Kamloops Lake
MU 3-29, Thompson-Nicola
50.7500° N, 120.6667° W
- Surface area
- 4975.1ha
- Maximum depth
- 152m
- 499 ft
- Elevation
- 336m
A widening of the Thompson River west of Kamloops, Kamloops Lake is a deep, dramatic canyon lake with plunging rocky walls. The powerful flow-through of the Thompson River creates exceptional food supply for wild rainbows and bull trout.
Open Kamloops Lake in the appThe 7-day forecast, max depth and wildfire smoke check, on the lake's own coordinate.
Trophy fish at Kamloops Lake
Kamloops Lake is known for trophy Rainbow trout to 12 lb.
- Rainbow trout to 12 lb
- Bull 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.
Kamloops Lake at a glance
- Region
- Thompson-Nicola
- Management unit
- MU 3-29
- Species
- Rainbow Trout (last recorded 1989), Bull Trout, Kokanee, Burbot (last recorded 1988), Mountain Whitefish (last recorded 1989), Dolly Varden (last recorded 1989), Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Steelhead (last recorded 1950), Salmon (General) (last recorded 1950), Northern Pikeminnow, Sculpin (General), Lamprey (General), Redside Shiner, Largescale Sucker (last recorded 1989), Peamouth Chub (last recorded 1988), Longnose Sucker (last recorded 1988), Sucker (General) (last recorded 1988), Prickly Sculpin (last recorded 1950)The newest of these fish records is from 2011.Species from the province's fish observation records.
- Lake size
- Large Water (> 500 ha)
- Ice fishing
- Open to ice fishing, confirmed
- Coordinates
- 50.75, -120.6667
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Gear for rainbow trout
Lines, leaders, lures and flies for rainbow trout, searched on Amazon.ca.
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Fish on record at Kamloops Lake
| Species | First recorded | Last recorded | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | 1946 | 1989 | 12 |
| Bull Trout | 1999 | 1999 | 1 |
| Burbot | 1988 | 1988 | 1 |
| Mountain Whitefish | 1949 | 1989 | 4 |
| Dolly Varden | 1988 | 1989 | 2 |
| Chinook Salmon | 1949 | 1999 | 5 |
| Coho Salmon | 1998 | 1999 | 3 |
| Pink Salmon | 1998 | 1998 | 1 |
| Steelhead | 1949 | 1950 | 2 |
| Salmon (General) | 1950 | 1950 | 1 |
| Northern Pikeminnow | 1988 | 2011 | 3 |
| Sculpin (General) | 1999 | 2011 | 2 |
| Lamprey (General) | 2011 | 2011 | 1 |
| Redside Shiner | 1999 | 1999 | 1 |
| Largescale Sucker | 1988 | 1989 | 2 |
| Peamouth Chub | 1949 | 1988 | 3 |
| Longnose Sucker | 1988 | 1988 | 1 |
| Sucker (General) | 1988 | 1988 | 1 |
| Prickly Sculpin | 1949 | 1950 | 2 |
A year is when the Province last recorded the fish here, not a statement that it is caught today.
How to fish Kamloops Lake
Troll apex lures, flatfish, and spoons near the Thompson River inlet and outlet drop-offs. Cast large streamers and weighted leeches along rocky railway bluffs.
Best times of year at Kamloops Lake
- Spring (April-June)
- Fall (Sept-Nov)
Kamloops Lake fishing regulations
Rainbow trout daily quota = 2 (none over 50 cm), bull trout daily quota = 1 (none under 60 cm); single barbless hook. Source: Province of British Columbia
Getting to Kamloops Lake
Paved highway access via Trans-Canada Hwy 1 near Savona and Kamloops Lake viewpoint.
Coordinates: 50.75, -120.6667
Camping and rec sites at Kamloops Lake
- Savona Municipal Ramp & Steelhead Provincial Park
Cartop launch in Steelhead Park; larger public ramp 2 minutes away in the community of Savona
Facilities: Boat Launch, Cartop Launch, Pit Toilets
Access: Paved Trans-Canada Hwy 1 to Savona (2WD)
Depth chart for Kamloops Lake
152 mdeepest
Kamloops Lake runs to 152 m (499 ft) at its deepest.
The Province sounded Kamloops Lake and published the depth chart surveyed in 1980.
The ice year at Kamloops Lake, modelled
Modelled from air temperature, not an ice report. It says nothing about whether ice will hold you.
The model treats Kamloops 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.
Kamloops 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.
Kamloops Lake climate, 1960 to 2025
Averaged over a year, the air above Kamloops Lake is 1.4 C warmer than it was in the 1960s. That is 66 years of daily readings, not a forecast.
- +1.4 Csince the 1960s
- 7.0 Caverage year now
- 5.6 Caverage year then
- -19 daysbelow freezing, change
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
This week at Kamloops 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 | 16° / 5° | 21 km/h | dry | Steady |
| Wed 21 Oct | Overcast | 22° / 7° | 12 km/h, gusts 24 | dry | Falling (-7.8 hPa) |
| Thu 22 Oct | Overcast | 15° / 8° | 16 km/h, gusts 25 | dry | Steady |
| Fri 23 Oct | Overcast | 13° / 3° | 16 km/h, gusts 25 | dry | Rising (+12.7 hPa) |
| Sat 24 Oct | Overcast | 12° / 0° | 13 km/h, gusts 18 | dry | Rising (+4.4 hPa) |
| Sun 25 Oct | Overcast | 10° / 0° | 8 km/h | dry | Rising (+3.2 hPa) |
| Mon 26 Oct | Overcast | 10° / -1° | 9 km/h | dry | Falling (-2.0 hPa) |
Kamloops Lake, in brief
What fish are in Kamloops Lake?
Rainbow Trout (last recorded 1989), Bull Trout, Kokanee, Burbot (last recorded 1988), Mountain Whitefish (last recorded 1989), Dolly Varden (last recorded 1989), Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Steelhead (last recorded 1950), Salmon (General) (last recorded 1950). Species from the province's fish observation records.
Which management unit is Kamloops Lake in?
Kamloops Lake is in MU 3-29, in the Thompson-Nicola. The BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis is organised by management unit; check it before you go.
Trout lakes near Kamloops Lake
- Pat (Six Mile) Lake 5 km away
- Duffy Lake 11 km away
- Dairy Lakes 14 km away
- Pass Lake 17 km away
- Red Lake 18 km away
All 342 lakes in the Thompson-Nicola, with today's conditions on each.