Tunkwa is one of the richest chironomid lakes in the Kamloops region — shallow, weedy and eutrophic, it grows big, hard-fighting rainbows that feed heavily on chironomids and scuds. It's at its best in spring and autumn, can sulk in the midsummer heat, and is a renowned ice-fishing lake in winter. A true stillwater specialist's lake.
Good drifting conditions on Tunkwa Lake
Glassy and bright — hard work without a breeze. Hard work without breeze. Look for the dimples.
Flat and bright, with next to no wave.
51% confidence in this read
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
S 4 km/h
Calm
Wave
Flat calm
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
10°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
1014 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for rainbow trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
Spring (ice-off through June) and autumn; tougher in the midsummer heat.
Where
With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point. In the calm, a single dry fly or a slowly-fished nymph tends to out-fish an active retrieve.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point. In the calm, a single dry fly or a slowly-fished nymph tends to out-fish an active retrieve.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Bank
Flat calm suits bank fishing near features — points, weed beds, and inflows where fish patrol.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Flying AntsHatch
1
1
Gray DrakeHatch
1
1
CallibaetisHatch
1
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
5 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Cloud cover (cloud) suits the fishery well.
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
About this water
Tunkwa Lake, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedTunkwa Lake · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Tunkwa is one of the richest chironomid lakes in the Kamloops region — shallow, weedy and eutrophic, it grows big, hard-fighting rainbows that feed heavily on chironomids and scuds. It's at its best in spring and autumn, can sulk in the midsummer heat, and is a renowned ice-fishing lake in winter. A true stillwater specialist's lake.
Under the surface
Tunkwa is a famously rich, shallow interior lake near Logan Lake that grows big, fast Kamloops rainbows on prolific chironomid and shrimp factories. Weedy and eutrophic, it can be dynamite in spring and autumn and tougher in the warm midsummer, and it's a renowned chironomid and ice-fishing lake.
Wading: Boat/float tube fishery, shallow weedy water
- Lake
- Volcanic
- Stillwater
- Shoal
Tunkwa Lake · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Tunkwa Lake · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 May → 30 November
Tunkwa Lake · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Gear/quota rules typical
- Verify current BC regs (Region 3).
Tunkwa Lake · learn
Related guides
Learn-zone playbooks for this water
Related guides
Tunkwa Lake
Google Places
Tunkwa is one of the richest chironomid lakes in the Kamloops region — shallow, weedy and eutrophic, it grows big, hard-fighting rainbows that feed heavily on chironomids and scuds.
Species
Good drifting conditions on Tunkwa Lake
Glassy and bright — hard work without a breeze. Hard work without breeze. Look for the dimples.
Flat and bright, with next to no wave.
51% confidence in this read
Conditions
Wind
S 4 km/h
Calm
Wave
Flat calm
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
10°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
1014 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
74%
Cloud100%
Wind65%
Temp60%
A good match for this venue — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
Spring (ice-off through June) and autumn; tougher in the midsummer heat.
Where
With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point. In the calm, a single dry fly or a slowly-fished nymph tends to out-fish an active retrieve.
The plan
Plan A
With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point. In the calm, a single dry fly or a slowly-fished nymph tends to out-fish an active retrieve.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Bank
Flat calm suits bank fishing near features — points, weed beds, and inflows where fish patrol.
Why this score
- Cloud cover (cloud) suits the fishery well.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Flying AntsHatch
1
1
Gray DrakeHatch
1
1
CallibaetisHatch
1
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Gear/quota rules typical
- Verify current BC regs (Region 3).
Directions
About this water
Tunkwa is one of the richest chironomid lakes in the Kamloops region — shallow, weedy and eutrophic, it grows big, hard-fighting rainbows that feed heavily on chironomids and scuds. It's at its best in spring and autumn, can sulk in the midsummer heat, and is a renowned ice-fishing lake in winter. A true stillwater specialist's lake.
Under the surface
Tunkwa is a famously rich, shallow interior lake near Logan Lake that grows big, fast Kamloops rainbows on prolific chironomid and shrimp factories. Weedy and eutrophic, it can be dynamite in spring and autumn and tougher in the warm midsummer, and it's a renowned chironomid and ice-fishing lake.
Wading: Boat/float tube fishery, shallow weedy water
- Lake
- Volcanic
- Stillwater
- Shoal
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 May → 30 November
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Tunkwa is one of the richest chironomid lakes in the Kamloops region — shallow, weedy and eutrophic, it grows big, hard-fighting rainbows that feed heavily on chironomids and scuds. It's at its best in spring and autumn, can sulk in the midsummer heat, and is a renowned ice-fishing lake in winter. A true stillwater specialist's lake.
Other water nearby · 5
Related guides