Canim Lake is a large, deep lake nestled along the western edge of the Cariboo Mountains. Several species of fish inhabit these waters, including kokanee, rainbow trout and some giant lake trout. Fishing during the peak summer heat is usually best in deep water where the temperature is cool. Anglers can still find some good fishing in shallow waters, but it is usually limited to the late evening and early morning, when the surface water has cooled. Kokanee are best fished with smaller gear, and red and yellow colours seem to be standard attractor colours. Rudy Gauss, from Canim Lake Resort, says that trout anglers do well to take advantage of the many hatches on Canim Lake. Chironomids are the first to appear, he says, and “nymph fishing during mayfly hatches is exciting and productive.” Another great time in the fly fisher calendar is the Sedge hatch. Gauss says that the trout “turn into voracious eating machines.” Gauss notes that the insects’ nymphal stages provide food for trout year round. However, he says that it’s the hatches that create so much excitement for fly fishers. Some of the most frenzied fish feeding can occur in the fall, and in the Cariboo and Thompson Regions, this season coincides with the waterboatman hatch. On Canim Lake, as with other local lakes, waterboatmen are a big source of food for fish that are fattening up for winter. Rainbow trout will generally feed on waterboatmen as the insects swim down the water column after visiting the surface for air. It is important to mimic this natural migration from the surface to the bottom. Try using a waterboatman pattern with a sinking line and long leader. Cast the line, and as it disappears under the surface, it will pull the fly under the water. When this happens, start to retrieve the line using short, quick pulls to reproduce the swimming motion of this bug. Gauss suggests that lakes at various elevations will see this hatch happening at different times, which can mean great fishing well into fall. Canim Lake was stocked in the past, both with rainbow trout and kokanee. The stocking program for this lake ended in 1998 and the fishery in Canim Lake has been self-sustaining since then. LAKE ACCESS From 100 Mile House, follow Highway 97 north to Canim Lake Road and turn right (east). Follow this road for about 35 km to the southwestern tip of the lake. The road continues north along the western shore of the lake. A second road, Canim Lake South, winds along the southern shore to Mahood Lake.

Got two nice rainbows at Canim lake today

Her first lake trout

End of pavement

Ponderosa Boat Launch

Rainbow Resort