Cultus Lake
MU 2-3, Lower Mainland
49.0542° N, 121.9847° W
- Surface area
- 635.6ha
- Maximum depth
- 41.8m
- 137 ft
- Elevation
- 45m
Popular Fraser Valley lake with excellent early spring and late fall trout fishing.
Open Cultus Lake in the appThe 7-day forecast, max depth and wildfire smoke check, on the lake's own coordinate.
Trophy fish at Cultus Lake
Cultus Lake is known for trophy Dolly Varden to 6 lb.
- Cutthroat trout to 5 lb
- Rainbow trout to 5 lb
- Dolly Varden to 6 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.
Cultus Lake at a glance
- Region
- Lower Mainland
- Management unit
- MU 2-3
- Species
- Cutthroat Trout, Westslope (Yellowstone) Cutthroat Trout (last recorded 1957), Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden (last recorded 1995), Smallmouth Bass, Whitefish (General), Kokanee, Bull Trout, White Sturgeon, Mountain Whitefish (last recorded 1995), Lake Whitefish (last recorded 1920), Coho Salmon, Sockeye Salmon, Steelhead (last recorded 1995), Chinook Salmon (last recorded 1995), Chum Salmon (last recorded 1995), Pink Salmon (last recorded 1995), Northern Pikeminnow, Largescale Sucker, Peamouth Chub, Redside Shiner, Prickly Sculpin, Threespine Stickleback, Cultus Lake Sculpin, Sucker (General), Coastrange Sculpin (formerly Aleutian Sculpin), Longnose Dace (last recorded 1995), Western Brook Lamprey (last recorded 1995), Chub (General) (last recorded 1947)The newest of these fish records is from 2021.Species from the province's fish observation records.
- Lake size
- Large Water (> 500 ha)
- Ice fishing
- Open to ice fishing, confirmed
- Coordinates
- 49.0542, -121.9847
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Gear for Dolly Varden
Lines, leaders, lures and flies for Dolly Varden, searched on Amazon.ca.
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What people catch at Cultus Lake
A big Chilliwack lake. Fishing with Rod calls dew worms the most productive bait, and suggests suspending a fly under a strike indicator.
Dew worms are the most productive bait. Source: Fishing with Rod
Suspend the fly under a strike indicator. Source: Fishing with Rod
The rule that shapes it. No wild trout over 50 cm, 1 bull trout over 60 cm; no vessels on parts; speed restriction (5 km/h) at north end, as buoyed and signed; Kokanee catch and release. Source: Province of British Columbia
Fish on record at Cultus Lake
| Species | First recorded | Last recorded | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cutthroat Trout | 1934 | 2008 | 50 |
| Westslope (Yellowstone) Cutthroat Trout | 1957 | 1957 | 3 |
| Rainbow Trout | 1919 | 2008 | 66 |
| Dolly Varden | 1947 | 1995 | 4 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 2020 | 2021 | 12 |
| Whitefish (General) | 2006 | 2008 | 56 |
| Kokanee | 1951 | 2008 | 18 |
| Bull Trout | 1998 | 2008 | 13 |
| White Sturgeon | 2006 | 2006 | 1 |
| Mountain Whitefish | 1951 | 1995 | 2 |
| Lake Whitefish | 1920 | 1920 | 1 |
| Coho Salmon | 1947 | 2008 | 18 |
| Sockeye Salmon | 1951 | 2006 | 11 |
| Steelhead | 1956 | 1995 | 8 |
| Chinook Salmon | 1995 | 1995 | 1 |
| Chum Salmon | 1995 | 1995 | 1 |
| Pink Salmon | 1995 | 1995 | 1 |
| Northern Pikeminnow | 1947 | 2008 | 189 |
| Largescale Sucker | 1947 | 2008 | 89 |
| Peamouth Chub | 1951 | 2008 | 24 |
| Redside Shiner | 1995 | 2008 | 5 |
| Prickly Sculpin | 1947 | 2008 | 4 |
| Threespine Stickleback | 1995 | 2008 | 2 |
| Cultus Lake Sculpin | 1995 | 2007 | 8 |
| Sucker (General) | 2006 | 2006 | 16 |
| Coastrange Sculpin (formerly Aleutian Sculpin) | 1947 | 1998 | 4 |
| Longnose Dace | 1995 | 1995 | 1 |
| Western Brook Lamprey | 1995 | 1995 | 1 |
| Chub (General) | 1947 | 1947 | 1 |
A year is when the Province last recorded the fish here, not a statement that it is caught today.
How to fish Cultus Lake
Trolling deep spoons and plugs in cooler months, casting spinners at Vedder River outlet.
Best times of year at Cultus Lake
- March - May
- October - December
Cultus Lake fishing regulations
No wild trout over 50 cm, 1 bull trout over 60 cm; no vessels on parts; speed restriction (5 km/h) at north end, as buoyed and signed; Kokanee catch and release. Source: Province of British Columbia
Getting to Cultus Lake
Chilliwack. Paved highway access, public concrete boat ramps, docks.
Coordinates: 49.0542, -121.9847
Camping and rec sites at Cultus Lake
- Entrance Bay Campground (Cultus Lake Provincial Park)
170 vehicle campsites, concrete boat ramp, day-use beach, flush toilets, showers
Facilities: Concrete Boat Launch, Vehicle Campsites, Sandy Beach, Flush Toilets, Showers
Access: Paved Columbia Valley Hwy (2WD) - Clear Creek Campground (Cultus Lake Provincial Park)
83 vehicle campsites in mature cedar forest, flush toilets, hot showers
Facilities: Vehicle Campsites, Flush Toilets, Showers, Fire Rings, Tables
Access: Paved Columbia Valley Hwy (2WD)
Depth chart for Cultus Lake
41.8 mdeepest32 mmean
Cultus Lake runs to 41.8 m (137 ft) at its deepest.
The Province sounded Cultus Lake and published the depth chart.
The ice year at Cultus Lake, modelled
Modelled from air temperature, not an ice report. It says nothing about whether ice will hold you.
In the model Cultus Lake froze in 56 of the 65 winters since 1960. Freeze-up falls most years between 11 December and 9 January, and ice-off between 4 January and 18 February. The median winter freezes on 26 December and opens on 22 January.
the middle half of modelled winters the median ice cover in the median winter
Winter 2024-25 in the model: frozen from 2 February 2025 to 18 February 2025, 16 days.
Cultus 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.
Cultus Lake climate, 1960 to 2025
Averaged over a year, the air above Cultus 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
- 6.1 Caverage year now
- 4.8 Caverage year then
- -22 daysbelow freezing, change
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
This week at Cultus 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 | 18° / 8° | 10 km/h, gusts 30 | dry | Steady |
| Wed 21 Oct | Overcast | 19° / 12° | 9 km/h | dry | Falling (-4.8 hPa) |
| Thu 22 Oct | Overcast | 15° / 8° | 7 km/h | dry | Steady |
| Fri 23 Oct | Overcast | 14° / 6° | 7 km/h | dry | Rising (+10.5 hPa) |
| Sat 24 Oct | Overcast | 15° / 6° | 10 km/h | dry | Rising (+2.5 hPa) |
| Sun 25 Oct | Overcast | 18° / 7° | 13 km/h | dry | Steady |
| Mon 26 Oct | Overcast | 18° / 7° | 11 km/h | dry | Steady |
Cultus Lake, in brief
What fish are in Cultus Lake?
Cutthroat Trout, Westslope (Yellowstone) Cutthroat Trout (last recorded 1957), Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden (last recorded 1995), Smallmouth Bass, Whitefish (General), Kokanee, Bull Trout, White Sturgeon, Mountain Whitefish (last recorded 1995), Lake Whitefish (last recorded 1920), Coho Salmon, Sockeye Salmon, Steelhead (last recorded 1995), Chinook Salmon (last recorded 1995), Chum Salmon (last recorded 1995), Pink Salmon (last recorded 1995). Species from the province's fish observation records.
Which management unit is Cultus Lake in?
Cultus Lake is in MU 2-3, in the Lower Mainland. The BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis is organised by management unit; check it before you go.
Trout lakes near Cultus Lake
- Sardis Park Pond 9 km away
- Errock (Squakum) Lake 19 km away
- Hatzic Lake And Slough 22 km away
- Cheam Lake 23 km away
- Mill Lake (Abbotsford) 24 km away
All 133 lakes in the Lower Mainland, with today's conditions on each.