Muchalat Lake
MU 1-9, Vancouver Island
49.8733° N, 126.1992° W
- Surface area
- 548.8ha
- Maximum depth
- 62.2m
- 204 ft
- Elevation
- 199m
- Campsites
- 40
- At Muchalat Lake rec site
Muchalat Lake is located 19 km (11.72 m.) from Gold River . The access road is off of the road from Gold River to Woss.
Open Muchalat Lake in the appThe 7-day forecast, max depth and wildfire smoke check, on the lake's own coordinate.
Trophy fish at Muchalat Lake
Muchalat Lake is known for trophy Rainbow trout to 5 lb.
- Rainbow trout to 5 lb
- Cutthroat trout to 5 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.
Muchalat Lake at a glance
- Region
- Vancouver Island
- Management unit
- MU 1-9
- Species
- Rainbow Trout (last recorded 1981), Cutthroat Trout (last recorded 1981), Dolly Varden (last recorded 1981), Sockeye Salmon (last recorded 1995), Steelhead (last recorded 1975), Chinook Salmon (last recorded 1975), Chum Salmon (last recorded 1975), Coho Salmon (last recorded 1975), Pink Salmon (last recorded 1975), Threespine SticklebackThe newest of these fish records is from 2021.Species from the province's fish observation records.
- Lake size
- Large Water (> 500 ha)
- Ice fishing
- No ice fishing closure on file
- Coordinates
- 49.8733, -126.1992
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Gear for rainbow trout
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Fish on record at Muchalat Lake
| Species | First recorded | Last recorded | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | 1971 | 1981 | 3 |
| Cutthroat Trout | 1971 | 1981 | 3 |
| Dolly Varden | 1971 | 1981 | 3 |
| Sockeye Salmon | 1975 | 1995 | 3 |
| Steelhead | 1971 | 1975 | 2 |
| Chinook Salmon | 1975 | 1975 | 1 |
| Chum Salmon | 1975 | 1975 | 1 |
| Coho Salmon | 1975 | 1975 | 1 |
| Pink Salmon | 1975 | 1975 | 1 |
| Threespine Stickleback | 2013 | 2021 | 6 |
A year is when the Province last recorded the fish here, not a statement that it is caught today.
How to fish Muchalat Lake
Best times of year at Muchalat Lake
- May - June
- September - October
Muchalat Lake fishing regulations
We have no lake specific regulations on file for Muchalat Lake yet.
Getting to Muchalat Lake
A campsite, boat launching ramp and float plane base are provided.
15.7 km of traced road to the campground by way of Tsaxana Bypass, Wickaninnish Rd, Head Bay FSR, Gold River Rd and Gold River Hwy. The road at the end is a rough surface.
Coordinates: 49.8733, -126.1992
Camping and rec sites at Muchalat Lake
- Muchalat Lake
- Campsites
- 40 designated
- To the shore
- 143 m
Access: As you approach the Village of Gold River via Hwy 28, head straight through the junction (don't turn left into town). After crossing the river, you'll come to a T-junction. Turn right (head north) and follow the signs to Muchalat Lake Recreation Site. About 12 km from the T-junction (mostly gravel road); 20 minutes.
Coordinates: 49.873601, -126.162778
Depth chart for Muchalat Lake
62.2 mdeepest
Muchalat Lake runs to 62.2 m (204 ft) at its deepest.
The Province sounded Muchalat Lake and published the depth chart surveyed in 1971.
The ice year at Muchalat Lake, modelled
Modelled from air temperature, not an ice report. It says nothing about whether ice will hold you.
In the model Muchalat Lake froze in 54 of the 65 winters since 1960. Freeze-up falls most years between 13 December and 25 January, and ice-off between 18 January and 10 March. The median winter freezes on 29 December and opens on 13 February.
the middle half of modelled winters the median ice cover in the median winter
Winter 2024-25 in the model: frozen from 1 February 2025 to 23 February 2025, 22 days.
No ice fishing closure is recorded for Muchalat 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.
Muchalat Lake climate, 1960 to 2025
Averaged over a year, the air above Muchalat Lake is 0.8 C warmer than it was in the 1960s. That is 66 years of daily readings, not a forecast.
- +0.8 Csince the 1960s
- 4.7 Caverage year now
- 3.9 Caverage year then
- -9 daysbelow freezing, change
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
This week at Muchalat 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 | 18° / 2° | 7 km/h, gusts 20 | dry | Steady |
| Wed 21 Oct | Overcast | 15° / 4° | 3 km/h, gusts 23 | dry | Falling (-4.8 hPa) |
| Thu 22 Oct | Overcast | 12° / 3° | 12 km/h, gusts 36 | dry | Rising (+5.3 hPa) |
| Fri 23 Oct | Overcast | 13° / 0° | 8 km/h, gusts 22 | dry | Rising (+7.2 hPa) |
| Sat 24 Oct | Slight rain | 8° / 6° | 7 km/h, gusts 15 | 10 mm | Falling (-1.9 hPa) |
| Sun 25 Oct | Overcast | 18° / 4° | 7 km/h, gusts 20 | dry | Falling (-2.0 hPa) |
| Mon 26 Oct | Overcast | 16° / 6° | 6 km/h, gusts 20 | dry | Steady |
Muchalat Lake, in brief
What fish are in Muchalat Lake?
Rainbow Trout (last recorded 1981), Cutthroat Trout (last recorded 1981), Dolly Varden (last recorded 1981), Sockeye Salmon (last recorded 1995), Steelhead (last recorded 1975), Chinook Salmon (last recorded 1975), Chum Salmon (last recorded 1975), Coho Salmon (last recorded 1975), Pink Salmon (last recorded 1975). Species from the province's fish observation records.
Which management unit is Muchalat Lake in?
Muchalat Lake is in MU 1-9, on Vancouver Island. The BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis is organised by management unit; check it before you go.
Trout lakes near Muchalat Lake
- Bull Lake 8 km away
- Antler Lake 13 km away
- Twaddle Lake 14 km away
- Star Lake 19 km away
- Gold Lake 19 km away
All 193 lakes on Vancouver Island, with today's conditions on each.