Jacko Lake is one of the closest lakes to Kamloops and at a low altitude, it is also one of the first ice-free lakes for fishing.   It is a busy place in spring so we paddle on the larger lakes early and come back to Jacko in summer when the lake heats up and fishing is not so good.   When we go there in mid-summer, we may be the only ones in the launch area.    The paddle around all the lake, going into all the arms of the star-shaped lake is about 5 km.

The parking area provides easy access for both launching and landing.

Grassland hills surround the lake.

In each of the lake’s arms, the water is shallower and has marshy sections full of water insects, ducks, frogs, blackbirds, and muskrats.

On this day there were a dozens of ducks, mostly barrow’s golden eyes.

In the sheltered bays, reflections welcome paddlers.

Jacko Lake is really more of a Peterson Creek reservoir.   It has past mining activity to the north and east.    The dam on the east side of the lake is opened for late summer draw-down for ranches downstream.     But is is also a  stocked lake (rainbow trout) for fishing. In the shallow bays hatches were obvious and we hear that a good bet is chironomids.

The access road in can be a bit rough, but is suitable for most vehicles.  Right at the junction is Inks Lake, another  good spot for a summer paddle.

More Information:

• Jacko Critters
• Jacko Lake Sojourn
• Jacko Lake on a SUP
• Inks Lake