Dragon Lake
MU 5-2, Cariboo
52.9500° N, 122.4233° W
- Surface area
- 280ha
- Elevation
- 625m
Legendary for producing monster rainbow trout exceeding 10 lbs due to rich freshwater shrimp populations.
Open Dragon Lake in the appThe 7-day forecast, max depth and wildfire smoke check, on the lake's own coordinate.
Trophy fish at Dragon Lake
Dragon Lake is known for trophy Rainbow trout to 12 lb.
- Rainbow trout to 12 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.
Dragon Lake at a glance
- Region
- Cariboo
- Management unit
- MU 5-2
- Species
- Rainbow Trout, Anadromous Bull Trout, Brook Trout (last recorded 1972), Burbot (last recorded 1960), Whitefish (General) (last recorded 1960), Northern Pikeminnow (last recorded 1960), Sucker (General) (last recorded 1960), Longnose Sucker (last recorded 1952)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
- Open to ice fishing, confirmed
- Coordinates
- 52.95, -122.4233
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Gear for rainbow trout
Lines, leaders, lures and flies for rainbow trout, searched on Amazon.ca.
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What people catch at Dragon Lake
A stocked Quesnel lake with a one fish limit, which tells you what it is for. Trout regularly reach 2 to 3 lb.
- Rainbow Trout Stocked
Typically 2 to 3 lb
About 50,000 stocked a year.
Source: Tour Canada
The rule that shapes it. No Fishing southeast of a line between fishing boundary signs on opposite shores of the bay at the mouth of Hallis Creek, Apr 1-May 31; Trout daily quota = 1. Source: Province of British Columbia
Fish on record at Dragon Lake
| Species | First recorded | Last recorded | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | 1927 | 2026 | 288 |
| Anadromous Bull Trout | 2003 | 2003 | 1 |
| Brook Trout | 1960 | 1972 | 3 |
| Burbot | 1952 | 1960 | 2 |
| Whitefish (General) | 1952 | 1960 | 2 |
| Northern Pikeminnow | 1952 | 1960 | 2 |
| Sucker (General) | 1960 | 1960 | 1 |
| Longnose 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 Dragon Lake
Shrimp (scud) patterns, giant water boatman in fall, slow-trolled black/maroon leeches, chironomids.
Best times of year at Dragon Lake
- April (Ice-out) - June
- Late Sept - Nov
Dragon Lake fishing regulations
No Fishing southeast of a line between fishing boundary signs on opposite shores of the bay at the mouth of Hallis Creek, Apr 1-May 31; Trout daily quota = 1. Source: Province of British Columbia
Getting to Dragon Lake
Just south of Quesnel off Hwy 97. Public boat launch and dock at Robert's Roost area.
1.5 km of traced road to the shore by way of Gook Rd. The road at the end is a paved surface. It stops 500 m short of the shore.
Coordinates: 52.95, -122.4233
Depth chart for Dragon Lake
The Province sounded Dragon Lake and published the depth chart surveyed in 1979.
The ice year at Dragon Lake, modelled
Modelled from air temperature, not an ice report. It says nothing about whether ice will hold you.
In the model Dragon Lake froze in 65 of the 65 winters since 1960. Freeze-up falls most years between 7 November and 24 November, and ice-off between 6 April and 30 April. The median winter freezes on 15 November and opens on 19 April.
the middle half of modelled winters the median ice cover in the median winter
Winter 2024-25 in the model: frozen from 17 November 2024 to 6 April 2025, 140 days.
Dragon 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.
Dragon Lake climate, 1960 to 2025
Averaged over a year, the air above Dragon 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
- 6.0 Caverage year now
- 5.1 Caverage year then
- -9 daysbelow freezing, change
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
This week at Dragon 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 | Partly cloudy | 11° / -1° | 13 km/h, gusts 31 | dry | Steady |
| Wed 21 Oct | Overcast | 12° / 2° | 12 km/h, gusts 25 | dry | Falling (-9.4 hPa) |
| Thu 22 Oct | Light drizzle | 8° / 1° | 10 km/h, gusts 26 | dry | Rising (+4.7 hPa) |
| Fri 23 Oct | Overcast | 7° / -2° | 4 km/h, gusts 11 | dry | Rising (+11.9 hPa) |
| Sat 24 Oct | Overcast | 8° / -1° | 6 km/h, gusts 18 | dry | Steady |
| Sun 25 Oct | Clear sky | 6° / -3° | 5 km/h, gusts 17 | dry | Rising (+6.2 hPa) |
| Mon 26 Oct | Overcast | 7° / -3° | 2 km/h, gusts 14 | dry | Falling (-2.8 hPa) |
Dragon Lake, in brief
What fish are in Dragon Lake?
Rainbow Trout, Anadromous Bull Trout, Brook Trout (last recorded 1972), Burbot (last recorded 1960), Whitefish (General) (last recorded 1960). Species from the province's fish observation records.
Which management unit is Dragon Lake in?
Dragon 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 Dragon Lake
- Spruce Lake 7 km away
- Dale Lake 8 km away
- Ten Mile Lake 15 km away
- Sixteen Mile Lake 15 km away
- Davey Lake 15 km away
All 328 lakes in the Cariboo, with today's conditions on each.