The Fishery
Kamloops rainbows, born to fight
Leighton Lake is stocked by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC with Pennask and Blackwater strain Kamloops rainbow trout — aggressive, hard-fighting fish famous for acrobatics at the end of a line.
Thanks to the lake’s rich insect life, those stocked fish grow quickly through several size classes, and the water here has serious pedigree: neighbouring Tunkwa ranks among BC’s top-ten provincial rainbow trout fisheries, and fish approaching the ten-pound class come out of both lakes in good years.
Fish from a small boat, float tube, canoe, or right off the shoreline — all four work here. A gravel boat launch keeps things easy for cartoppers and small trailered boats.
Licence up first
Everyone angling in BC fresh water needs a valid BC freshwater fishing licence. Buy online before you leave town — cell service at the lake is unreliable. Check current regulations for quotas, gear restrictions, and any in-season changes.
Recent stocking at Leighton
| Released | Species & strain | Stage | Avg. size | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2026 | Rainbow Trout (Pennask) | Yearling | 11.2 g | 3,000 |
| Apr 2025 | Rainbow Trout (Pennask) | Yearling | 9.5 g | 1,000 |
| Apr 2024 | Rainbow Trout (Pennask) | Yearling | 12 g | 1,000 |
| May 2023 | Rainbow Trout (Pennask) | Yearling | 10.1 g | 1,000 |
| Sep 2021 | Rainbow Trout (Pennask) | Fry | 1.4 g | 3,000 |
| Oct 2020 | Rainbow Trout (Pennask) | Fry | 1.2 g | 3,000 |
Live data from the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC stocking reports — updates automatically as new releases are recorded.
The Moment
In the net
This is what everyone comes for: that flash of silver at the side of the boat. Leighton’s rainbows punch well above their weight, and even the family dog knows the sound of a drag giving line.
Handle fish gently in the net, keep them wet, and get your photos quickly if you’re releasing — the next cast might bring an even bigger one.
Through the Season
A year on the water
Spring — Ice-off
The magic window. Trout cruise the warming shallows feeding hard after winter. Chironomids fished slow and deep are the classic play; small leeches work when nothing’s hatching.
Summer
Early and late beats midday. Dragonfly and damselfly nymphs along the weed edges, dry-fly windows on calm evenings, and deeper presentations when the sun is high.
Fall
Cooling water switches the fish back on. Leeches, boatmen, and blobs bring aggressive grabs — and the grasslands around you turn pure gold.
Winter
Hard-water season for the dedicated. Ice fishing is popular here — check ice conditions carefully and never fish unfamiliar ice alone.
Beyond the Rod
Trails, paddles & slow afternoons
Grassland trails loop around the lake and connect toward Tunkwa — mellow walking and great riding for gravel and mountain bikes. Paddlers love the calm mornings, and the day-use area is made for long picnics.
Interpretive signs along the shoreline introduce the birds and wildlife that share the water with you.
Backroads
Explore on four wheels (responsibly)
The plateau’s old logging roads make for great side-by-side and ATV exploring, and the park has a dedicated offload/staging area at Leighton North. Keep machines to designated trails and out of the campgrounds (ATVs are prohibited inside campground boundaries), and note that two special management areas are foot-access only — the wetlands and grasslands here are protected, and the backcountry roads beyond offer all the riding you could want.
Golden Hour
Stay for the evening show
Whatever you do at Leighton, end the day facing west. Sunset over the plateau is the lake’s daily encore — bring a chair, a warm layer, and nowhere else to be.
See it in photosPlay Fair
Angler’s etiquette
- Clean your fish in the water — there’s no fish-cleaning station in the park.
- Respect quotas and release fish gently if you’re not keeping them.
- Clean, drain, and dry your boat and gear to stop invasive species hitching a ride.
- Give other anglers room — the lake fishes best when everyone has water to work.
- Electric or low-horsepower motors suit this lake; check current regulations before running a gas motor.