A Rustic Angling Adventure in the Shuswap Backcountry
For anglers seeking an escape from the beaten path, the Pinaus Lake Chain offers a rewarding journey into the heart of the Shuswap’s rugged backcountry. Located a short but adventurous drive from Falkland, this trio of lakes—Pinaus, Square, and Little Pinaus—provides a diverse and exciting fishery. From a bustling lake with a dual trout and perch population to a carefully managed quality water, this chain delivers a complete angling experience for those equipped with a sense of adventure and a reliable vehicle.
Getting There: The Journey is Part of the Adventure
Before you even wet a line, it’s important to understand that reaching the Pinaus Lake Chain is a key part of the experience. Access is via a network of Forest Service Roads (FSRs), including the Ingram Creek FSR and Pinaus Lake FSR. These roads can be rough, with pot-holed sections and steep grades. A high-clearance vehicle is essential, and a 4-wheel drive is strongly recommended, especially in wet conditions. Be sure to have good tires, a full-sized spare, and be prepared for self-rescue. Travel with caution, keep your headlights on, and yield to industrial traffic. The reward for your preparedness is access to a fishery that sees less pressure than more easily accessible lakes.
Pinaus Lake: The Main Attraction
Pinaus Lake is the largest and most popular lake in the chain, offering something for every type of angler. It features a large, treed Recreation Sites and Trails BC campsite on its north shore, providing a great basecamp for exploration. The fishery here is a fascinating story of two species: stocked Rainbow Trout and an invasive, but abundant, population of Yellow Perch.
Fishing for Rainbow Trout:
Pinaus Lake has been historically well-stocked with Rainbow Trout, which grow to a good size in its productive waters. Trolling is a highly effective method. Local experts often recommend a Willow Leaf or Gibbs gang troll followed by a 2 to 3-foot leader and a Lyman Lure (the #30 is a local favourite). This setup imitates a fish chasing the flashing attractors, provoking an aggressive predatory response from the trout.
For the fly angler, the action begins in earnest as the water warms in May. Classic patterns like the ’52 Buick or a black Doc Spratley are proven winners. During the summer, casting and retrieving silver-coloured spoons and spinners can also be highly effective.
A Perch Fishery Perfect for the Family:
While invasive, the Yellow Perch in Pinaus Lake have created an incredible opportunity for family fishing and for anglers looking for consistent action. Perch are aggressive, easy to catch, and great table fare. Their presence means you rarely go home empty-handed.
The best time for perch fishing is often at the end of May. The technique is simple: a small hook tipped with a worm or a piece of shrimp, fished either on the bottom or under a small float, is all that’s needed. This provides fast action that is perfect for getting kids hooked on fishing. The daily quota for Yellow Perch is generous at 20, so you can enjoy a fantastic fish fry.
Ice fishing on Pinaus Lake is also very successful, with anglers targeting both trout and perch from the convenient access of the rec site.
Square Lake: A Quality Trout Experience
A short drive from Pinaus Lake lies Square Lake, a small, beautiful body of water that offers a completely different angling experience. This is a lake managed for quality, not quantity, and the special regulations reflect this:
- Bait Ban in effect
- Single Barbless Hooks ONLY
- Trout/Char daily quota of 2
- No Ice Fishing
These regulations are designed to protect the fishery and cultivate larger, more discerning trout. For the angler, this means a more technical and rewarding challenge. Leave the bait at home and focus on your fly and lure presentations.
Fly fishing is the premier method here. With bait out of the equation, the trout are keenly focused on the lake’s natural insect populations. Leech patterns, dragonfly nymphs, and various chironomid and mayfly imitations are all excellent choices. Casting from a float tube or a small car-top boat is the ideal way to work the shorelines. Lure anglers should focus on small spoons and spinners that can be cast and retrieved effectively. The small, treed campsite at Square Lake offers a more intimate camping experience for those seeking solitude.
Little Pinaus Lake: The Quiet Interlude
Situated between its two larger siblings, Little Pinaus Lake is a small, quiet water body that provides a peaceful escape. It features a very small, single-campsite recreation site on its south and west shores. Due to its size and depth, the lake can become weedy in the summer months, making it a challenge to fish from shore. This is the perfect lake for a float tube, pontoon boat, or kayak.
Weedless rigs are a must here. Try Texas-rigged soft plastics or weedless spoons. For the fly angler, casting surface patterns like dragonfly or damselfly adults near the weed beds can result in exciting topwater strikes. While it may not have the fame of Pinaus or the special regulations of Square, Little Pinaus offers a chance for a quiet, solitary angling experience.
Angler’s Checklist: Regulations and Responsibility
- Check the Regs: The Pinaus Lake Chain is in Region 8 (Okanagan). Always consult the most current official BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis for up-to-date quotas, closures, and specific lake regulations before you go.
- Be Invasive-Aware: Never transport live fish between water bodies. The spread of invasive species like Yellow Perch can devastate native fisheries.
- Pack It In, Pack It Out: These are user-maintained sites. Leave your campsite cleaner than you found it.
- Be Backroad Ready: Travel with a reliable vehicle, let someone know your travel plans, and be prepared for changing road conditions.
The Pinaus Lake Chain is a testament to the incredible diversity of fishing opportunities available in the Shuswap. It’s a place where you can teach a child to catch their first fish, challenge your skills against wary trout in a quality water, and find solitude on a quiet backcountry lake—all in one memorable trip.