Escape the Heat: Prime Trout Fishing in BC & Alberta Mountain Lakes

It's late July and the southern B.C. and Alberta lakes are warm and full of swimmers, wakeboard and ski boats and seadoos.  Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it doesn't make for the most friendly fishing conditions.  It's these times when myself and other savvy trout anglers like to head out to mountain lakes to enjoy some quiet, serene fishing and also some of the best fly action of the year. 

A healthy BC interior trout caught on a leech pattern in an Okanagan mountain lake.

A copy of your local Backroads Mapbook (you can pick them up at Canadian Tire or online at www.backroadmapbooks.com), a small boat/pontoon/float tube and a vehicle with 4x4 capabilities is all you need.  Use the mapbook to find some local mountain lakes near you, and also to find out what to expect once you get there.  These books are great for finding out what types of fish and what size and quantities you can expect to catch in any given lake.  Want even more information?  Buy a copy of your local Fishing Mapbooks from the same company to give you fishing tips and important lake information as well.   

Make sure to stop by your local fly shop for some advice on popular local patterns as well as sage advice on how to fish them.  The employees can always give you the best local advice on how to hook into some fish at any time of year.  Be prepared for an excellent dry-fly bite in both the mornings and evenings during the summer months as fish move to the surface when the sun is low to safely feed on freshly hatched insects. 

Some items to make sure you have include: bug spray, water, and of course, a camera.  Happy fishing!