Adams Lake
MU 3-37, Thompson-Nicola
51.3133° N, 119.4645° W
- Surface area
- 13700ha
- Maximum depth
- 457m
- 1499 ft
- Elevation
- 403m
Adams Lake is the second deepest lake in British Columbia, plunging to 457 meters (1,499 ft). Surrounded by towering mountain peaks, its ultra-clear glacial waters host exceptionally large wild rainbows and monster bull trout feeding on the Adams River sockeye salmon run.
Open Adams Lake in the appThe 7-day forecast, max depth and wildfire smoke check, on the lake's own coordinate.
Trophy fish at Adams Lake
Adams Lake is known for trophy Lake trout to 25 lb.
- Lake trout to 25 lb
- Rainbow trout to 10 lb
- Bull trout to 10 lb
Trophy sizes this lake is known for, not a typical catch. They are historical records from our own big fish list, with no date on file, not recent catches.
Adams Lake at a glance
- Region
- Thompson-Nicola
- Management unit
- MU 3-37
- Species
- Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout (last recorded 1995), Bull Trout, Kokanee (last recorded 1979), Sockeye Salmon, Coho Salmon
- Lake size
- Large Water (> 500 ha)
- Ice fishing
- Open to ice fishing, confirmed
- Coordinates
- 51.313348, -119.464545
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Gear for lake trout
Lines, leaders, lures and flies for lake trout, searched on Amazon.ca.
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What people catch at Adams Lake
A very deep wild lake, not stocked, and it holds kokanee without being stocked with them. The fish here are big because they are old, and the regulations protect exactly that: no bull trout under 80 cm, no lake trout under 60 cm, and a single barbless hook. Derby results on the lake run past 12 lb for lake trout.
- Lake Trout Wild
Bigger fish: a derby winner of 12 lb 11 oz, with second place at 11 lb 2 oz
Adams is not stocked, so every fish in it is lake bred. Daily quota is one bull trout or lake trout between them.
Sources: Angler's Atlas, Chrome Catchers - Rainbow Trout Wild
Bigger fish: a reported catch of 10 lb 6 oz
Source: Angler's Atlas
The rule that shapes it. No Fishing north of a line drawn due west from mouth of Momich River, Mar 15-June 30; Lake trout catch and release, Oct 15-Jan 31; Daily quota = 1 bull trout or lake trout (no bull trout under 80 cm or lake trout under 60 cm); Single barbless hook. Source: Province of British Columbia
Fish on record at Adams Lake
| Species | First recorded | Last recorded | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Trout | 2000 | 2000 | 1 |
| Rainbow Trout | 1939 | 1995 | 15 |
| Kokanee | 1979 | 1979 | 2 |
| Sockeye Salmon | 1973 | 2005 | 14 |
| Coho Salmon | 1999 | 1999 | 1 |
A year is when the Province last recorded the fish here, not a statement that it is caught today.
How to fish Adams Lake
Downrigger trolling along the steep fjord drop-offs at 40-120 ft depths with large spoons (Gibbs Minnow, Apex 4.5, Croc spoons) and Lyman plugs. Fly anglers target creek mouths during sockeye fry migration in spring.
Best times of year at Adams Lake
- Spring (May-June)
- Fall (Sept-Nov)
Adams Lake fishing regulations
No Fishing north of a line drawn due west from mouth of Momich River, Mar 15-June 30; Lake trout catch and release, Oct 15-Jan 31; Daily quota = 1 bull trout or lake trout (no bull trout under 80 cm or lake trout under 60 cm); Single barbless hook. Source: Province of British Columbia
Getting to Adams Lake
Paved and gravel road access via Agate Bay Road from Louis Creek / Barriere, and Adams Lake West / East Forest Service Roads.
Coordinates: 51.313348, -119.464545
Camping and rec sites at Adams Lake
- Adams Lake Provincial Park (Bush Creek Site)
30 vehicle-accessible campsites, concrete boat ramp, dock & sandy beach on Adams Lake southwest shore
Facilities: Concrete Boat Launch, Campground, Sandy Beach, Pit Toilets, Dock, Fire Rings
Access: Paved / Maintained Gravel Adams Lake West FSR off Agate Bay Rd (2WD) - Adams Lake Provincial Park (Poplar Point Site)
Day-use beach and shoreline access on the western shore of Adams Lake
Facilities: Shoreline Launch, Pit Toilets, Picnic Area
Access: Adams Lake West FSR (2WD) - Adams Lake Marine Provincial Park (Spillman Beach)
Wilderness beach camping on the eastern shore of Adams Lake (Boat-access only)
Facilities: Boat-Access Camping, Sandy Beach, Pit Toilets, Fire Rings
Access: Water / Boat Access Only across Adams Lake - Agate Bay Public Boat Launch
Main public boat launch & day-use staging on west shore of Adams Lake
Facilities: Concrete Boat Launch, Dock, Vehicle Parking, Pit Toilets
Access: Paved Agate Bay Rd (2WD)
How deep Adams Lake is
457 mdeepest
Adams Lake runs to 457 m (1499 ft) at its deepest.
The ice year at Adams Lake, modelled
Modelled from air temperature, not an ice report. It says nothing about whether ice will hold you.
The model treats Adams Lake as too large and deep to freeze over, so it gives no freeze-up or ice-off dates. On air temperature alone it would have frozen in 65 of 65 winters since 1960.
Adams Lake is open to ice fishing under the regulations on file.
Whether a lake is open to ice fishing says nothing about whether its ice will hold you. Ice conditions vary year to year and across a single lake. Check locally before going out, every time.
Adams Lake climate, 1960 to 2025
Averaged over a year, the air above Adams Lake is 1.2 C warmer than it was in the 1960s. That is 66 years of daily readings, not a forecast.
- +1.2 Csince the 1960s
- 9.0 Caverage year now
- 7.9 Caverage year then
- -15 daysbelow freezing, change
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
This week at Adams Lake
The forecast on this lake's own coordinate, refreshed through the day. The app reads these seven days for fishing and scores each one.
| Day | Sky | High / low | Wind | Rain | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 20 Oct | Overcast | 14° / 6° | 3 km/h, gusts 16 | dry | Steady |
| Wed 21 Oct | Overcast | 18° / 7° | 4 km/h, gusts 20 | dry | Falling (-8.1 hPa) |
| Thu 22 Oct | Slight rain showers | 16° / 8° | 5 km/h, gusts 27 | 5 mm | Falling (-1.6 hPa) |
| Fri 23 Oct | Overcast | 10° / 5° | 4 km/h, gusts 16 | dry | Rising (+14.2 hPa) |
| Sat 24 Oct | Light drizzle | 10° / 7° | 5 km/h, gusts 19 | dry | Steady |
| Sun 25 Oct | Partly cloudy | 11° / 5° | 7 km/h, gusts 30 | dry | Rising (+4.6 hPa) |
| Mon 26 Oct | Overcast | 12° / 5° | 3 km/h, gusts 14 | dry | Steady |
Trout lakes near Adams Lake
- Little Momich Lake 6 km away
- Momich Lake 9 km away
- Third Momich Lake 11 km away
- Stukemapten Lake 17 km away
- Gannett Lake 19 km away
All 342 lakes in the Thompson-Nicola, with today's conditions on each.