British Columbia
Databases used:
- DFO-Canada Albion
- Columbia R.Dart adult passage
- BC stocking reports
| Species | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Brook Trout | 2,000 | 2,000 | 0 | 2,000 | 0 |
| Rainbow Trout | 0 | 0 | 1,500 | 0 | 1,500 |
Deep Lake - Kamloops, BC
Deep lake is one of the closest lakes to Kamloops located at only a couple of kilometers from West Side. The reason it is not a very popular lake is there is no good road to it. The lake is accessed on foot over a steep trail that usually takes about 30 min on the way up. Deep lake gets stocked with brook and rainbow trout and depending on the stocking in the current and the previous 2 years as well as the winter survival rates of fish, it can offer some excellent fly fishing from shore. I am yet to see an angler in a tube or boat in this lake. The only detraction from being a perfect destination comes from the lake's mucky shores. If a hooked fish is left jumping in the shallows, it will cover itself and the angler in mud pretty quickly.
The southeast side of the lake has steep shores that prevent backcasts. The opposite side is somewhat better, but many fish stay closer to shore and reaching them is less of an issue. This lake has no aerator to keep it free from ice and as a result it frequently winterkills. The extreme cold conditions in the winter of 2008-9 wiped out a great number of big brook trout. Fishing in this lake has not completely recovered since then, but this year (2010) there is a good number of 12" rainbows that are quite fat and agressive.
My success on this lake has been excellent both on brook and rainbow trout. in 2008 I hooked a fish that was over 65cm in length. The fly I had was an old one, a gift from a friend. Its shaft yielded and broke to the weight of the monster, even though the tippet was not heavier than 6Lb. The same year I had many 10+ fish days in fall and great ice fishing in December. The limit for this lake is two fish (unless it changes in 2011).
Deep lake is rather small and can be thoroughly explored in a day. It isone of the lakes I prefer as it calls for a good hike, saves me gas money and still offers fair fishing. Currently there is residential development going on at Ida lane, so it is not clear how long this bonanza will last.
