Fly fishing can take you to some of the most beautiful places in our great outdoors: pristine forests, tranquil lakes, breath-taking mountain ranges and bustling rivers. Our north country is full of them. You’ll have a chance to see magnificent wildlife in its natural environment and opportunities for quiet solitude. Once you learn the basics of fly casting, the gentle rhythm and swish-swish of the line in motion adds to the enjoyment of your sport.

Boundary Lake, nestled in the foothills of the McGregor Mountains north of Prince George, is one of those beautiful places. About 30 km north of Prince George on Highway 97 North, just past the Huble Homestead turn-off, take the North Fraser Road east to the 25 km marker and turn left (north) on North Averill Road, which takes you to the Boundary Lake Forestry Rec Site about six km along the gravel road.

I recommend a pickup truck, preferably four-by-four, for this journey, as the access road is safe but somewhat rough, narrow and usually has some wet spots. The lake doesn’t see much activity, so the brush along the road can get a little out of hand—take a machete to save scratches. The rec site is suitable for truck and camper access, but nothing larger or longer due to tight turnarounds.

Boundary has a rough boat launch and dock, five good campsites and a pit toilet. It is well suited for a quiet family getaway to introduce the kids to fishing. There is not much beetle-kill pine in the area, the lake being surrounded by spruce, fir and various deciduous species. It is a small lake, about 20 hectares, and not on the Freshwater Fisheries stocking program so the fish are wild stock, likely propagated by the nearby Fraser River system through feeder creeks.

Wild fish lakes are special, though not unusual in the Omenica Region, and when left to nature’s guidance will also contain various species of coarse fish: freshwater fish that are not game fish, such as whitefish, pike minnows and suckers. The rainbow trout in Boundary, typical of wild fish stock, are really scrappy and the “keepers” will range in size from 30 to 50 cm. They will take wet or dry flies with reckless abandon depending upon the hatch in progress or current insect activity.

A few years back, in late June, I accompanied two buddies to Boundary, where we caught trout all day long on the surface with caddisflies. Because of its small size, the lake can be covered several times during a day’s fishing, but I’ve found the shoals on the far side directly across from the campsite have excellent feeding areas for trout: abundant weed beds, a deep hole, a point of land and lots of fish.

Flies I recommend for now through July are wet flies such as mayfly nymphs, damselfly nymphs, dragonfly nymphs and small leeches; dry flies will include caddisflies and small midges such as Tom Thumb #16. You can also be successful with flies such as silver- or gold-bodied muddler minnows because there are coarse fish in the system, and some of the larger trout will surely be feeding on small fry. If trout are showing, rising around the lake, these are “happy” trout; put on a dry fly, anchor quietly in their feeding areas and target them with a floating line and caddisfly imitation—you won’t be disappointed!