are most effective at particular speeds. The same goes for trolling flies. In big water such as Nicola Lake, it may be tempting to cover as much water as much water as possible, however it will do you more good to slow down and let your fly work to its best potential. The Nicola River flows in and out of Nicola Lake. This great river flows into the Thompson River, which is also renowned for its steelhead and salmon. Please note that both the Thompson and Nicola Rivers have strict regulations in place regarding steel- head and salmon. Please consult both the B.C. Freshwater Fishing Regulations and the Federal Fishing Regulations.

LAKE ACCESS

There are several access points to Nicola Lake. From Merritt, head northeast along Highway 5 about 7 kilometres to Monck Provincial Park. This large campground boasts 120 camp sites, boat launches, hiking trails and pictographs. Several other points along Highway 5 provide access as well as boat launches and day-use areas.

The recreational opportunities on Nicola Lake are well worth a trip, even for non-anglers. Windsurfing, sailing and boating are very popular, and numerous hiking trails around the lake provide great dry land activities.