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Waterbody record5-15

Quesnel Lake

Quesnel Lake covers about 272 km² in British Columbia’s Cariboo region, management unit 5-15. The community of Likely is on its shore; the lake is about 55 km southeast of Wells and 59 km northeast of Williams Lake. Special regulations include seasonal or area closures, and bull trout are catch-and-release.

British ColumbiaLakeMU 5-1552.62190, -120.99775

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Regulations

Waterbody-specific regulationQuesnel Lake
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Rule
No Fishing southwest of a line between fishing boundary signs on opposite shores of Horsefly Bay, Mar 1-May 31 No Fishing in North Arm, north of a line between Watt and Service Creeks, Mar 1-May 31 Lake trout daily quota = 5 (any size); rainbow trout daily quota = 2 (none over 50 cm); bull trout catch and release Bait ban, barbless hook
Last updated: Apr 01, 2025 · Synopsis page 46 · PDF page 52 · Current BC updates

Default regulations

Region 5 default regulationsGeneral Regulations
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  • Spring closure: No fishing in any stream in Fraser River Watershed of Region 5 (including the Thompson River Watershed) from Apr 1-June 30, EXCEPT the mainstem of the Fraser River and other streams listed in the tables. See definition of “streams” on page 80.

  • Single barbless hook: must be used in all streams of Region 5, all year.

  • Size limit: There is no minimum size in lakes (see tables for exceptions).

Region 5 default regulationsRegion 5 Daily Quotas
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  • Trout/char: 5, but not more than

    • 1 over 50 cm
    • 2 from streams
    • 1 Dolly Varden/bull trout
    • 2 lake trout
  • And you must release:

    • ALL STEELHEAD
    • Lake trout, Oct 1-Nov 30
    • Bull trout (Dolly Varden) from streams, Aug 1-Oct 31
  • Bass: 0 quota, CLOSED TO ALL FISHING

  • Burbot: 5

  • Kokanee: 5 (none from streams)

  • Whitefish: 15 (all species combined)

  • White Sturgeon: CLOSED TO ALL FISHING in the Fraser River Watershed upstream of Williams Lake River.

    CATCH AND RELEASE in the Fraser River Watershed downstream of and including Williams Lake River.

    CLOSED TO ALL FISHING in the Fraser River downstream of and including Williams Lake River Sept 15-July 15.

Region 5 default regulationsPossession Quotas
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  • Possession quotas = 2 daily quotas (see tables for exceptions)

Region 5 default regulationsDaily & Annual Quotas for Salmon
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  • Please refer to the NOTICE on page 77 for Salmon Regulations.

Region 5 default regulationsSteelhead fishing
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  • Your basic licence must be validated with a Steelhead Conservation Surcharge Stamp if you fish for steelhead anywhere in B.C. In addition, a Steelhead Stamp is mandatory when fishing most Classified Waters regardless of the species being angled for. Please see page 7 for details.

Region 5 default regulationsSteelhead Management Changes
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  • In response to declining abundance of Fraser Basin steelhead, steelhead fisheries within the Chilcotin River Watershed may be closed.

Region 5 default regulationsDean River Classified Waters
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  • All anglers are required to buy a Classified Waters Licence to fish the classified portions of the Dean River (see Table for specific areas and dates). There are no limits on the number of days which a Canadian resident may fish the classified sections of the Dean River.

    A Non-Resident Alien (see definition, page 80) is allowed only one Classified Waters Licence for the Dean River, and may only fish one classified section of the Dean River (see map page 44) for a maximum of 8 consecutive days per year regardless of whether guided or unguided. A non-guided Non-Resident Alien wishing to fish the Class I - Main Section of the Dean River, from Crag Creek to signs 500 m upstream the canyon, must enter an annual limited entry draw held each spring. For an application, please visit our website at www.gov.bc.ca/fish-licence.

Region 5 default regulationsNotice to Anglers
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  • The following waters ARE CLOSED TO ALL FISHING:

    • Chilcotin River downstream of Chilko River from October 1 through June 10.

    Sport fishing openings will be announced in-season, if scientific information suggests that abundance is adequate to support a fishery. This management approach is in response to depressed steelhead abundance. The short term strategy is to meet conservation objectives by minimizing the incidental mortalities associated with sports and commercial fisheries.

  • It is illegal to fish for bass in the Cariboo Region. This measure is part of B.C.’s management approach to illegal fish introductions. For details, see page 74.

Last updated: Apr 01, 2025 · Synopsis page 42 · PDF page 48 · Current BC updates

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