White Lake
MU 3-26, Thompson-Nicola
50.8850° N, 119.2700° W
- Surface area
- 562.1ha
- Maximum depth
- 40.2m
- 132 ft
- Elevation
- 485m
Renowned for crystal clear, turquoise waters and fast-growing trophy rainbow trout over 6 lbs.
Open White Lake in the appThe 7-day forecast, max depth and wildfire smoke check, on the lake's own coordinate.
Trophy fish at White Lake
White Lake is known for trophy Lake trout to 15 lb.
- Rainbow trout to 6 lb
- Lake trout to 15 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.
White Lake at a glance
- Region
- Thompson-Nicola
- Management unit
- MU 3-26
- Species
- Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Kokanee (last recorded 1995), Goldfish (last recorded 1982), Northern Pikeminnow (last recorded 1960), Peamouth Chub (last recorded 1960), Lake Chub (last recorded 1960), Longnose Sucker (last recorded 1960), Largescale Sucker (last recorded 1960)The province's newest fish record here is from 2026.Species from the province's fish observation records and angling reports.
- Lake size
- Large Water (> 500 ha)
- Catch and release
- Yes
- Ice fishing
- Open to ice fishing, confirmed
- Coordinates
- 50.885, -119.27
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Gear for lake trout
Lines, leaders, lures and flies for lake trout, searched on Amazon.ca.
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What people catch at White Lake
Rainbow trout to 5 kg, fished by fly and by trolling, according to BC Parks, which also points to a productive spring mayfly hatch and dragonfly patterns in July.
- Rainbow Trout
Bigger fish: to 5 kg
Source: BC Parks
A good spring mayfly hatch; in July, gomphus or dragonfly patterns. Source: BC Parks
The rule that shapes it. No Fishing within 400 m of the mouth of Cedar Creek as designated by signs, Dec 1-June 30; Rainbow trout daily quota = 2. Source: Province of British Columbia
Fish on record at White Lake
| Species | First recorded | Last recorded | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | 1934 | 2026 | 961 |
| Kokanee | 1914 | 1995 | 3 |
| Goldfish | 1982 | 1982 | 1 |
| Northern Pikeminnow | 1959 | 1960 | 3 |
| Peamouth Chub | 1959 | 1960 | 3 |
| Lake Chub | 1960 | 1960 | 2 |
| Longnose Sucker | 1959 | 1960 | 2 |
| Largescale Sucker | 1960 | 1960 | 1 |
A year is when the Province last recorded the fish here, not a statement that it is caught today.
How to fish White Lake
Chironomid fishing in 15-30ft water along marl shoals, micro-leeches in dark olive, summer sedge dries.
Best times of year at White Lake
- April - June
- September - October
White Lake fishing regulations
No Fishing within 400 m of the mouth of Cedar Creek as designated by signs, Dec 1-June 30; Rainbow trout daily quota = 2. Source: Province of British Columbia
Getting to White Lake
White Lake Road between Salmon Arm and Chase. Concrete boat launch, Provincial Park, and dock.
8.8 km of traced road to the shore by way of Parri Rd, White Lake Rd and Balmoral Rd. The road at the end is a loose surface. It stops 280 m short of the shore.
Coordinates: 50.885, -119.27
Camping and rec sites at White Lake
- White Lake Provincial Park Campground
20 vehicle-accessible campsites, concrete boat ramp, dock, world-class rainbow trout fly fishing
Facilities: Concrete Boat Launch, Fishing Dock, Vehicle Campsites, Pit Toilets, Fire Rings, Tables
Access: Paved White Lake Rd off Trans-Canada Hwy 1 (2WD)
Depth chart for White Lake
40.2 mdeepest23.5 mmean
White Lake runs to 40.2 m (132 ft) at its deepest.
The Province sounded White Lake and published the depth chart.
The ice year at White Lake, modelled
Modelled from air temperature, not an ice report. It says nothing about whether ice will hold you.
In the model White Lake froze in 65 of the 65 winters since 1960. Freeze-up falls most years between 20 November and 18 December, and ice-off between 8 March and 31 March. The median winter freezes on 4 December and opens on 20 March.
the middle half of modelled winters the median ice cover in the median winter
Winter 2024-25 in the model: frozen from 16 January 2025 to 3 March 2025, 46 days.
White 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.
White Lake climate, 1960 to 2025
Averaged over a year, the air above White 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
- 4.0 Caverage year now
- 3.0 Caverage year then
- -5 daysbelow freezing, change
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
This week at White 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 | 14° / 2° | 11 km/h | dry | Steady |
| Wed 21 Oct | Overcast | 19° / 5° | 6 km/h, gusts 14 | dry | Falling (-6.5 hPa) |
| Thu 22 Oct | Overcast | 16° / 6° | 7 km/h | dry | Falling (-3.7 hPa) |
| Fri 23 Oct | Overcast | 12° / 2° | 7 km/h | dry | Rising (+12.1 hPa) |
| Sat 24 Oct | Overcast | 9° / -1° | 4 km/h | dry | Rising (+6.5 hPa) |
| Sun 25 Oct | Overcast | 10° / -1° | 5 km/h | dry | Rising (+3.3 hPa) |
| Mon 26 Oct | Overcast | 10° / -2° | 4 km/h | dry | Steady |
White Lake, in brief
What fish are in White Lake?
Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Kokanee (last recorded 1995). Species from the province's fish observation records and angling reports.
Which management unit is White Lake in?
White Lake is in MU 3-26, in the Thompson-Nicola. The BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis is organised by management unit; check it before you go.
Trout lakes near White Lake
- Herman Lake 8 km away
- Skimikin Lake 17 km away
- Shuswap Lake 19 km away
- Phillips Lake 21 km away
- Mara Lake 21 km away
All 342 lakes in the Thompson-Nicola, with today's conditions on each.