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[Hoop71]

OK, so the wife and I are taking a last minute overnight trip to Merritt on Sunday and we want to fish some of the lakes in the area and I am looking for suggestions.

Here are a few criteria:
We will be based in Merritt so the radius is about an hours drive from Merritt maximum.
We will be fishing spoons/spinners so no "Fly" lakes only.
We will be doing shore fishing only.

We will fish most of Sunday afternoon/evening and then Monday AM till about lunch then head home.

Suggestions/experiences on the local lakes greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Dan

[Birkenhead]

Mamit Lake is less then 30 minutes north of Merritt. There is some shore access along highway 97c.

Logan lake is just under 50 km north of Merritt. There you can fish off the dock and from the shore around the lake.

Tunkwa Lake is 18 km north of Logan Lake. There is fishing off the dock in the day area on the north side the Provincial Park. Also the day area on the south side has some places to fish from shore. With Tunkwa, it is best fished in the early morning to mid morning before the winds come up.

These lakes can be fished with spoons and spinners, along with the old standby of worms and a float.

Rodney has videos on all 3 of the lakes and although they are fly fishing concetric, the videos will give you an idea of the fish that can be caught in the area.

Mammit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhBU5TqB_rw

Logan Lake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTMZfB6wDXo

Tunkwa Lake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oorr2HsAlm4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etb2pFku9Xc

[Damien]

Tons of shore access along Nicola Lake as well.  Just drove by it on the way home from Roche on Thursday.  Lots of fish rising close to shore.

Also lakes such as Roche and Tunkwa offer boats for rent.  Could be an option for you.

[cdjk123]

Might want to consider fishing a slightly higher elevation now. Lakes are heating up in that area.

[armytruck]

Pretty slow at Roche right now , lots of boats out there , very few bows landed . Water is a little murky but somewhat clear . Wind has been blowing hard all afternoon , just a few diehards fighting the wind  . Hope the wind dies down for an evening bite . Super hot out here , 90 + . Any little secrets for fishing in the wind  .

[bobby b]

Windy at Tunkwa and Logan yesterday and today in the early afternoon. Lots of fish jumping at Tunkwa.....I managed one fish in the wind at Tunkwa ... did really well both mornings at Logan.

[Damien]

I got back from Roche on Thursday.  It was slow.  I would get a couple in the morning, and a couple after dinner.  Took mid day off.

Got a few like this and one much larger as shown in the Fish Porn thread;



Fighting the wind SUCKS.

[Birkenhead]

I got back from Roche on Thursday.  It was slow.  I would get a couple in the morning, and a couple after dinner.  Took mid day off.

Got a few like this and one much larger as shown in the Fish Porn thread;



Fighting the wind SUCKS.

Your images are linked to the http://www.sportfishingbc.com/forum so they will not display here unless a person has an account on that forum and is logged in at the same time.

[Damien]

My bad.  Fixed.

[Hoop71]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

We hit Mamit, Nicola, Courtney, Kane, Harmon, Boss & Davis Lakes. Realized I need to get a small boat as shore fishing is quite limited and I am realizing this is a fantastic fishery only 3 Hrs from Vancouver.

Caught plenty of Pikeminnow at Mamit (some quite decent sized ones as well) but the lone trout came at Boss Lake. The wind was atrocious and made casting lures any distance very difficult.

Need to purchase a float tube or go to one of the lakes that rents boats next time. Still not a bad way to spend a couple days.

[poper]

Walloper lake is great from shore, and nice site, 40 mins

[DanL]

We hit Mamit, Nicola, Courtney, Kane, Harmon, Boss & Davis Lakes. Realized I need to get a small boat as shore fishing is quite limited and I am realizing this is a fantastic fishery only 3 Hrs from Vancouver.

Caught plenty of Pikeminnow at Mamit (some quite decent sized ones as well) but the lone trout came at Boss Lake. The wind was atrocious and made casting lures any distance very difficult.

Need to purchase a float tube or go to one of the lakes that rents boats next time. Still not a bad way to spend a couple days.

Glad you were able to find some success, or at least have a good time out there. It really is an incredible fishery that has to be experienced to really appreciate it. I dont know Merritt very well but if you venture a bit further towards Kamloops you'll find literally dozens more lakes that will blow your mind if you hit them right.

You are right about having a boat though. Nothing wrong fishing from shore, but access will generally be limited as you found out. Flotation of any kind, even a <$100 float tube off craigslist will increase your opportunities 100X IMHO. As someone who over the years has owned a float tube, pontoon boat, canoe, and trailered boat, I'd say a 9-12' cartopper aluminum would be the most versatile all-around craft IF you have the room to store it.

[Damien]

Yup, if you don't have room get a zodiac style inflatable.  If you're serious about wanting to fish, you need to get out on the water.

The suggestion of a cheap float tube is also a good one. 

Heck, I lived in a small condo and owned a Miata.  I could still camp solo for a couple of days fishing by packing my zodiac, battery, minn kota, oars, tent, mattress, cooler, fishing gear and hit the road.

Life was simple then.