Courtney Lake
MU 3-12, Thompson-Nicola
50.0033° N, 120.6003° W
- Surface area
- 71.3ha
- Maximum depth
- 11.8m
- 39 ft
- Elevation
- 1,030m
A famous high-elevation trophy stillwater located south of Merritt in the Nicola Valley. Known for producing deep-bodied 4 to 8+ lb Pennask and Blackwater strain rainbows on chironomid pupae and micro-leeches. Premier quality-managed lake in the Nicola Valley producing thick, hard-pulling rainbow trout.
Open Courtney Lake in the appThe 7-day forecast, max depth and wildfire smoke check, on the lake's own coordinate.
Trophy fish at Courtney Lake
Courtney Lake is known for trophy Rainbow trout to 15 lb.
- Rainbow trout to 15 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.
Courtney Lake at a glance
- Region
- Thompson-Nicola
- Management unit
- MU 3-12
- Species
- Rainbow Trout, Carp (last recorded 1990), Redside Shiner (last recorded 1988)The newest of these fish records is from 2026.Species from the province's fish observation records.
- Lake size
- Medium Lake (50 - 500 ha)
- Catch and release
- Yes
- Ice fishing
- Closed to ice fishing
- Coordinates
- 50.0033, -120.6003
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission
Gear for rainbow trout
Lines, leaders, lures and flies for rainbow trout, searched on Amazon.ca.
Search Amazon.caAs an Amazon Associate, BC Trout Finder earns from qualifying purchases.
What people catch at Courtney Lake
A quality water south of Merritt. One fish a day, none over 50 cm, bait ban and a single hook, and that is the whole reason the fish get where they get: Blackwater strain rainbows reported to 15 lb.
- Rainbow Trout Stocked
Bigger fish: fish reaching 15 lb
Blackwater strain, with close to 20,000 stocked over five years. Illegally introduced redside shiners now feed them.
Source: BC Fishn
The rule that shapes it. No Ice Fishing; rainbow trout daily quota = 1 (none over 50 cm); bait ban, single hook. Source: Province of British Columbia
Fish on record at Courtney Lake
| Species | First recorded | Last recorded | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | 1938 | 2026 | 95 |
| Carp | 1990 | 1990 | 1 |
| Redside Shiner | 1947 | 1988 | 6 |
A year is when the Province last recorded the fish here, not a statement that it is caught today.
How to fish Courtney Lake
Long fluorocarbon leaders with chironomids, dragon fly nymphs, micro-leeches in olive and wine.
Best times of year at Courtney Lake
- May - June
- September - October
Courtney Lake fishing regulations
No Ice Fishing; rainbow trout daily quota = 1 (none over 50 cm); bait ban, single hook. Source: Province of British Columbia
Getting to Courtney Lake
Off Hwy 5A south of Merritt. Rec site with concrete boat launch and dock.
Coordinates: 50.0033, -120.6003
Camping and rec sites at Courtney Lake
- Courtney Lake
18 vehicle-accessible campsites, concrete boat launch, dock
Facilities: Boat Launch, Pit Toilets, Dock, Fire Rings, Tables
Access: Hwy 5A south of Merritt (Paved access)
Depth chart for Courtney Lake
11.8 mdeepest
Courtney Lake runs to 11.8 m (39 ft) at its deepest.
The Province sounded Courtney Lake and published the depth chart surveyed in 1990. It runs to 2 sheets.
The ice year at Courtney Lake, modelled
Modelled from air temperature, not an ice report. It says nothing about whether ice will hold you.
In the model Courtney Lake froze in 65 of the 65 winters since 1960. Freeze-up falls most years between 4 November and 19 November, and ice-off between 24 April and 15 May. The median winter freezes on 10 November and opens on 3 May.
the middle half of modelled winters the median ice cover in the median winter
Winter 2024-25 in the model: frozen from 18 November 2024 to 1 April 2025, 134 days.
Courtney Lake is closed to ice fishing.
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.
Winterkill at Courtney Lake
- Winter 2022-23Partial winterkillAn outcome reported the spring after. Winterkill Update: Spring 2023, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC.
Courtney Lake climate, 1960 to 2025
Averaged over a year, the air above Courtney Lake is 1.5 C warmer than it was in the 1960s. That is 66 years of daily readings, not a forecast.
- +1.5 Csince the 1960s
- 4.5 Caverage year now
- 3.1 Caverage year then
- -20 daysbelow freezing, change
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
This week at Courtney 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 | Clear sky | 10° / -2° | 13 km/h | dry | Steady |
| Wed 21 Oct | Overcast | 18° / 3° | 17 km/h, gusts 31 | dry | Falling (-6.9 hPa) |
| Thu 22 Oct | Overcast | 12° / 2° | 13 km/h, gusts 18 | dry | Falling (-1.5 hPa) |
| Fri 23 Oct | Overcast | 8° / -1° | 16 km/h, gusts 27 | dry | Rising (+12.8 hPa) |
| Sat 24 Oct | Overcast | 7° / -4° | 10 km/h, gusts 18 | dry | Rising (+6.3 hPa) |
| Sun 25 Oct | Overcast | 6° / -5° | 8 km/h | dry | Rising (+2.4 hPa) |
| Mon 26 Oct | Partly cloudy | 9° / -5° | 8 km/h | dry | Falling (-1.6 hPa) |
Courtney Lake, in brief
What fish are in Courtney Lake?
Rainbow Trout. Species from the province's fish observation records.
Which management unit is Courtney Lake in?
Courtney Lake is in MU 3-12, in the Thompson-Nicola. The BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis is organised by management unit; check it before you go.
Trout lakes near Courtney Lake
- Corbett Lake 2 km away
- Menzies Lake 4 km away
- Kane Lakes 7 km away
- Harmon Lake 8 km away
- Marquart Lake 9 km away
All 342 lakes in the Thompson-Nicola, with today's conditions on each.