Christina Lake is located in the Boundary Country of British Columbia and is north of the border of Washington State, U.S.A. It is clear and clean and one of British Columbia’s most beautiful lakes. In shallower water, you can see right to the bottom, it is that transparent.
Tree lined, it is one of the warmest lakes in Canada because of hot springs which have developed due to the Kettle River Fault, which runs along the lake and allows an opening for hot springs on the bottom of the lake. There are a multitude of recreational options to choose from at Christina Lake such as swimming, scuba diving, hiking, boating, camping and of course, excellent fishing.
Christina Lake Fish Species
Christina lake fishing offers a wide variety of fish for the catching. Small and largemouth bass, rainbow trout, kokanee, common carp, yellow perch and pumpkin seed are available, all in a fisherman’s paradise.
Shore and Boat Fishing
Shore fishing, trolling, ice fishing and casting are all fishing methods that can be used but, trolling is ideal for reeling in many fish in Christiana Lake. Using a lure with dark colors in the fall and winter and light colors in the spring and summer, a lighter line and a plug or apex lure is best.
Kokanee will bite on live bait such as maggots or even corn. Bait is commonly added to an artificial lure set up such as flies, hoochies and spinners. A lot of the time these lure set ups for kokanee will incorporate a smaller size dodger to help attract the kokanee. The best fishing times for these fish are May and June. Kokanee usually weigh up .68 kilograms (1 ½ lbs). The kokanee have spawning areas that are in the eco-section of the Selkirk foothills. This area boasts of many diverse habitats.
Rainbow trout are best caught using bucktail fly or plug while trolling. March and April are excellent months for rainbow trout. These trout lie in the range of 2.3 to 6.8 kilograms.
In shallow bays, a spin cast can be used for bass. Both large and smallmouth bass can weigh in up to 4.5 kilograms.
Fishing Around Christina Lake
There are numerous fishing hotspots in and around Christina Lake such as Parson Creek, Texas Creek, Spooner Creek, Trapper Creek, Stewart Creek, Lighthouse Creek, Treadmill Creek and English Cove. Trolling anywhere, though, can allow you to catch your daily limit.
Fishing Regulations
The Christina Lake fishing regulations are listed in region 8-15 of the BC freshwater fishing regulations. To summarize in 2020 the daily retention limits are: rainbow trout- 2, yellow perch-20, and bass-8. Barbless hooks are required in this lake.
Climate and Lake Characteristics
The climate is known for mild winters and dry summers. Temperatures in summer range from 18 to 32 degrees Celsius and in winter -8 to 2 degrees Celsius. The lake is a 2608.6 hectares body of water and has a maximum depth of 48.7 meters and a mean depth of 33.8 meters and is 18.6 kilometers long. Christina Lake is fed by twenty-three small creeks that are sometimes dry.
Camping and Accommodations
At the north end of Christina Lake lies Gladstone Provincial Park , also known as Texas Point, with it’s highly accessible Texas Creek campground. This is located on Crowsnest Highway off of Highway three and has a public boat launch. The park has picnic areas for day picnics and swimming, a two hundred car parking lot and has pit and flush toilets available. This park was established in 1971. The Provincial campground offers camping and RV sites and has many of the amenities of most campgrounds such as septic and showers. B & B’s as well as motels are scattered around areas of the lake as well.
Marinas, Boat Launch and Water Craft Rentals
The Christina Lake Marina is another good option for fishing and is located on East Lake Drive by taking the Texas Point exit from Highway 3 and follow the signs. Here, you can buy food at the Marina Grill, snacks, bait and make use of their boat launch. The Marina also offers rentals of fishing boats, pontoons, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards. Both gas and electric boats are allowed on the lake and an operators license is needed to rent.
Another boat launch is located at Schulli Ltd. located on Frontage Road and you can launch for free.
If you aren’t cooking while camping on your fishing trip to Christina Lake there are other restaurants and pubs located around the lake besides the Marina Grill. Smoochies Brewing Company, Lisa’s Lakeside bistro, The Ice Creamery, Pig Out Tacos, and Portly Penguin Pizza are just a few.
Fifty percent of Lake Christina is accessible by boat or hiking only. This gives a fisherman plenty of miles to fish. If you would rather cast off from land, the lake has miles of shoreline for your pleasure. Christina Lake fishing offers a pristine lake with a wide variety of fishing options.