Francois Lake
MU 6-4, Skeena
54.0500° N, 125.7500° W
- Surface area
- 25700ha
- Maximum depth
- 244.4m
- 802 ft
- Elevation
- 715m
Francois Lake is a 110-kilometer-long natural wonder in the Lakes District of central BC. Plunging over 240 meters deep, its cold, oxygen-rich waters produce heavy wild rainbows and deep-dwelling lake char in a dramatic wilderness setting.
Open Francois Lake in the appThe 7-day forecast, max depth and wildfire smoke check, on the lake's own coordinate.
Trophy fish at Francois Lake
Francois Lake is known for trophy Lake trout to 25 lb.
- Lake trout to 25 lb
- Rainbow trout to 10 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.
Francois Lake at a glance
- Region
- Skeena
- Management unit
- MU 6-4
- Species
- Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Burbot, Bull Trout, Lake Whitefish, Kokanee (last recorded 1989), Dolly Varden (last recorded 1989), Mountain Whitefish (last recorded 1973), Sockeye Salmon, Prickly Sculpin, Redside Shiner, White Sucker, Longnose Dace, Northern Pikeminnow, Spoonhead Sculpin, Longnose Sucker (last recorded 1973), Sculpin (General) (last recorded 1973), Chub (General) (last recorded 1968), Sucker (General) (last recorded 1968)The newest of these fish records is from 2012.Species from the province's fish observation records.
- Lake size
- Large Water (> 500 ha)
- Ice fishing
- No ice fishing closure on file
- Coordinates
- 54.05, -125.75
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Gear for lake trout
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Fish on record at Francois Lake
| Species | First recorded | Last recorded | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Trout | 1950 | 2001 | 7 |
| Rainbow Trout | 1950 | 2012 | 10 |
| Burbot | 1973 | 2010 | 6 |
| Bull Trout | 2012 | 2012 | 14 |
| Lake Whitefish | 1973 | 2001 | 2 |
| Kokanee | 1962 | 1989 | 4 |
| Dolly Varden | 1968 | 1989 | 3 |
| Mountain Whitefish | 1968 | 1973 | 2 |
| Sockeye Salmon | 1970 | 2001 | 3 |
| Prickly Sculpin | 2010 | 2012 | 41 |
| Redside Shiner | 2012 | 2012 | 18 |
| White Sucker | 2010 | 2012 | 18 |
| Longnose Dace | 2012 | 2012 | 16 |
| Northern Pikeminnow | 1973 | 2012 | 5 |
| Spoonhead Sculpin | 2010 | 2010 | 1 |
| Longnose Sucker | 1973 | 1973 | 1 |
| Sculpin (General) | 1973 | 1973 | 1 |
| Chub (General) | 1968 | 1968 | 1 |
| Sucker (General) | 1968 | 1968 | 1 |
A year is when the Province last recorded the fish here, not a statement that it is caught today.
How to fish Francois Lake
Troll Apex 4.5 lures (metallic blue, watermelon), Gibbs Croc spoons, and Lyman plugs on leadcore or downriggers along deep points and drop-offs. Fly fish windward shoals in early summer with large dragon nymphs and streamers.
Best times of year at Francois Lake
- Summer (June-Aug)
- Fall (Sept-Oct)
Francois Lake fishing regulations
For the area at the outlet of François Lake described on map 1, (see below): No Fishing Nov 15-May 31; char daily quota = 2, no more than 1 over 50 cm; rainbow trout catch and release; bait ban; single barbless hook; no set lining. Source: Province of British Columbia
Getting to Francois Lake
Paved Hwy 35 south from Burns Lake to Francois Lake ferry terminal, and gravel roads along North and South shores.
Coordinates: 54.05, -125.75
Camping and rec sites at Francois Lake
- Francois Lake Provincial Park & Rec Sites
Multiple government campsites and private resorts
Facilities: Boat Ramp, Campground, Toilets, Dock
Access: Paved Hwy 35
How deep Francois Lake is
244.4 mdeepest
Francois Lake runs to 244.4 m (802 ft) at its deepest.
The ice year at Francois Lake, modelled
Modelled from air temperature, not an ice report. It says nothing about whether ice will hold you.
The model treats Francois 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.
No ice fishing closure is recorded for Francois Lake, so the general regional regulations apply.
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.
Francois Lake climate, 1960 to 2025
Averaged over a year, the air above Francois Lake is 1.0 C warmer than it was in the 1960s. That is 66 years of daily readings, not a forecast.
- +1.0 Csince the 1960s
- 3.6 Caverage year now
- 2.5 Caverage year then
- -10 daysbelow freezing, change
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
This week at Francois 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 | 9° / 1° | 6 km/h, gusts 14 | dry | Steady |
| Wed 21 Oct | Light drizzle | 8° / 5° | 12 km/h, gusts 19 | 1 mm | Falling (-8.5 hPa) |
| Thu 22 Oct | Mainly clear | 6° / 3° | 13 km/h, gusts 21 | dry | Rising (+6.5 hPa) |
| Fri 23 Oct | Overcast | 5° / 1° | 11 km/h, gusts 18 | dry | Rising (+9.7 hPa) |
| Sat 24 Oct | Overcast | 5° / 1° | 15 km/h, gusts 26 | dry | Rising (+1.0 hPa) |
| Sun 25 Oct | Overcast | 5° / 0° | 10 km/h, gusts 18 | dry | Rising (+3.7 hPa) |
| Mon 26 Oct | Overcast | 6° / 3° | 7 km/h, gusts 18 | dry | Falling (-1.3 hPa) |
Francois Lake, in brief
What fish are in Francois Lake?
Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Burbot, Bull Trout, Lake Whitefish, Kokanee (last recorded 1989), Dolly Varden (last recorded 1989), Mountain Whitefish (last recorded 1973), Sockeye Salmon. Species from the province's fish observation records.
Which management unit is Francois Lake in?
Francois Lake is in MU 6-4, in the Skeena. The BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis is organised by management unit; check it before you go.
Trout lakes near Francois Lake
- François Lake 1 km away
- Tchesinkut Lake 10 km away
- Mollice Lake 10 km away
- Guyishton Lake 13 km away
- Uncha Lake 17 km away
All 183 lakes in the Skeena, with today's conditions on each.