Smallmouth Bass Lakes in British Columbia

Government fish surveys have recorded smallmouth bass in 36 British Columbia lakes, 1% of the 2,671 lakes in this atlas with sport-fish records.

Lakes: 36
Recorded since 2010: 16
Median size: 0.53 km²
Latest record: 2022

Where it is found

Most of these lakes are in Capital (10), Nanaimo (8) and Cowichan Valley (4).

In these lakes the sport fish most often recorded alongside it are rainbow trout (100%), cutthroat trout (75%), pumpkinseed (50%) and kokanee (25%).

Seasons, limits and sanctuaries vary by zone: check the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations before you fish.

Lake with a full profileOther lake

Where smallmouth bass is most consistently recorded

Ranked by the number of observation records, then by the most recent record.

#	Lake	Records	Last record	Area km²
1	Quennell LakeNanaimo	50	1993	1.14
2	Beaver LakeCariboo	27	2012	1.7
3	Vaseux LakeOkanagan-Similkameen	17	2015	2.83
4	Shawnigan LakeCowichan Valley	15	2022	5.45
5	Cusheon LakeCapital	15	2012	0.28
6	Cultus LakeFraser Valley	12	2021	6.34
7	Elk LakeCapital	9	2005	2.23
8	Skaha LakeOkanagan-Similkameen	7	2012	19.5
9	Spider LakeNanaimo	6	2012	0.54
10	Prospect LakeCapital	5	2012	0.68
11	Oliphant LakeCowichan Valley	5	2007	0.22
12	Glen LakeCapital	5	1993	0.16
13	Long LakeNanaimo	4	2019	0.39
14	St. Mary LakeCapital	4	2017	1.78
15	Langford LakeCapital	4	2005	0.61
16	McKenzie LakeCapital	4	2002	0.15
17	Okanagan LakeCentral Okanagan	3	2020	349
18	Green LakeNanaimo	3	1993	0.12
19	Chambers LakeCariboo	2	2012	2.77
20	Hatzic LakeFraser Valley	2	2009	2.85
21	Matheson LakeCapital	2	2004	0.22
22	Fuller LakeCowichan Valley	2	1958	0.24
23	Diver LakeNanaimo	1	2020	0.12
24	Erie LakeCentral Kootenay	1	2015	0.36
25	Phillips LakeThompson-Nicola	1	2010	0.3
26	Big LakeCariboo	1	2010	5.8
27	Gardom LakeColumbia-Shuswap	1	2009	0.77
28	Kemp LakeCapital	1	2003	0.24
29	Westwood LakeNanaimo	1	2003	0.64
30	Tugulnuit LakeOkanagan-Similkameen	1	1995	0.47
31	Lubbe LakeCapital	1	1993	0.52
32	Brannen LakeNanaimo	1	1993	1.09
33	Illusion LakesNanaimo	1	1986	0.12
34	Beaver LakeCowichan Valley	1	1983	0.18
35	Edith LakeEast Kootenay	1	1972	0.13
36	McLaughlin LakeAlberni-Clayoquot	1	1961	0.38

Top 36 of 36 lakes. Download the full list (CSV). Source: British Columbia’s Fisheries Information Summary System observations (OGL-BC). Data as of October 9, 2026. A record means a survey caught or observed the species, not that it is abundant today.

Smallmouth Bass Lakes in British Columbia

Where it is found

Where smallmouth bass is most consistently recorded

Other fish in British Columbia