Community Lake:

Best Flyfishing Lakes in BC

White marl shoals alongside deeper holes of blue green water, a couple of 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 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 eleveation (approx 4470') means that the ice can be still on past the middle of May and it freezes up in early November.

The reason that this beautiful body of water is considered one of the best flyfishing lakes in BC is because of its spectacular hatches. First, in the spring the chironomid hatch is quite prolific, as are the damsel fly and the dragon fly. But what Community Lake is most famous for is its spectacular 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 in front of the fish and let it come to the fly. This has work for me with sedges, chironomids and dragonfly patterns. The most prolific zones are those from about 12' 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 and dragons 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 manuver 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 cartopper boat launch and a couple of Forestry Campsite Tables. Many people camp on the dam and just slide their boats down the slope to the water.