Canim Lake
MU 5-1, Cariboo
51.8625° N, 120.7667° W
- Surface area
- 5634ha
- Maximum depth
- 208.5m
- 684 ft
- Elevation
- 770m
Huge 37 km long wilderness lake harboring trophy rainbow trout up to 10+ lbs and giant lake trout.
Open Canim Lake in the appThe 7-day forecast, max depth and wildfire smoke check, on the lake's own coordinate.
Trophy fish at Canim Lake
Canim Lake is known for trophy Lake trout to 25 lb.
- Lake trout to 25 lb
- Rainbow trout to 8 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.
Canim Lake at a glance
- Region
- Cariboo
- Management unit
- MU 5-1
- Species
- Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Kokanee, Mountain Whitefish, Burbot, Whitefish (General) (last recorded 1952), Northern Pikeminnow, Peamouth Chub, Sucker (General), Largescale Sucker (last recorded 1972), Redside Shiner (last recorded 1972), Lake Chub (last recorded 1952), Longnose Sucker (last recorded 1952), Chub (General) (last recorded 1952), White Sucker (last recorded 1952)The newest of these fish records is from 2003.Species from the province's fish observation records.
- Lake size
- Large Water (> 500 ha)
- Ice fishing
- Open to ice fishing, confirmed
- Coordinates
- 51.8625, -120.7667
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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 Canim Lake
A 37 km lake east of 100 Mile House. Lake trout up to 20 lb are taken trolling or on spinning gear; rainbows take flies early in the season, but trolling is the most reliable method.
- Lake Trout
Bigger fish: up to 20 lb
Source: Quesnel Cariboo Observer
Rainbows take flies early in the season, but trolling is the most reliable method. Source: Quesnel Cariboo Observer
Fish on record at Canim Lake
| Species | First recorded | Last recorded | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Trout | 1952 | 2003 | 19 |
| Rainbow Trout | 1938 | 2003 | 41 |
| Kokanee | 1945 | 2002 | 23 |
| Mountain Whitefish | 1952 | 2001 | 4 |
| Burbot | 2001 | 2001 | 1 |
| Whitefish (General) | 1952 | 1952 | 1 |
| Northern Pikeminnow | 1952 | 2001 | 4 |
| Peamouth Chub | 1972 | 2001 | 2 |
| Sucker (General) | 1952 | 2001 | 2 |
| Largescale Sucker | 1952 | 1972 | 2 |
| Redside Shiner | 1972 | 1972 | 1 |
| Lake Chub | 1952 | 1952 | 2 |
| Longnose Sucker | 1952 | 1952 | 2 |
| Chub (General) | 1952 | 1952 | 1 |
| White Sucker | 1952 | 1952 | 1 |
A year is when the Province last recorded the fish here, not a statement that it is caught today.
How to fish Canim Lake
Planer board and downrigger trolling with large plugs (Lyman #4), Apex, flashers, and bucktail flies.
Best times of year at Canim Lake
- May - June
- September - November
Canim Lake fishing regulations
We have no lake specific regulations on file for Canim Lake yet.
Getting to Canim Lake
35 km east of 100 Mile House. Paved road, Canim Beach Provincial Park launch, multiple resorts.
Coordinates: 51.8625, -120.7667
Camping and rec sites at Canim Lake
- Canim Beach Provincial Park & South Canim Recreation Site
Vehicle campsites, concrete boat launch, day-use beach
Facilities: Boat Launch, Pit Toilets, Fire Rings, Tables, Beach
Access: Canim Lake Road off Hwy 97 via 100 Mile House
Depth chart for Canim Lake
208.5 mdeepest
Canim Lake runs to 208.5 m (684 ft) at its deepest.
The Province sounded Canim Lake and published the depth chart. It runs to 3 sheets.
The ice year at Canim Lake, modelled
Modelled from air temperature, not an ice report. It says nothing about whether ice will hold you.
The model treats Canim 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.
Canim 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.
Canim Lake climate, 1960 to 2025
Averaged over a year, the air above Canim Lake is 1.1 C warmer than it was in the 1960s. That is 66 years of daily readings, not a forecast.
- +1.1 Csince the 1960s
- 2.3 Caverage year now
- 1.2 Caverage year then
- -11 daysbelow freezing, change
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
This week at Canim 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 | 12° / 2° | 7 km/h, gusts 19 | dry | Steady |
| Wed 21 Oct | Overcast | 15° / 4° | 7 km/h, gusts 19 | dry | Falling (-9.6 hPa) |
| Thu 22 Oct | Light drizzle | 10° / 2° | 15 km/h, gusts 36 | dry | Rising (+1.5 hPa) |
| Fri 23 Oct | Overcast | 8° / 0° | 7 km/h, gusts 16 | dry | Rising (+13.5 hPa) |
| Sat 24 Oct | Overcast | 8° / 3° | 4 km/h, gusts 10 | dry | Falling (-1.7 hPa) |
| Sun 25 Oct | Overcast | 8° / 0° | 6 km/h, gusts 16 | dry | Rising (+5.9 hPa) |
| Mon 26 Oct | Overcast | 9° / 2° | 4 km/h, gusts 15 | dry | Falling (-2.0 hPa) |
Canim Lake, in brief
What fish are in Canim Lake?
Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Kokanee, Mountain Whitefish, Burbot, Whitefish (General) (last recorded 1952). Species from the province's fish observation records.
Which management unit is Canim Lake in?
Canim Lake is in MU 5-1, in the Cariboo. The BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis is organised by management unit; check it before you go.
Trout lakes near Canim Lake
- Squirrel Lake 4 km away
- Christmas Lake 4 km away
- Howard Lake 6 km away
- Succour Lake 6 km away
- Beaver Lake 8 km away
All 328 lakes in the Cariboo, with today's conditions on each.