Round Lake is located on the east side of Highway 16 between Houston and Smithers. Also considered a Family Fishing Water according to the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations, the lake boasts excellent cutthroat trout fishing. In 2014, the BC Freshwater Fisheries Society released 3,000 cutthroat trout into Round Lake.

Cory Koenig of Webflyz BC says that Round Lake provides awesome fishing for cutthroat and rainbow trout up to 20-plus inches long. Koenig says there are a few essentials for Round Lake. Make sure your fly box is stocked with leeches, chronomids, damselfly nymphs and water boatman flies. He notes that early season flies will consist of leeches in olive, black and brown, with or without beadheads, along with go-to flies like the Bulldog, Eggsucking Leeches, and small Cutthroat Candy in hook sizes #6-14. Flyfishing or trolling with small Croks, spinners and Wedding Band lures are easy ways to catch the cutthroat and rainbow trout. Other options are to troll a Triple Teazer, a Flatfish (F4 size) or a Hotshot.

Fishing later in the season can be hit and miss, as the lake often experiences large algae blooms and can get very weedy. At these times, try increasing the size of your fly patterns. Cutthroat may take a surface fly, though they tend to prefer bottom feeding. Try wobbling plugs and spoons cast or trolled along the bottom. Early mornings and late evenings are the best times to target these fish.

A popular driving tour uses Round Lake as its centerpiece. After turning onto Round Lake Road, you are taken on a circular tour through dairy farming country. From various vantage points, you are able to get spectacular views of the four mountain ranges of the Bulkley Valley: Telkwa Range, Hudson Bay Range, Hazleton Range and the Babine Mountains. Near the end of the tour, you will catch a quick glimpse of beautiful Tyhee Lake, just a few kilometers northwest of Round Lake. For more information about great fly patterns for Round Lake and others, visit Cory Koenig on the web at www.webflyz.com.

LAKE ACCESS

From Houston, travel west along Highway 16 to Round Lake Road on your right (east), roughly 10 km before Smithers. Follow this road for a few kilometres to the community hall, where you will find a boat launch. The lake is good for families with plenty of fish for the kids.