The Field Journal
Rivers & Lakes · Stillwater

Erie Lake

A stillwater in the Lower Arrow Lake watershed, W of Salmo, SW of Nelson, ~36.2 ha surface area. Confirm the fishery, the launch and the Region 4 rules before you commit a day to it.

Erie Lake is a stillwater in the Lower Arrow Lake watershed, W of Salmo, SW of Nelson. ~36.2 ha surface area.

The water

Erie Lake lies W of Salmo, SW of Nelson; in the Lower Arrow Lake watershed. It covers ~36.2 ha surface area. The lake survey puts it at max 13.7 m, mean 5 m, which sets the depth you fish.

The fishing

Erie Lake fishes on classic stillwater lines: chironomids over the shoals, leech and attractor retrieves along the drop-offs, and depth or troll work to the shoal-and-drop-off structure. Match the season and confirm against a local report.

waves
Stillwater
Lower Arrow Lake watershed
straighten
36.2 ha
surface area
water
max 13.7 m, mean 5 m
lake survey

Conditions

  • Depth: max 13.7 m, mean 5 m (BC lake survey 1949-06-28).
  • Water-health signal: excellent (health index 100), 9 species over 74 observations; 1 intact-mollusc records, a good-water indicator.

Access & the rules

Confirm the launch, parking and any motor/float or seasonal restrictions for Erie Lake locally before you commit a day; the map shows where the lake sits in its drainage.

gavel

Before you fish

Confirm the current BC freshwater fishing regulations (Region 4 – Kootenay) before you go. Official synopsis: gov.bc.ca fishing regulations.