New Docks, Boat Launches, and Trails Enhance Access to Fishing

December 10, 2025
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Community » New Docks, Boat Launches, and Trails Enhance Access to Fishing

Last updated December 10, 2025

By leveraging funding and support from provincial and regional governments, and from local fishing clubs, the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC is ensuring that everyone – avid anglers to beginners – has access to freshwater fisheries. In just the past decade we’ve invested in 26 boat launches, more than 80 fishing docks, trails, and dozens of other projects aimed to make fishing more accessible. 

Fishing docks

New docks have been placed over fish-attracting shoals or drop-off areas at lakes in recreation sites and in regional and provincial parks throughout the province. To see if one of these new docks, or an existing dock, is located at a stocked lake near you, visit our Map and select the Fishing Dock filter. While most of the more than 100 docks now shown on the map are on stocked lakes, we’ve also helped to install docks on lakes with great recreational fisheries (like Little Heffley, Spectrum, Janice, Charlie, Nicola, Proctor, Okanagan, Kager, and Walloper) even if we don’t stock them. 

To increase tourism in northern regions, dock installations at Irrigation, Camp, Clear, Nyland, Windy Point, and Kager lakes in 2025 were funded in part by Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan). PacifiCan also helped to fund new docks at Sheridan and Stewart lakes, as well as upgrades to docks at Irish and Valentine lakes in 2024.   

In 2023 and 2024, fishing docks installed at Badger, Herman, Onion, Fountain, Dragon, Sheridan, Stewart, and Wood lakes were supported in part by a grant received by the Province of BC through the Destination Development Fund. See below for a list of dock installations since 2018 that were fully or partially-funded by the Society.

Featured Project: Wood Lake Fishing Dock

Accessible Fishing Dock and Kayak Launch

Capitalizing on financial support from the Lake Country Rotary Club, the District of Lake Country, and the Oceola Fish and Game Club, we were able to leverage the Destination Development grant from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport to install an accessible kayak launch and fishing dock on Wood Lake near Lake Country in the Okanagan region of B.C. 

Boat Launch, Trail, and Recreation Site Development at Popular Fishing Lakes Around B.C.  

Many of British Columbia’s stocked lakes are within established parks or recreation sites. We have worked with Recreation Sites and Trails BC and with BC Parks to improve trails to docks and fishing spots at these lakes, as well as road access and facilities at day-use and camping sites. 

With the help of a $250,000 grant from the federal PacifiCan Tourism Growth Program, we completed several projects supporting tourism development in the northern development region of British Columbia in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 fiscal years. This region includes the Cariboo, Skeena, Omineca, and Peace regions. 

In 2024, with support from a Province of BC Destination Development grant, we also improved access to Ernest Lake and surrounding lakes in Roche Lake Provincial Park. 

2025 Projects 

In 2025, we developed a new day-use recreation site on Sheridan Lake; made major road and boat-launch improvements to Barrett Lake; improved the boat launch at Helen Lake; and made further enhancements to Kager Lake in addition to the docks, including improving the parking, boat launch, and trails. 

Featured Project: Fishing Tourism Development in Northern B.C.

Sheridan Lake Day-Use Site Development

The short, family-friendly and accessible/low-mobility trail allows visitors without boats to try fishing in this world-class managed fishery. The trail leads to a small picnic area and a fishing dock along the northern shoreline of Sheridan Lake, near Loon Bay Resort and the popular Interlakes Centre. 

For more information about the site, including directions, visit Recreation Sites and Trails BC.

Developing and Improving Boat Launches for Better River Access 

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has been working with local angling groups, provincial and municipal governments, and landowners to identify, and then improve or create entry points along rivers for anglers in boats and on foot. Since 2015, with financial support from the Society, new or improved access at several key locations on rivers has been developed. 

In 2024, the Society helped fund improvements to the Olson, Hosmer, and Morrissey put-in and take-out launches on the Elk River in Fernie. Other recent projects include improvements to the Lunan Road boat launch on the Bulkley River, and By Mac boat launch on the Morice River. 

Featured Project: River Access Infrastructure Improvements, Elk River

Key Access Points in Fernie Receive Upgrades

The Elk River in the Kootenays is a popular destination to fish for trout on both Classified and Unclassified Waters. However, many anglers were concerned with the condition of existing launch sites, which had made access difficult or unsafe.  The Society committed to help fund the improvement of three existing launch sites at the Hosmer, Elko (River Road Forest Service Road), and Morrissey bridges. Anglers can now access launches (which have improved parking as well) that are suitable for two-wheel-drive vehicles, allowing fishing pressure to be spread over a larger area.   

Led by Tourism Fernie – in partnership with the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK), BC Parks, and the Elk River Alliance – the project has been funded by RDEK Area A, the Province of B.C.’s Targeted Regional Tourism Development Initiative, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, Columbia Basin Trust (CBT), Elk Valley Resources (EVR, formerly TECK Coal), Outdoor Recreation Council of BC, and Tourism Fernie. 

Fishing Dock Installations

Dock installed in 2023
LakeTownRegionNotes
Herman LakeBlind Bay3Fishing dock installation
Badger LakeKamloops3Fishing dock installation
Beavertail LakeCampbell River1Fishing dock installation
Onion LakeTerrace6Fishing dock installation
Twin Lakes LakeKaleden8Dock extension
Moose LakeTumbler Ridge7BFishing dock installation
Docks installed in 2022
LakeTownRegionNotes
108 Mile Lake100 Mile House5Fishing dock installation
Conkle LakeOliver8Fishing dock installation
Davis LakeMerritt3Fishing dock installation
Dot LakeMerritt3Fishing dock installation
Crystal LakeLone Butte5Fishing dock installation
Duffy LakeKamloops3Fishing dock installation
Gardom LakeEnderby8Fishing dock installation
Goose LakeLittle Fort3Fishing dock installation
Harmon LakeMerritt3Fishing dock installation
Helen LakeHouston6Fishing dock installation
Helena Lake100 Mile House5Fishing dock installation
Kissinger LakeLake Cowichan1Fishing dock installation
Loon LakePort Alberni1Fishing dock installation
Lundbom LakeMerritt3Fishing dock installation
One Island LakeDawson Creek7BFishing dock installation
Stump LakeKamloops3Fishing dock installation
Yellow LakePenticton8Second dock installation
Twin LakePenticton8Fishing dock installation
Docks installed in 2021
LakeTownRegionNotes
Bridge LakeBridge Lake5Fishing dock installation
Marquart LakeMerritt3Fishing dock installation
Hook LakePrinceton8Fishing dock installation
Joyce LakeFalkland3Fishing dock installation
Ripple LakeBridge Lake5Fishing dock installation
Lizard LakePort Renfrew1Fishing dock installation
Cobb LakePrince George7AFishing dock installation
Docks installed in 2020
LakeTownRegionNotes
Hathaway Lake100 Mile House5Fishing dock installation
Phinetta LakeLittle Fort3Fishing dock installation
Stake LakeKamloops3Fishing dock installation
Nelson LakePrince George7AFishing dock installation
Charlie LakeFort St. John7BFishing dock installation
Docks installed in 2019
LakeTownRegionNotes
Skmana LakeChase3Fishing dock installation
Isobel LakeKamloops3Fishing dock upgraded for accessibility
Dugan Lake150 Mile House5Fishing dock installation
Lazy LakeWasa4Fishing dock installation
Susan LakeGolden4Fishing dock installation
Yellow LakePenticton8Fishing dock installation
Docks installed in 2018
LakeTownRegionNotes
Higgins Lake100 Mile House5Fishing dock upgrade for accessibility
Lac Le JeuneKamloops3Fishing dock installation (first dock)
Lodgepole LakeKamloops3Fishing dock installation
Martin LakePrinceton8Fishing dock installation
Walloper LakeKamloops3Fishing dock, safety rails, and a bench added.