Chicken Ranch Lake, Merritt
By Rodney Hsu
Chicken Ranch Lake is a small lake along the Kane Valley Road just outside of Merritt in British Columbia. It is seasonally stocked with brook trout by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC. It is just one of many lakes in the area where day trips are ideal for anglers from as far as Vancouver.
How to Get There?
From Merritt, travel east on Highway 97C (Okanagan Connector). After leaving Merritt for about fifteen minutes, turn right onto Kane Valley Road, a gravel road which connects with the Coldwater Exit on Highway 5 (Coquihalla Highway). Once you are on the gravel road, the drive takes about fifteen minutes, through some beautiful ranch lands where horses and cattle roam. Chicken Ranch Lake is the first lake you will approach on your left.
Fishing Season
Fishing for brook trout at Chicken Ranch Lake is best in May/June, and in the fall. Summer fishing is typically slow as water temperature becomes too warm. Ice fishing is done throughout the winter months.
Fishing Techniques
A boat is necessary if you intend to fish this Lake. Because it is not a pretty small lake, a small boat fitted with either an electric motor or small outboard motor, a pontoon boat or even a float tube is sufficient enough.
When fishing in the spring, fly fishing can be very effective. The best method is to anchor your boat and suspend a fly under the indicator. Chironomids in silver with red or black ribs as well as a variety of other patterns are the standards when a good hatch is happening. Depths in the 10 to 20 feet range are where fish are commonly found, but don't neglect the shallower spots if you see fish rising. Stripping a small leech in black or brown colour with a clear intermediate sink line also produces if chironomid fishing fails.
If fly fishing is not your preferred method, then trolling or spincasting a spoon can certainly work at times. Bait fishing is typically done during the winter months when ice fishing is available. Krill, shrimp, dew worm, maggot, corn are most commonly used.
Depending on whether the lake has experienced a winter kill, Chicken Ranch Lake has brook trout from 1lb to 6lb. The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC stocks the lake with fingerlings. After spending one year in the lake, these fish are generally between 1 and 2lb. Two year old fish are around 3 to 4lb. After spending three years in the lake, they can be up to 6lb or larger.
Important Notes
Before your first fishing trip to Chicken Ranch Lake, please make sure you know the following information:
- You must have a valid British Columbia freshwater fishing license.
- Chicken Ranch Lake is located in Region 3 in the British Columbia freshwater fishing regulations.
- Chicken Ranch Lake is surrounded by private farm lands so please respect land owners by keeping the noise down and ensuring no garbage are left behind. When driving up to the lake, keep your speed down as cattles often wander on the road.
- Like other small lakes, winterkills sometimes occur so it is best to check with your local tacklestores before planning a trip to Edna Lake.
