There is a distinct serenity to fishing in northern British Columbia. Unlike the sometimes-crowded lakes in the southern reaches of the province, the Omineca region offers anglers vast stretches of hard water where the only company you’ll keep is the silence of the winter landscape. With winters that run longer and colder than those down south, the ice-fishing season – usually spanning all the way from November through April – offers plenty of opportunity to get out and fish.
But it isn’t just the solitude that draws anglers to the Omineca – it’s the catch. In addition to stocked rainbow trout, brook trout, and kokanee (landlocked sockeye salmon), this region is one of the few places in B.C. where you can target and harvest delicious burbot (freshwater cod), or hunt for trophy-sized lake trout. Whether you are a seasoned pro chasing a trophy catch or a family looking for a fun, simple way to introduce kids to angling, this region offers a dependable frozen playground that just can’t be beat.
Top lakes for ice-fishing near Prince George
Eena Lake
Its natural beauty, high catch-rates of rainbow trout and kokanee, and ease of access attract anglers of all ages to Eena Lake. It’s a popular ice-fishing destination over the winter, particularly the weed beds at the southern end of the lake.
Location: 33 kilometres northwest of Prince George.
Driving directions: From Prince George, drive north on Highway 97 for about 15 kilometres, turn left (west) on Chief Lake Road, and travel 12 kilometres to a fork in the road. Turn right onto Nukko Lake Road, drive for five kilometres, then turn left onto Eena Lake Road for 1.2 kilometres. Turn left onto Woods Road for a short distance, then right onto Quinn Road, which ends at the boat launch.
Access: 2WD.
Stocked species: kokanee, rainbow trout. Fish Stocking Report.
Nelson Lake
Nelson Lake offers excellent fishing for the Pennask strain of rainbow trout.
Location: 32 kilometres southwest of Prince George.
Driving directions: Drive west from Prince George via Blackwater Road. Proceed past the Baldy Hughes Therapeutic Community for approximately four kilometres, and the site is located on the right side of the road.
Access: 2WD. There is a 250-metre hike along the non-motorized-vehicle trail to the lake.
Stocked species: Rainbow trout. Fish Stocking Report.
Ness Lake
You don’t have to travel far from Prince George to try ice-fishing for delicious kokanee. Both kokanee and rainbow trout are stocked into Ness Lake, a mere 30-minute drive from the city.
Location: 35 kilometres northwest of Prince George.
Driving directions: Turn west off Highway 97 north onto Chief Lake Road. Continue west for 27 kilometres (at kilometre 12, Chief Lake Road turns into Ness Lake Road). Turn onto Lakeside Drive to access Ness Lake Regional Park. There are other access points around the lake.
Access: 2WD.
Stocked species: rainbow trout, kokanee. Fish Stocking Report.
Camp, Kathie, and Byers lakes in Eskers Provincial Park
Camp, Kathie, and Byers lakes are three of the most popular lakes for ice-fishing within beautiful Eskers Provincial Park. They support good populations of fish, and fishing success rates can be high, especially for brook trout.
A relatively small lake at 23 hectares in size, Camp has quite varied depths. You can catch rainbow and brook trout, along with kokanee.
Forty-five hectares in size, Kathie is about twice the size of Camp, and offers fishing for rainbow and brook trout.
While Byers is the smallest lake, at 17 hectares, it offers angling for trophy brook trout.
Location: 46 kilometres northwest of Prince George.
Driving directions: Turn west off Highway 97 North onto Chief Lake Road. Continue west for 27 kilometres (at kilometre 12, Chief Lake Road turns into Ness Lake Road). At the western end of Ness Lake, turn north onto Ness Lake Road North. Follow this road for one kilometre to the Eskers Park entrance.
Access: 2WD. There is a 2.5-kilometre hike into Camp Lake; a five-kilometre hike into Byers Lake; and four-kilometre hike to Kathie Lake. Park Map with trail details. Note that snowmobiles and fires are not allowed in the park.
Stocked species: Byers Lake is stocked with brook trout, Kathie Lake with rainbow trout, and Camp Lake with both rainbow trout and kokanee. Fish Stocking Report.
Vivian Lake
A small lake that produces big fish, Vivian is a popular ice-fishing destination for the residents of nearby Prince George.
Location: 40 kilometres northwest of Prince George.
Driving directions: From Prince George, head north on Highway 97 to Chief Lake Road. Turn left. At the 12-kilometre mark, the road turns into Ness Lake Road. Continue straight until the road turns into Saxton Lake Road. After another kilometre, turn right onto Exer Road and drive 800 metres to the lake’s public-access parking on the right.
Access: From the public-access route on the western side of the lake (via Exer Road), the lake is accessible by snowmobile or hiking. For a small fee, Vivian Lake Resort (on the eastern side of the lake) offers access, parking, and the use of a firepit.
Stocked species: rainbow trout and brook trout. Fish Stocking Report.
Ice-fishing near Vanderhoof
Cobb Lake
This productive lake is heavily stocked (10,000 rainbow trout and 20,000 brook trout) each year by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC.
Location: 72 kilometres east of Vanderhoof; 72 kilometres west of Prince George.
Driving directions: To access the B.C. Recreation Site on the northern side of the lake, take Highway 16 east from Vanderhoof. Drive 34 kilometres, then turn north onto Finmoore Road. Drive six kilometres, turn right, and drive 500 metres to the site access road, which is also on the right.
Access: 4WD. The road is ploughed in early January, and intermittently after that.
Stocked Species: brook and rainbow trout. Fish Stocking Report.
Ice-fishing near Valemount
Shere Lake
At 124 hectares, Shere is a small, shallow lake that offers breathtaking views of the nearby Rockies and supports a quality fishery for stocked brook trout.
Location: 30 kilometres northwest of Valemount.
Driving directions: From Valemount, proceed north on the Yellowhead Highway 5 for eight kilometres, and turn left onto Blackman Road. Continue for 10 kilometres, then turn left onto Old Tête Jaune Cache Road. Proceed 12 kilometres to Croydon Forest Service Road, another 11 kilometres to Shere Lake Road on the right, and one final kilometre to the site.
Access: 4WD, then a short walk to the lake.
Stocked species: brook trout. Fish Stocking Report.
Ice-fishing near Mackenzie
Gantahaz Lake
Gantahaz Lake offers convenient access and great fishing for naturally occurring whitefish and stocked brook trout.
Location: Six kilometres north of Mackenzie.
Driving directions: Head north on Mackenzie Boulevard/B.C. Highway 39 for six kilometres. The lake will be on your left.
Access: 2WD or walk-in.
Stocked species: brook trout. Fish Stocking Report.
Lost Lake
Want to go ice-fishing right in the middle of town? Try Lost Lake in Mackenzie. Go for a wander along the winter wonderland of ski trails to this small fishing gem.
Location: within the town of Mackenzie, south of Morfee Lakes.
Driving directions: Head to the baseball diamond field on Morfee Lake Road. Ski trails head to Lost Lake from here.
Access: Ski trail.
Stocked species: Brook trout. Fish Stocking Report.
Ice-fishing for burbot and lake trout
Lake trout and burbot are also widely available in the Omineca region, with strong winter fisheries in the Williston Reservoir and at Tudyah, Stuart, Fraser, and other lakes. Note that current regulations stipulate that any lake trout under 30 centimeters must be released, as well as any caught between September 15 to October 31, regardless of size.
How to go ice-fishing
- Get licensed. If you’re 16 years old or older, you will require a basic non-tidal fishing licence from the Province of B.C.
- Check the regulations. Find out which fish species you are allowed to keep, and how many (called the daily quota). Remember, if the lake you want to fish is not listed in the waterbody-specific tables of the regulations, the daily quotas listed on the regional regulations page apply.
- Gather your equipment. An ice-fishing rod will allow you to sit closer to the hole in the ice, but you can also use an ultra-light spinning rod. A size 6 or 8 hook and 8-pound-test line should be sufficient for rainbow and brook trout. Bring an auger to drill a hole in the ice, and you’re all set with the basics.
- Select your bait. Mealworms, dyed corn, maggots, earthworms, and shrimp all work well. Spoons, jigs, and spinners tipped with bait are also effective, and you might want to add a flasher or attractor when targeting certain species, such as kokanee.
- Plan your trip. Some of the best ice-fishing for rainbow and brook trout comes in early winter not long after the ice is on, when oxygen levels and water temperatures remain high enough that fish are still actively feeding.
- Be safe. Check for a safe ice thickness, and educate yourself on ice safety and rescue techniques in case you or a fishing partner should fall through the ice. Bring plenty of warm clothes, and be prepared for changes in weather. If fishing solo, tell someone where you are going and what time you should be back.
- Drill a hole. A bathymetric map of the lake can help you determine lake depth and where to drill your first hole. If you get no bites after a while, try a new spot. Remember to mark the location of your fishing holes so other anglers don’t step into them by accident.
- Drop a line. Drop your line in the hole, wait for the bait to hit the bottom, then reel in a few turns so that your bait is sitting about 60 centimetres off the bottom. Some anglers dance or jig the bait lightly to attract the trout’s attention. Wait for a bite, then set the hook!
With these steps, you’ll be on your way to enjoy ice-fishing in B.C.’s North.
Author: Jessica Greinke, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC and Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.
Banner image: Cory Crellin