St. Mary Lake fishing

Fishing near Nanaimo, Campbell River and the rest of Vancouver Island. See all Vancouver Island lakes.

St. Mary Lake is located on Saltspring Island in the BC Gulf Islands . Regular ferry service to the island is available from Schwartz Bay on Vancouver Island to Fulford Harbour, Duncan on Vancouver Island to Vesuvius Bay and Tsawassen south of Vancouver, BC to Long Harbour. St. Mary Lake is found 3.

St. Mary Lake is a medium lake in Vancouver Island, the trout country reached from Nanaimo. It covers 98.8 ha and runs to 16.8 m at its deepest point, sitting at 42 m of elevation. Fish here typically run 1.5 to 3 lbs and the stock is Pennask & Blackwater Rainbow Trout.

Open St. Mary Lake in the app for the 7-day forecast, depth map and wildfire smoke check

St. Mary Lake at a glance

Region
Region 1 - Vancouver Island
Management unit
MU 1-5
Elevation
42 m
Maximum depth
16.8 m
Surface area
98.8 ha
Lake size
Medium Lake (50 - 500 ha)
Trout strain
Pennask & Blackwater Rainbow Trout
Typical size
1.5 to 3 lbs (Smallmouth Bass & Trout)
Size class
Medium Trout (1.5 - 2.5 lbs)
Stocking
Stocked / Wild Fishery (FFSBC)
Boat launch
Cartop / Small Boat Launch
Motor rules
Gas & Electric Motors Permitted
Ice fishing
No ice fishing closure on file

How to fish St. Mary Lake

Targeting trophy-class Rainbow Trout.

This is a quality-over-quantity fishery, go in expecting a slower day for a bigger average fish.

Best times of year at St. Mary Lake

Getting to St. Mary Lake

Camping and resort accommodations are available at St. Mary Lake on Saltspring Island. Cartop boat launches are provided.

Coordinates: 48.8914, -123.5453

Boat launch: Cartop / Small Boat Launch.

St. Mary Lake fishing regulations

Single barbless hook. Standard regional regulations apply (check synopsis).

Standard Regional Regulations.

Always check the current BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis before you go. Regulations change in season.

Ice fishing at St. Mary Lake

No ice fishing closure is recorded for St. Mary 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.

Camping and rec sites at St. Mary Lake

Local shops and lodges in Vancouver Island

Trout lakes near St. Mary Lake

Data from the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis, and Sites and Trails BC.