Dot Lake - Merritt

**pnKroK** · October 6th, 2009, 06:30 PM

howdy all...

I was up in the Merritt area this weekend. I frequent this area atleast twice a year for decent trout fishing. Typically we stayed at the Pimainus fishing lodge, but since that's been bought out we've camped at Calling Lake and enjoyed the good fishing there.

This past weekend, a friend and I decided to camp out at Dot lake for some fishing and hunting in the region.

I've never fished Dot before and was just wondering if anyone can shed some light on the lake. I've fished Gypsum which is right close to Dot numerous times with varied success. I got a couple of hits at Dot, but nothing really substantial. My friend was able to hook in to a pretty small one when we first got there, but it seemed pretty dead after that for the rest of the weekend.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance,

-rob C

**johnk** · October 6th, 2009, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by pnKroK

howdy all...

I was up in the Merritt area this weekend. I frequent this area atleast twice a year for decent trout fishing. Typically we stayed at the Pimainus fishing lodge, but since that's been bought out we've camped at Calling Lake and enjoyed the good fishing there.

This past weekend, a friend and I decided to camp out at Dot lake for some fishing and hunting in the region.

I've never fished Dot before and was just wondering if anyone can shed some light on the lake. I've fished Gypsum which is right close to Dot numerous times with varied success. I got a couple of hits at Dot, but nothing really substantial. My friend was able to hook in to a pretty small one when we first got there, but it seemed pretty dead after that for the rest of the weekend.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance,

-rob C

Back in the day when I lived at the bottom of the hill I fished those two lakes about 40 times a year.

If you're looking for a lake that will give you a chance at a fish of a lifetime then Dot is the place to be. If you're looking for some action and not really large fish then perhaps you should stick to Gypsum. I have taken fish to 9 lbs. out of Dot, either during the sedge hatch or mid-October when they're on the shoals. I have actually seen fish to 12 lbs taken in the fall and during sedge season I saw a fish clear the water that I would roughly guess to be around 36". Be warned though, I have a fairly good idea of what I'm doing on Interior lakes and that lake has skunked me more times than I care to admit.

Directly across from the boat launch there are three very subtle points of land and there is a rocky shoal on that side with monstrous sized rocks. It drops off the shoal from 6-11' instantly and that is where you'll find the cruisers. There is one cabin on the lake and in front of that cabin is my favourite shoal for fall fishing. You can sightfish the cruising fish but be stealthy as they'll spook in the clear shallows.

To simplify Gypsum, if you fish around the island with maroon micro leeches you'll eventually catch fish. If you're going up there for Thanksgiving weekend the fish will definitely be on the shoals.

Word of Caution: We used to come up the back way from Lower Nicola and the last time there a couple summers ago we were watching a 2 year old bear cub frolick on the side of the road snapping pictures all the while. All of a sudden the little guy (120 lbs. or so) froze and a huge boar Blackie bust out of the thick timber and attacked him. We don't know if he killed him but we didn't hold out much hope for the cub as the big boar dragged him back in the timber due in part to my charging down the hill in the truck.

For what it's worth, I have yet to see a bear up there in October!

**pnKroK** · October 6th, 2009, 09:31 PM

WOW!

Thanks so much for replying! I didn't think I'd get a reply on this thread.

I started fishing this area about 5 or 6 years ago. A good friend of mine is family friends with the people that own Chataway...we stayed there a few times and then we discovered Pimainus. In the first few years we fished Gypsum, Antler and Billy, I was taught to fish with a spincaster/monofilament and a handful of flies...not really knowing what I was doing of course. So...we stayed at Pimainus for the next few years fishing that lake, 2nd and 3rd lake, always getting fish but nothing too big which is fine by me, i just like the action. Getting the big ones is fun of course, but I don't mind catching slightly smaller ones. Regardless...Pimainus got bought out and we started to stay at Calling because the camp site there is nice and the few times we fished that lake we did well and the fish in that lake seemed bigger then at Pimainus. So, for the past 3 years we've camped at Calling and mainly fished that lake. I've ventured back to Gypsum only to get a few nibbles and small ones. So..this year we decided to hit Dot and see what the deal is. Like I said, I got a few nibbles and my friend brought in one small guy.

Oh yeah...this might bring a chuckle. The first 2 years I just used flies because thats what I thought you were supposed to use...I didn't know what flies I was using, I just used what was given to me. After a year or two of frustration, I talked to a guy staying at Pimainus and he told me about the benefits of hardware. So for a year...I only used hardware and did ok. Got old really quick. The next year I got my first fly rod and decided to give the flies another chance. I bought the Gilley and decided I was a pro. For some reason, that year the green scuds/shrimp seemed to work REALLY well. Ever since then i stocked my flybox with green shrimp and i ALWAYS did well no matter what lake we went to in that region. I was the green shrimp killer! I guess the fish have caught on, or fishing has slowed down, or whatever...but the green shrimp killer ain't so hot anymore. I've only fly fished by trolling around the lake with my superfast sinking line and I also have a trolling reel with leaded line and flies. This seems to work and I just don't really have the patience to sit at one spot and cast. Plus the people that typically come with me are not really fishermen and they just want to troll around the lake...fine by me.

SO...I guess I'm up for the new challenges of finding that hole and working it by casting or whatever is next.

Thanks so much for the info and this gives me new hope for dot. I guess I just need to figure that lake out. I guess one of the biggest lessons i've also learned from my friends dad is to talk to the locals and see whats working. I typically stopped at the powderkeg, but the old guy there wasn't really too talkative. Apparently its under new ownership.

Regardless...thanks for the info.

Any ideas what works this time of year at dot?

OH yeah, i like fishing gypsum because of the no motors...but i bought an electric motor a few years back. I got frustrated because of my battery dieing so quickly..its an old motor and it doesn't have that battery saving option or whatever that is. So...i just bring my canoe with me when i fish gypsum.

thanks again,

-rob C

**johnk** · October 7th, 2009, 03:57 AM

This time of year, leeches are the name of the game. I've done well with smaller rabbit strip leeches and flashy micro leeches in black or maroon. Next time you go to Gypsum try a yellow shrimp. The key is ignore how the fly looks in your hand but to consider how it may look down 10' in that tea-stained water.

The former owner of the Powderkeg was lacking some people skills in the latter stages BUT Fred, one of our phearless moderators here, is the new owner and is the exact opposite. He will point you in the right direction and get you started.