Lava Lake is about 45 minutes north of Terrace and lies within Nisga'a Memorial Lava Bed Park. The lake has good cutthroat trout fishing and dolly varden can also be caught there.
Try fishing along areas with large weed beds--preferably sub-surface weeds. During the hatches fly fishers can try a mosquito or mayfly pattern in these areas.
Lure fishers can try a small Mepps or Rooster Tail, and trailing the lure with a worm really helps.
Lava Lake's many bays and shoals are great fish habitat. This is also a real all-season lake, as the depths vary quite a bit. The shallower south end is ideal for spring and fall fishing. As the season heats up, explore further north. In particular, there is a steep drop off at the far north end, and this is a good place to start.
Fish inventories of the lake reveal a wide range of species are present. This includes cutthroat trout, dolly varden, kokanee, longnose sucker, mountain whitefish, peamouth chub, prickly sculpin, steelhead, sucker (general). This inventory should not be considered complete, as other species may exist but have not been captured during surveys.
ABOUT THE AREA
The area around Lava Lake is highly valued for relatively young lava flows that ran hot about 250 years ago. A few kilometres north of the lake, a guided hike is available which follows the lava flows to the top of the crater at Melita Lakes.
The provincial park offers a wide range of recreational opportunities and in the winter snowmobiling is popular along Sterling Mountain Trails.
LAKE ACCESS
From Terrace, head west along Highway 16 to Nisga'a Highway. Lava Lake is another 100 km along the highway.
The highway runs along the eastern shore of Lava Lake, and there are several pull outs where a small cartop can be launched.
There is also a small gravel boat launch at the north end of Lava Lake. There should be plenty of space for parking as well.
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Copyright 2011 by The Angler's Atlas
