Marina

Boat launch for Sunnyside Campground, only

Cultus Lake Sockeye spawning grounds

no fishing

Rainbow trout and cutthroats are just two of the many fish species resident in Cultus Lake. The angling opportunities are extensive on this beautiful and easily accessible local favourite. Lindsay Britton, an Angler’s Atlas member in the Lower Mainland, reports on an outing with his grandson: I picked up my eight-year-old grandson Gavin after school and took him up to Cultus Lake. The excuse was to try out my boat motor but the reason was to take him fishing. We got the motor part straightened out and put on a couple of Flatfish lures. Me first with a strike and I reeled in a cutthroat trout. Holding by the line we examined it. I told him what kind of fish it was and he said it was very pretty. He asked “Can we eat those?” I told him we could but it was a bit small and we would maybe catch a bigger one to eat and so we let the fish go. Soon Gavin got a good strike and a fish on. I coached him on which side up with the rod and spinning reel and he fought his first fish into the boat. It was a large pikeminnow and he held it up for a picture. Can we eat it? Well we don’t usually eat these, so we should let him go, too. It was a good size and the pikeminnow derby was not until next weekend, so we let him go for someone to catch in the derby. We trolled around for another hour without a bite. We agreed to fish another 15 minutes. Gavin was stuffing the last peanut butter sandwich into his mouth when his rod had a very strong strike. He reeled it in well and we lifted a cutthroat of about 16 inches into the boat. Can we eat it? Yes we can. And so I discreetly bonked it and put into the cooler. The next day, Gavin came over and ate the entire fish that I had fileted and coated with breadcrumbs and fried. He’s eager to go fishing again and I think I have found a lifelong fishing partner. Every year in June, the Fraser Salmon and Watersheds Program hosts a pikeminnow fishing derby, called the All About Fishing Family Event. This is a great opportunity for anglers of all ages to catch some fish while benefiting the lake as a whole. Pikeminnow are invasive, and compete with salmon for resources. LAKE ACCESS Follow Highway 1 east to the Sardis exit (Vedder Road). From the exit follow this road south to Cultus Lake Road, which leads to the lake. The lake lies within a provincial park and there are several access points.

Here for a few days. Wondering if there are any decent spots to fish off shore?