Big Lake
MU 5-2, Cariboo
52.3822° N, 121.8378° W
- Surface area
- 583ha
- Maximum depth
- 40.8m
- 134 ft
- Elevation
- 814m
Open Big Lake in the appThe 7-day forecast, max depth and wildfire smoke check, on the lake's own coordinate.
Trophy fish at Big Lake
Big Lake is known for trophy Lake trout to 30 lb.
- Lake trout to 30 lb
- Rainbow trout to 12 lb
- Kokanee to 2 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.
Big Lake at a glance
- Region
- Cariboo
- Management unit
- MU 5-2
- Species
- Lake Trout (last recorded 1974), Rainbow Trout, Kokanee, Mountain Whitefish, Smallmouth Bass, Whitefish (General), Burbot, Brook Trout (last recorded 1990), Steelhead (last recorded 1960), Northern Pikeminnow, Peamouth Chub, Largescale Sucker, Redside Shiner, Sucker (General), Longnose Sucker (last recorded 1974)The newest of these fish records is from 2026.Species from the province's fish observation records.
- Lake size
- Large Water (> 500 ha)
- Catch and release
- Yes
- Ice fishing
- Open to ice fishing, confirmed
- Coordinates
- 52.3822, -121.8378
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Gear for lake trout
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Fish on record at Big Lake
| Species | First recorded | Last recorded | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Trout | 1974 | 1974 | 1 |
| Rainbow Trout | 1945 | 2026 | 12 |
| Kokanee | 1974 | 2026 | 49 |
| Mountain Whitefish | 1960 | 2010 | 3 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 2010 | 2010 | 1 |
| Whitefish (General) | 2010 | 2010 | 1 |
| Burbot | 1996 | 1996 | 1 |
| Brook Trout | 1990 | 1990 | 2 |
| Steelhead | 1960 | 1960 | 1 |
| Northern Pikeminnow | 1960 | 2010 | 3 |
| Peamouth Chub | 1960 | 2010 | 3 |
| Largescale Sucker | 1974 | 2010 | 2 |
| Redside Shiner | 1974 | 2010 | 2 |
| Sucker (General) | 2010 | 2010 | 1 |
| Longnose Sucker | 1960 | 1974 | 2 |
A year is when the Province last recorded the fish here, not a statement that it is caught today.
How to fish Big Lake
Best times of year at Big Lake
- May - June
- September - October
Big Lake fishing regulations
We have no lake specific regulations on file for Big Lake yet.
Getting to Big Lake
Coordinates: 52.3822, -121.8378
Camping and rec sites at Big Lake
- Big Lake
No campsite count on file (BC Recreation Sites and Trails)
Access: There are no resorts on Big Lake however, there is camping space and a boat launch located on the north side of the lake. A general store and gas station are also located on the Likely Road at Big Lake. A public lake access is located on the south side. Besides
Depth chart for Big Lake
40.8 mdeepest13.4 mmean
Big Lake runs to 40.8 m (134 ft) at its deepest.
The mean of 13.4 m (44 ft) is read off the same chart, surveyed in June 1977.
The Province sounded Big Lake and published the depth chart surveyed in 1977.
The ice year at Big Lake, modelled
Modelled from air temperature, not an ice report. It says nothing about whether ice will hold you.
In the model Big Lake froze in 65 of the 65 winters since 1960. Freeze-up falls most years between 6 November and 19 November, and ice-off between 17 April and 6 May. The median winter freezes on 11 November and opens on 28 April.
the middle half of modelled winters the median ice cover in the median winter
Winter 2024-25 in the model: frozen from 15 November 2024 to 11 April 2025, 147 days.
Big 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.
Big Lake climate, 1960 to 2025
Averaged over a year, the air above Big Lake is 0.9 C warmer than it was in the 1960s. That is 66 years of daily readings, not a forecast.
- +0.9 Csince the 1960s
- 2.7 Caverage year now
- 1.8 Caverage year then
- -6 daysbelow freezing, change
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
This week at Big 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 | 11° / -1° | 12 km/h, gusts 26 | dry | Steady |
| Wed 21 Oct | Overcast | 14° / 2° | 13 km/h, gusts 26 | dry | Falling (-10.1 hPa) |
| Thu 22 Oct | Overcast | 7° / 0° | 15 km/h, gusts 35 | dry | Rising (+4.3 hPa) |
| Fri 23 Oct | Overcast | 7° / -2° | 5 km/h, gusts 12 | dry | Rising (+12.4 hPa) |
| Sat 24 Oct | Overcast | 8° / 1° | 3 km/h, gusts 12 | dry | Falling (-1.4 hPa) |
| Sun 25 Oct | Partly cloudy | 7° / -3° | 4 km/h, gusts 14 | dry | Rising (+6.2 hPa) |
| Mon 26 Oct | Overcast | 7° / -2° | 4 km/h, gusts 14 | dry | Falling (-3.1 hPa) |
Big Lake, in brief
What fish are in Big Lake?
Lake Trout (last recorded 1974), Rainbow Trout, Kokanee, Mountain Whitefish, Smallmouth Bass, Whitefish (General), Burbot, Brook Trout (last recorded 1990), Steelhead (last recorded 1960). Species from the province's fish observation records.
Which management unit is Big Lake in?
Big Lake is in MU 5-2, in the Cariboo. The BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis is organised by management unit; check it before you go.
Trout lakes near Big Lake
- Cook Lake (Solomon Lake Area) 5 km away
- Jumeaux Lakes 6 km away
- Crazy Lake 7 km away
- Lake George 7 km away
- Solomon Lake 8 km away
All 328 lakes in the Cariboo, with today's conditions on each.