Trout fishing in the Thompson-Nicola
Thompson-Nicola holds 116 of the 900 stillwaters on BC Trout Finder, the water most people mean when they search for trout fishing near Kamloops. 15 of them are trophy class. Every one of them has a boat launch and a rec site or campground on the shore. Depths run from 5.2 m to 457 m.
Open the Thompson-Nicola in the app
What is in Thompson-Nicola
- 116 lakes with verified depth, access and regulations
- 15 trophy class waters, fish in the 5 lb and up range
- All of them have a boat launch
- All of them have camping at a rec site or provincial park
- 103 open to ice fishing under the regulations on file
Best trophy trout lakes in Thompson-Nicola
- Adams Lake Bull/Lake Trout to 15+ lbs (80cm+ minimum size protects big fish); rainbow trout more modest and numbers-oriented
Adams Lake is the second deepest lake in British Columbia, plunging to 457 meters (1,499 ft). Surrounded by towering mountain peaks, its ultra-clear glacial waters host exceptionally large wild rainbows and monster bull trout feeding on the Adams River sockeye salmon run. - Corbett Lake 5 to 10+ lbs (Trophy Class)
A premier stillwater fly-fishing destination known for explosive rainbows in crystal-clear waters. - Courtney Lake 4 to 8+ lbs (Trophy Pennask / Blackwater)
A famous high-elevation trophy stillwater located south of Merritt in the Nicola Valley. Known for producing deep-bodied 4 to 8+ lb Pennask and Blackwater strain rainbows on chironomid pupae and micro-leeches. Premier quality-managed lake in the Nicola Valley producing thick, hard-pulling rainbow trout. - Jacko Lake 5 to 10+ lbs (Trophy Class)
Renowned across British Columbia as a premier Kamloops-area trophy rainbow fishery producing hard-fighting trout up to 30 inches (76 cm) and 10+ lbs. Highly productive alkaline shoals feature intense chironomid emergences, damsels, and leech feeding. One of the earliest ice-free trophy waters in Kamloops, famous for fast-growing, heavy-bodied trout. - Jimmy Lake 5 to 10+ lbs (Trophy Class)
Jimmy Lake is a small water (< 50 ha) in the Thompson-Nicola (Westwold) region, sitting at 1311 m elevation, reachable via the region's usual road and trail network. The map view has precise coordinates and driving directions. - Kamloops Lake Bull trout are the real trophy target here (only fish 60 cm and over may be kept); rainbow trout run more modest -- roughly 1-2 lbs typical, though 5+ lb fish aren't rare.
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. - Little Shuswap Lake 4 to 12+ lbs (Trophy Gerrard Outlet)
Located directly downstream from Shuswap Lake, Little Shuswap Lake benefits from constant current and nutrient transport via the Little River. It offers incredible action for trophy Gerrard rainbows and bull trout. - Pass Lake 5 to 10+ lbs (Trophy Class)
Renowned fly-fishing-only lake set in a tranquil canyon, holding trophy trout up to 6+ lbs. - Peter Hope Lake 5 to 10+ lbs (Trophy Class)
Highly productive marl lake with rich food sources, offering consistently acrobatic rainbow trout. - Red Lake 4 to 8+ lbs (Trophy Tiger Trout & Brookies)
Located northwest of Kamloops at Copper Creek, Red Lake is a renowned trophy fishery stocked with fast-growing Tiger Trout and giant Eastern Brook Trout in the 4 to 8+ lb range.
Every lake we cover in Thompson-Nicola
- Adams Lake Trophy Monster, 457 m
- Corbett Lake Trophy Monster, 20 m
- Courtney Lake Trophy Monster, 14 m
- Jacko Lake Trophy Monster, 8 m
- Jimmy Lake Trophy Monster, 18 m
- Kamloops Lake Trophy Monster, 143 m
- Little Shuswap Lake Trophy Monster, 60 m
- Pass Lake Trophy Monster, 12 m
- Peter Hope Lake Trophy Monster, 14 m
- Red Lake Trophy Monster, 49.2 m
- Roche Lake Trophy Monster, 29 m
- Shuswap Lake Trophy Monster, 161 m
- Stump Lake Trophy Monster, 24 m
- Tunkwa Lake Trophy Monster, 18 m
- White Lake Trophy Monster, 43 m
- Alleyne Lake Large Quality, 22 m
- Andy Lake Medium Action, 16.8 m
- Aylmer (Star) Lake Medium Action, 14.4 m
- Azure Lake Medium Action, 38.4 m
- Badger Lake Large Quality, 25 m
- Big O.K. (Island) Lake Large Quality, 16.6 m
- Birch Lake Medium Action, 43.2 m
- Bleeker Lake Medium Action, 43.2 m
- Blue Lake Medium Action, 12.0 m
- Bob Lake Medium Action, 39.6 m
- Brook Lake Medium Action, 26.4 m
- C Takla Lake Medium Action, 22.1 m
- Calling Lake Medium Action, 43.2 m
- Chataway Lake Medium Action, 19.2 m
- Clanwilliam Lake Medium Action, 19.2 m
- Clearwater Lake Large Quality, 5.2 m
- Clock Lake Medium Action, 15.5 m
- Community Lake Medium Action, 27.6 m
- Connell Lake Medium Action, 29.8 m
- Dardanelles Lake Medium Action, 44.4 m
- Deep Lake Medium Action, 42.0 m
- Douglas Lake Medium Action, 26.4 m
- Downton Lake (Reservoir) Medium Action, 17.7 m
- Dutch Lake Medium Action, 20.4 m
- E 6-2 Eutsuk Lake Medium Action, 34.2 m
- Edith Lake Large Quality, 15 m
- Eleanor Lake Medium Action, 15.6 m
- En Lake Medium Action, 21.0 m
- Englishmen Lake Medium Trout, 26.4 m
- Ernest Lake Medium Action, 39.6 m
- Fatox Lake Medium Action, 32.4 m
- Flapjack Lake Medium Action, 34.8 m
- Frances Lake Medium Action, 52.8 m
- Fred Lake Medium Action, 45.6 m
- Glimpse Lake Large Quality, 18 m
- Griffin Lake Medium Action, 14.4 m
- Gun Lake Medium Action, 25.2 m
- Gypsum Lake Medium Action, 21.6 m
- Hamilton Lake Medium Action, 31.2 m
- Hammer Lake Medium Action, 12.0 m
- Hannah Lake Medium Trout, 39.6 m
- Heffley Lake Medium / High-Action, 26 m
- Heffley Lake (Parts Of) Medium Action, 29.8 m
- Hihium Lake Medium Action, 24.0 m
- Isobel Lake Medium Action, 16.8 m
- Kentucky Lake Large Quality, 38 m
- Knouff (Sullivan) Lake Large Quality, 27 m
- Kwotlenemo (Fountain) Lake Medium Action, 35.3 m
- L Babine Lake Medium Action, 25.4 m
- L Eutsuk Lake Medium Action, 21.0 m
- Lac Le Jeune Medium / High-Action, 16 m
- Lajoie (Little Gun) Lake Medium Action, 36.4 m
- Leighton Lake Large Quality, 12.5 m
- Little Dum Lake Medium Action, 49.2 m
- Little Heffley Lake Medium Action, 40.8 m
- Little Peter Hope Lake Medium Action, 26.4 m
- Lloyd Lake Medium Action, 34.8 m
- Lodgepole Lake Large Quality, 19.2 m
- Logan Lake Medium Action, 12.0 m
- Lolo Lake Medium Action, 28.8 m
- Loon Lake Medium / High-Action, 65 m
- Lorenzo Lake Medium Action, 15.6 m
- Lost Lake (Near Taweel Lake) Medium Action, 25.4 m
- Lower Kane Lake Medium Action, 34.8 m
- Lundbom Lake Large Quality, 15 m
- Mamit Lake Medium Action, 20.4 m
- Marshall Lake Medium Action, 21.6 m
- Mcconnell Lake Large Quality, 14.6 m
- Mellin (Jerry) Lake Medium Action, 19.9 m
- Menzies Lake Medium Action, 40.8 m
- Monte Lake Medium / High-Action, 38 m
- Nahatlatch Lake (East And West) Medium Action, 34.2 m
- Nicola Lake Large Quality, 68 m
- Niskonlith Lake Large Quality, 14.4 m
- Ootsa Lake Medium Action, 19.9 m
- Paska Lake Medium Action, 52.8 m
- Pat (Six Mile) Lake Medium Action, 10.0 m
- Paul Lake Medium / High-Action, 54 m
- Pinantan Lake Medium Action, 27.6 m
- Plateau Lake Medium Action, 22.8 m
- R 7-49 Lake Medium Action, 34.2 m
- Rock Lake Medium Action, 20.4 m
- Rose Lake Medium Action, 32.4 m
- Ross Moore Lake Medium Action, 32.4 m
- S Folly Lake Medium Action, 38.6 m
- Salmon Lake Medium Action, 31.2 m
- Seton Lake Large Quality, 150 m
- Shumway Lake Medium Action, 21.6 m
- Spruce Lake Medium Action, 40.8 m
- Star Lake Medium Action, 33.6 m
- Stein Lake Medium Action, 33.6 m
- Three Valley Lake Medium Action, 48.0 m
- Tranquille Lake Medium Action, 12.0 m
- Tulip Lake Medium Action, 46.8 m
- Tumtum Lake Medium Action, 30.0 m
- Tupper Lake Medium Action, 15.6 m
- Upper Kane Lake Medium Action, 38.4 m
- Victor Lake Medium Action, 46.8 m
- Walker Lake Medium Action, 26.4 m
- Walloper Lake Medium Action, 43.2 m
- Warren Lake Medium Action, 37.2 m
Local shops and lodges
- Tunkwa Lake Resort, Logan Lake / Tunkwa, BC
website
Other BC fishing regions
Data from the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis, and Sites and Trails BC.