It has been quite a few years since I ventured into Ernest Lake, one of the gems in the Roche Lake Area Lakes. The road in was a couple of degrees less than hellish. Large holes (all solid bottom), downed trees (someone has done a great job of initially getting them out of the way although I physically moved a couple to widen the road path) and more bumps than a pair of kidneys show have to endure.

I was the only one that day to make the trek. Even as I passed Black Lake and Bog lake, no one had ventured in for a couple of days (at least that's what I deduced from the lack of fresh tire marks). The weather report for the day said cloud, low-moderate winds and moderate temperatures... that was for Kamloops. I should know better that, especially in the spring, does not hold true outside the valley.

I got there around noon. The water was part calm part rippling... and true to course, as I geared up the winds became stronger, coming in from the south and south-west. By the time I was ready to get on the lake, I chose to wait for about 20 minutes before I could take advantage of a calm period to hit the lake and head to the sheltered west shore. Of course, not long after I got on the lake, the wind shifted and I was finding it difficult to steer the boat.

There were lots of fish showing up on the fish finder... water temp was only 43F and actually a clarity was a bit cloudy, evidence of the ice just coming off and no full yet. There were no hatches to be seen so I fished with a booby and micro-leeches, hoping to attract some interest.


Rain clouds and shower burst prevailed throughout the afternoon as I struggled to find spots that I could anchor and cast... no opportunity lasted longer than a 10-15 minutes as the winds shifted regularly.

In the end, I got soaked once, dried off in the sun and wind and then got soaked again. Then the wind went from strong to howling and I just blew into the launch. I was done by 5:30pm, wet, cold and with a battered ego for not touching a fish.

I want to go back to Ernest later in the spring or early summer after it has turned. It used to be one of my favorite lakes but the road in just makes it a bit cumbersome when you know that the fishing can be just as good at other lakes in the area that don't command such a lengthy jaunt in a 4x4. I also think that one would be wise to not go in by themselves (like I have in the past) as it is much safer to venture in with a buddy and/or another vehicle just in case you slice a tire, get stuck in some mud or just slide off the road trying to avoid a hole. It's a lengthy walk out if you have to.

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