Fishing the Border Country, BC in the Spring
| Month | Avg. Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
|---|---|
| March | 49° / 29° |
| April | 60° / 35° |
| May | 69° / 42° |
Ice recedes fast at lower elevations, runoff begins, and trout feed hard after winter. Lakes warm first in the shallows; rivers improve as clarity stabilizes.
What’s Hot / What’s Not:
Lakes: Rainbow & cutthroat cruise the edges—chironomids, leeches, and small spoons. Kokanee school mid-water; small dodgers & hoochies work.
Big Water: Lake trout/bull trout near structure right after ice-off; slow-trolled spoons and jigged tubes.
Rivers & Creeks: Nymphs (stoneflies, BWOs), streamers in softer seams. Watch levels—best windows are between runoff pulses.
Not Hot: Muddy, rising flows during peak melt—wait for a drop/clear trend.
Fishing the Border Country, BC in the Summer
| Month | Avg. Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
|---|---|
| June | 76° / 48° |
| July | 83° / 52° |
| August | 83° / 51° |
Stable weather and clear water create peak fishing. Early and late are best; mid-day pushes fish deeper or into faster oxygenated currents.
What’s Hot / What’s Not:
Lakes: Kokanee trolling shines (dodger + micro hoochie/corn). Rainbows on chironomids AM, damsels/leeches PM; sight-fish drop-offs.
Rivers: Dry flies (caddis, PMDs, terrestrials) for cutts/rainbows; swing streamers at first/last light for bull trout.
Warmwater Pockets: Smallmouth (where present) on topwater and craw imitations around rock and wood.
Not Hot: Bright, flat mid-day—downsize, go deeper, or take a siesta and return at dusk.
Fishing the Border Country, BC in the Fall
| Month | Avg. Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
|---|---|
| September | 73° / 43° |
| October | 57° / 34° |
| November | 40° / 27° |
Cooling water triggers aggressive pre-winter feeds. Some of the heaviest trout and char of the year are caught now.
What’s Hot / What’s Not:
Lakes: Rainbows & cutthroat move shallow—strip leeches/buggers; kokanee finish up deeper basins.
Big Water: Bull/lake trout pin bait on ledges—jigging spoons and blades excel.
Rivers: Streamers and larger nymphs; BWOs on overcast afternoons. Watch closures where fall spawners stage.
Not Hot: First cold snap after a warm spell—give it a day for fish to settle, then go slow.
Fishing the Border Country, BC in the Winter (Ice Fishing)
| Month | Avg. Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
|---|---|
| December | 30° / 19° |
| January | 30° / 18° |
| February | 38° / 22° |
Reliable hardwater on smaller and mid-elevation lakes; always check ice thickness and local regs before drilling.
What’s Hot / What’s Not:
Trout Through the Ice: Tiny tungsten jigs, mealworm/maggot tipping, and small spoons near weed edges and drop-offs.
Char (where present): Deeper points and saddles—white tubes and spoons with pauses.
Whitefish: Small flutter spoons near bottom on sand flats; watch for light up-bites.
Not Hot: Mid-day pressure on popular lakes—hole-hop, quiet your setup, and downsize presentations.
