Nanaimo Lakes
MU 1-5, Vancouver Island
49.0941° N, 124.2177° W
- Surface area
- 176.4ha
- Elevation
- 196m
Open Nanaimo Lakes in the appThe 7-day forecast, max depth and wildfire smoke check, on the lake's own coordinate.
Trophy fish at Nanaimo Lakes
Nanaimo Lakes is known for trophy Cutthroat trout to 5.5 lb.
- Cutthroat trout to 5.5 lb
- Rainbow trout to 5.5 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.
Nanaimo Lakes at a glance
- Region
- Vancouver Island
- Management unit
- MU 1-5
- Species
- Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Kokanee, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead (last recorded 1989), Prickly SculpinThe newest of these fish records is from 2004.Species from the province's fish observation records.
- Lake size
- Medium Lake (50 - 500 ha)
- Coordinates
- 49.094086, -124.217687
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Gear for cutthroat trout
Lines, leaders, lures and flies for cutthroat trout, searched on Amazon.ca.
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Fish on record at Nanaimo Lakes
| Species | First recorded | Last recorded | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cutthroat Trout | 1971 | 2004 | 3 |
| Rainbow Trout | 1971 | 2004 | 2 |
| Dolly Varden | 1971 | 2004 | 2 |
| Kokanee | 1971 | 2004 | 3 |
| Chinook Salmon | 1971 | 2004 | 2 |
| Coho Salmon | 1971 | 2004 | 2 |
| Steelhead | 1988 | 1989 | 2 |
| Prickly Sculpin | 2004 | 2004 | 1 |
A year is when the Province last recorded the fish here, not a statement that it is caught today.
Nanaimo Lakes fishing regulations
We have no lake specific regulations on file for Nanaimo Lakes yet.
Getting to Nanaimo Lakes
26.3 km of traced road to the shore by way of Nanaimo River Rd, Nanaimo Lakes Rd, Wakesiah Ave and Fifth St. The road at the end is a paved surface. It stops 380 m short of the shore.
Coordinates: 49.094086, -124.217687
The ice year at Nanaimo Lakes, modelled
Modelled from air temperature, not an ice report. It says nothing about whether ice will hold you.
In the model Nanaimo Lakes froze in 49 of the 65 winters since 1960. Freeze-up falls most years between 11 December and 13 January, and ice-off between 4 January and 9 February. The median winter freezes on 25 December and opens on 20 January.
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 20 February 2025, 19 days.
We have no ice fishing regulation on file for Nanaimo Lakes either way. Check the current BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis before you plan a trip.
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.
Nanaimo Lakes climate, 1960 to 2025
Averaged over a year, the air above Nanaimo Lakes is 0.6 C warmer than it was in the 1960s. That is 66 years of daily readings, not a forecast.
- +0.6 Csince the 1960s
- 8.0 Caverage year now
- 7.3 Caverage year then
- -13 daysbelow freezing, change
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
This week at Nanaimo Lakes
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 23 Oct | Overcast | 6° / 3° | 6 km/h, gusts 24 | dry | Steady |
| Sat 24 Oct | Heavy rain | 6° / 3° | 15 km/h, gusts 37 | 23 mm | Falling (-5.3 hPa) |
| Sun 25 Oct | Heavy rain | 8° / 4° | 18 km/h, gusts 48 | 12 mm | Falling (-7.1 hPa) |
| Mon 26 Oct | Fog | 12° / 5° | 9 km/h, gusts 17 | dry | Rising (+2.0 hPa) |
| Tue 27 Oct | Moderate rain showers | 11° / 4° | 5 km/h, gusts 16 | 2 mm | Steady |
| Wed 28 Oct | Moderate rain showers | 7° / 3° | 10 km/h, gusts 19 | 8 mm | Falling (-7.9 hPa) |
| Thu 29 Oct | Heavy rain | 3° / -2° | 5 km/h, gusts 30 | 12 mm | Rising (+3.9 hPa) |
Nanaimo Lakes, in brief
What fish are in Nanaimo Lakes?
Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Kokanee, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead (last recorded 1989). Species from the province's fish observation records.
How big is Nanaimo Lakes?
Nanaimo Lakes covers about 176.4 ha, by the province's Freshwater Atlas.
Which management unit is Nanaimo Lakes in?
Nanaimo Lakes is in MU 1-5, on Vancouver Island. The BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis is organised by management unit; check it before you go.
Trout lakes near Nanaimo Lakes
- Nanaimo Lakes 4 km away
- Healy Lake (Panther Lake) 9 km away
- Westwood Lake 17 km away
- Labour Day Lake 18 km away
- Brannen Lake 18 km away
All 193 lakes on Vancouver Island, with today's conditions on each.