Community Lake

The Pleasure of His Company:
the fishing diaries of Jack Shaw

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White marl shoals alongside deeper holes of blue green water, a few small islands, and a meandering shoreline all contribute to the productivity of the lake.

Once a beautiful drive up from Hwy #5 via the Heffley Creek Road, the journey takes on an eerie feeling as you wind up through the bright red needles of dying pine trees caused by pine beetle infestation. The "Canadian Locust" has wiped out a significant original forest and even some of the re-planted forest. It's makes one want to cry.

Community Lake is a reservoir for downstream ranching operations and may be subject to drawdown (late summer/fall), making it difficult to access (through the mud). Despite the challenge of slugging through the mud at the launch, the fishing remains good throughout the fishing season. It's relatively high elevation (approx 4470') means that the ice can be still on past the middle of May and it freezes up in early November.

This beautiful body of water is considered one of the "best fly fishing lakes" in BC is because of its spectacular hatches.

The spring the chironomid hatch is quite prolific. Damsel fly dragon fly nymphs are effective from June through to October.

But what Community Lake is most famous for is its spectacular traveler sedge hatches, starting in late June and early July. Fish are willing to rise to a well presented sedge pattern throughout the summer and into fall but it's that first wave of hatches that is as good as anywhere in the BC Interior.

Many times the fish are up on the shoals (which are plentiful) and you can sight fish by casting with a lead in front and let it come to the fly. This has worked for me with sedge pupa, chironomids and dragonfly patterns.

The most prolific zones are those from about 6' deep to 20' deep. This is the zone where the fish fish cruise for delicacies emerging from the marl. Use a dry line with or without a strike indicator when fishing with chironomids, caddis nymphs, micro-leeches, dragons and hylella shrimp.

Trolling leeches, dragons or a "booby fly" through or just above the marl can produce well too, especially in the fall.

Access:

Community Lake can be accessed by 2 wheel drive but the launch and campsite area can be difficult to maneuver around in if it has been wet.

From Kamloops, follow HWY 5 north to Heffley Creek (the Sun Peaks Ski Resort turnoff)and turn right.Follow the Sun Peaks road for approximately 8km and turn left on the Knouff Lake Rd. At approx. 9km turn right on to the Community Lake Forestry Service Road and follow the arrows up to Community Lake (approx another 5-6km).

There is a small car-topper boat launch and an upgraded Forestry Campsite with at least a half dozen tables and campsites. In the past people would camp on the dam but it has been blocked from use for safety reasons.