First day on the new skiff!

A coastal cutthroat trout.

Map of The Day: June 20, 2016

Buntzen Lake is another one of our featured waterbodies that is close to town and easily accessible, making it a popular, busy lake. As with Alice Lake, plan to fish early or later, after the crowds have dispersed. The BC Freshwater Fisheries Society stocks Buntzen Lake with catchable-sized rainbow trout. This is in addition to the wild stocks of cutthroat trout resident in the lake. It’s most efficient to use a boat when fishing here, but there are also several trails around the lake that can lead to excellent shore-fishing locations. The shores of Buntzen Lake tend to be rocky, and steep in places, ideal locations to set up for a day of fishing. Word from iFish BC is that the middle of the lake, as well as the shorelines, are the best places to fish. Master Angler Rod Hsu (fishingwithrod.com) suggests that in deep lakes like Buntzen, “allow the lures to sink for ten or twenty seconds before retrieving. If you are fishing with a small spoon, the occasional pause during the retrieve can sometimes trigger a strike.” Hsu notes that if the day has been warm, trout tend to feed nearer to the surface in the evening, though if the day has been particularly hot or cold, try fishing deeper. Buntzen Lake is great for fly fishing. Try trolling a microleech. If you’re lucky enough to have the dock to yourself, a cast and retrieve can work well, too. Small spoons can be really effective for cutthroat trout. Small spinners are equally enticing, and a silver moving target can prove irresistable to these beautiful fish. Catching cutthroat on flies can be especially exciting, and there are times of year when they’ll strike at anything you put out. Egg patterns, small nymphs and small minnow patterns can be good choices. LAKE ACCESS From Vancouver, head to the Barnet Hwy in Port Moody. Turn left from the highway onto Heritage Mountain Blvd. From here, follow the park signs to Sunnyville Rd, which will take you to the park. Buntzen Lake is a BC Hydro reservoir, and anglers will need to be cautious when boating here. Please avoid the intake structures and tunnel outfalls. Only electric motors are allowed on Buntzen Lake. A word of warning, that when the parking lot is full, the park entry gates will be closed for the day. Also please plan to return to your vehicle before the gates close at night, as there is no camping allowed here. A boat launch is available, though when it’s busy, it can be crowded and awkward. There is also a dock. Word from BC Hydro is that two of the docks have recently been decommissioned. There is a beach area, as well as trails around the lake.

Kayak Fishing Video

A beautiful video about kayak fishing in Buntzen Lake by Chris G. https://youtu.be/ChU4saN6Phk