Location: From Kamloops travel west on the Trans Canada (hwy #1) for 11.4 kms. (7.1 miles) and then turn south onto the Coquihalla (hwy #5). Travel south on the #5 and turn right in the town of Merritt at the north exit. Turn right onto Nicola Ave. at this interchange. Turn right at the intersection Nicola Ave. and hwy #8 set your odometer to 0, turn right off hwy #8 at the Courtesy corner store located on the lower Nicola indian reserve #9 at 8.4 kms. (5.2 miles). Cross the indian reserve boundry at 11.2 kms. (6.9 miles) and pass the Craigmont mine entrance on the left at 12.1 kms. (7.5 miles). The pavement ends at 14.9 kms. (9.2 miles) and a good gravel active logging road begins. Pass over a cattle guard and then stay straight on the Pimainus lake forest service road at 21.9 kms. (13.6 miles). Cross another cattle guard and at 29.8 kms. (18.5 miles)stay on the Pimainus lake road at the intersection of Skuhun and Tyner roads, stay straight on the Pimainus lake road at 31.0 kms. (19.2 miles) and 31.4 kms. (19.5 miles). Cross over a wooden bridge at 32.4 kms. (20 miles), then stay left on the Pimainus lake road at the intersection with Chataway lakes forest service road, at 37.9 kms. (23.5 miles) stay left, at 41.5 kms. (25.7 miles) stay right at the intersection of Pimainus lake and Skulost creek forest service road. Cross a cattle guard and stay straight at 50.2 kms. (31.1 miles) at 50.6 kms. (31.4 miles) stay straight, right turn leads to Calling and Big Ok lakes. A left turn at 51.2 kms. (31.7 miles) will lead you to the Pimainus lake forest service recreation site located on the north shore of Pimainus lake.

Resorts & Campsites: 1 resort with cabins, camping, boat rentals and boat launching is located on the west end of the lake. Also a small BCFS campsite can be found on the northwest corner of the lake.

Fishing Report: Pimainus lake contains large numbers of wild rainbows in the 1 to 2lb. range. Good populations of chironomid, damsel fly, caddis fly, dragon fly and flying ants inhabit the lake and surrounding area.
Be sure to visit Fishbc.com for angling information!

Viewscape: Pimainus lake is one of a chain of 4 lakes that make up the Pimainus lakes. Situated on the Thompson Plateau within the north Nicola forest region, Pimainus is surrounded by gently rolling hills with slopes ranging from 5 to 16%. These hills are composed mainly of lodgepole pine mixed with very small amounts of englemann spruce. A mountain range is visable to the west from mid lake.

Shoreline: Pimainus is a long narrow lake surrounded on all sides by a dense coniferous forest which extends to the waterline with the exception of a sedge band, 3-5 meters (10-16 ft.) wide located at the east end. The northwest shoreline contains large patches of exposed sand and gravel. The south shore has large amounts of deadfall while the east shore contains most of the lakes shoal area as well as most of the aquatic plants found in the lake. The substrate is mainly organics mixed with patches of sand, gravel, cobble and boulder.

Nearby Lakes

Chataway Lake - Chataway lake located a few miles to the east of the Pimainus lake chain. (see directions for Pimainus lake). Chataway is a small lake of 20 ha./49 ac. located at an elevation of 1380 m./4526 ft. There is a lodge with cabins , hot showers, campsites, boat rentals and launching. A great place for family fishing vacations. Besides Chataway lake itself there are numerous lakes nearby: Abbott, Antler, Billy, Dot, Echo, Gordon, Gump, Gypsum, Leroy, Rosce, Tyner and Tupper. This is an area of excellent fishing for trout ranging from 1 lb. to 5 lbs. and lots of them. Great sedge hatches along with damsels, mayflies, chironomids and freshwater shrimp make up most of these rainbows diet and also provides a tremendous fishery for the fly fishers.

Note: Always check your current BC Fishing regulations before you start fishing a new lake.