Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: adecadelost on February 25, 2014, 07:45:22 PM
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Any one have any info on the ice conditions on kawkawa?
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Doesn't open until march 1st incase you didn't know..
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Thanks Tenz85. I was aware of that but being that is less then 3 days away I was curious if it makes sense to plan for opening weekend or if it's still covered in ice.
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Thanks Tenz85. I was aware of that but being that is less then 3 days away I was curious if it makes sense to plan for opening weekend or if it's still covered in ice.
You have made a very good point-I wish I knew. It is a long way to drive if unsure about the ice conditions. I know that here in Chilliwack it has been quite cold for a while and the wind has been quite brisk for at least two weeks lately. If all else fails give the sporting goods shop in Hope a call. Lot cheaper than driving there to find out.
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Phone Chilliwack Dart and Tackle in Chilliwack as they may have an update for you.
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If I were to take a guess I would say it will take a few weeks of some above freezing temps before its fishable.
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With the mild daytime temperature this week, it should be fully or at least partially ice-free. There have been past colder winters and the lake was fishable on opening day. With that said, follow Chris' advice, call Chilliwack Dart and Tackle. Someone who works there is always the first one at the lake on opening day if it is fishable…. ;)
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Reported this morning from District of Hope ... lake is 90% covered with thin ice.
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Two days left. Get the blow dryers out! ;D
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Here's what it looked like today around noon. There will probably be open water accessible from the east side boat launch (not the park) within a couple of days. I should have taken a pic there :-[. The Master was there checking it out at the same time as us.
(http://photoshare.shaw.ca/image/7/7/e/118485/kawkawa001-0.jpg?rev=0)
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Hahaha... I'm surprised he's not in the middle of the lake smashing through the ice with a big hammer in that picture. Thanks for the update firebird, made me feel better since I can't fish for another month. :D
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He wouldn't have got very far ... it's only about 1.5 inches thick :D
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He wouldn't have got very far ... it's only about 1.5 inches thick :D
LOL!! even 4 inches would have been iffy for our buddy ;D
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Ice on Kawakawa for opening day - pffft - minor detail. Don't let a little ice prevent you from getting out, it just makes trolling a little noisier than usual.
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb45/rieber_photos/P3020031.jpg)
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb45/rieber_photos/P3020032.jpg)
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb45/rieber_photos/P3020030.jpg)
I can't do that anymore as I only have my 8' Spratley and a set of oars.
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He wouldn't have got very far ... it's only about 1.5 inches thick :D
Even better. My bet is on him plowing through a path with his boat tomorrow morning so he can soak his krill for eight hours straight like every other March 1st. ;D
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I will be heading up there in a week or so and probably going to b float fishing with krill, just wondering what everyone's favorite method is for early season kokes?
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Even better. My bet is on him plowing through a path with his boat tomorrow morning so he can soak his krill for eight hours straight like every other March 1st. ;D
Hope it is better than our trip last year with our guide. :'(
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He'll probably be at work tomorrow.
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Hope it is better than our trip last year with our guide. :'(
I had a good nap that day.
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2013/130327-1_zps73f368f6.jpg)
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I'm looking forward to fishing it this year nice and close. One of many I want to hit around here.
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I will be heading up there in a week or so and probably going to b float fishing with krill, just wondering what everyone's favorite method is for early season kokes?
It depends on where the fish are feeding, on the bottom or near the surface. On a sunny day, you'll most likely only find fish close to the bottom at 40' so a sliding weight rig would work better than a float fishing setup (unless you use a sliding float and set the float depth at 40'). On an overcast day, fish will most likely be close to the surface and you can spot them pretty easily if that's the case. Float fishing for them with krill at 4' to 6' usually does not disappoint under that situation.
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I have found that when the fish start jumping and showing where they are is your best time and at that time fish shallow and you will get results.
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I'm looking forward to fishing it this year nice and close. One of many I want to hit around here.
me also , Had to re-evaluate , or limites re-defined ? my behind, I'll find them my self
see you there !
BTW Ice off ??
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Red micro leeches have historically worked well just after ice off:
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb45/rieber_photos/P3020022.jpg)
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb45/rieber_photos/P3020026.jpg)
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb45/rieber_photos/P3060018.jpg)
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb45/rieber_photos/P3060009.jpg)
Just don't forget to release the Coho:
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb45/rieber_photos/P3020018.jpg)
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I'll be there soon in my 10' Spratley
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Just called Chilliwack Dart on Kawkawa. The guy answering said it is ice off now but no actual report on fishing condition. Is this too early in the season for kokanee if the water is ice off?
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Definitely not too early. They should be hungry... ;). Get out there and try your luck.
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It will be worth the trip If you can stand the weather, Its been the only reason I haven't decided to head out and sit in a boat all day. I'm by no means a fair weather fishermen, but when its raining this hard I think I'd rather stay inside and tie flies and jigs. Fishing should be fantastic though. And with the rain, Fish could be at the top, making it real fun if you decide to flyfish.
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Bad information from Chilliwack Dart. Don't waste your time, went there this morning and the lake is still covered with ice. >:(
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https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153883240125084&set=p.10153883240125084&type=1&theater
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https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153883240125084&set=p.10153883240125084&type=1&theater
Yup and like I said originally its going to take some time before its fishable.
My favorite technique is casting my fly out, let it sink to about a 10-20 count and start stripping with a strip pause method. This works when the fish are within 10 feet of the surface. Find risers and anchor and try this method. When its hot I would get a fish a cast!!
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Frozen, but can be fishable.
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2014/kakawalkmar72014001_zps182e575a.jpg)
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2014/kakawalkmar72014018_zps175b1fe2.jpg)
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2014/kakawalkmar72014017_zpse0d2e36c.jpg)
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Good Job! I saw these guys yesterday when I got there but I have a pontoon boat and they had a boat with an engine and they were breaking the ice. I would just stuck on the ice if I tried. haha.
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If anybody can give me an update on the ice condition that would be great. Tomorrow is my last day off before going back to work. Thanks.
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Did u make it out there fishmonk?
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No man, I didn't go today. I went to Whonnock Lake today. I had 1 bite only, but no other takers. All in all, it was a nice day on the water. Things should be good for next week though.
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Having never fished Kawkawa Lake before, I am planning to head up there on Monday to try my hand at Kokanee fishing , also which I have never done before. Taking my boat and my fly rods with me. Any hints as to how, flies to use, and where on the lake one would start would be greatly appreciated. I am taking a young fellow who is into fishing with me. I met him at the BC Youth Fly Fishing competition. No secrets just a gentle nudge in the right direction. You can pm me or email me at ross at accomplished dot ca. Thanks
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I can't say much for flyfishing the lake, bringing a nice veriety of sinking lines will benefit you though, If the fish arent surfacing you will have to try to find them in 40-50ft of water, I don't usually throw feathers for them since I've only got them on the fly when they where taking krill that was float fished a couple feet from the surface on a float. good fun though on a 4wt.
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As for the krill, do you guys buy them from tackle shops? Or just buy the krill uncured and cure them yourself?
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RossP: When the Kokanee are on the top I've had excellent luck trolling a chartreuse luckybug on a 4wt fly rod. This is my go to method early in season at Niskonlith lake, which is near Chase BC. This said, I've only fished Kawkawa twice, and both times I had to go to depth to catch anything. I had the best luck with a wedding band tipped with krill.
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Having never fished Kawkawa Lake before, I am planning to head up there on Monday to try my hand at Kokanee fishing , also which I have never done before. Taking my boat and my fly rods with me. Any hints as to how, flies to use, and where on the lake one would start would be greatly appreciated. I am taking a young fellow who is into fishing with me. I met him at the BC Youth Fly Fishing competition. No secrets just a gentle nudge in the right direction. You can pm me or email me at ross at accomplished dot ca. Thanks
A red micro leech is all you need. If they are in the top 10 feet of the water column you will slay them on a clear intermediate. For those that fly fish this lake a ton we know about the red micro leech. No need for any other fly. Heck I have caught both the coho and the cutthroat on that fly in that lake as well. Bring a type 7 sinking line as well incase they are deep. When no fish is surfacing I will troll with a fast sinking line very slowly. When I get some bites in one area I will stop and cast. I will cast out, let my line sink and slowly strip it back in. I am not a huge fan of trolling but if its what you like to do go for it.
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Thanks to everyone who replied. We went up today and once we found them, lost a few, then we were on track. We had a blast and brought a few home for dinner. Once again thanks to everyone who replied.
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RossP, I have never eaten a Kawkawa kokanee but have heard conflicting stories regarding their flavor - some say they are awesome, others say they are muddy tasting. As this is your first time eating these fish ... how were they?
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RossP, I have never eaten a Kawkawa kokanee but have heard conflicting stories regarding their flavor - some say they are awesome, others say they are muddy tasting. As this is your first time eating these fish ... how were they?
They were awesome, I will be going again to get more on orders from SWMBO.
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;) best do it!
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Thanks to everyone who replied. We went up today and once we found them, lost a few, then we were on track. We had a blast and brought a few home for dinner. Once again thanks to everyone who replied.
RossP, awesome job! We're they on the top or did u fish deep?
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Tried my first kawkawa kokanee last year and it was outstanding! Not muddy at all
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In the morning we got a few on the surface then I switched to. #7 sink line after they stopped biting and fished the rest of the day with it.
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Kawkawa Lake kokanee taste ok...
Step one
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2008/080305-08.jpg)
Step two
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2008/080305-19.jpg)
Step three
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2008/080314-11.jpg)
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Your fish are missing their eyeballs in that last photo, Rod. Weird. ;)
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There's still meat on the tail.
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Kawkawa Lake kokanee taste ok...
Step one
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2008/080305-08.jpg)
OMG - it looks like you're flossing them in Kawkawa? This could become the next new craze. ;D
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OMG - it looks like you're flossing them in Kawkawa? This could become the next new craze. ;D
Well they are sockeye. ;)
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Well they are sockeye. ;)
Its almost worth making a trip out there just to see if there will be guys out there bombing out long leaders with b-betties. Could become hazardous for the waterskier and flyfishermen.
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How about trolling with green wool on a 12 ft leader, LOL. By the way, is the lake ice out now or people need to use their boat as 'ice breakers' in order to get out to the middle of the lake?
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They will bite if you troll green wool.
I troll or cast red wool all the time in Kawkawa. :o OMG - I'm the one who is flossing.
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How about trolling with green wool on a 12 ft leader, LOL. By the way, is the lake ice out now or people need to use their boat as 'ice breakers' in order to get out to the middle of the lake?
was out last week and ice is off. think its between early ice off and some phase of dying off I've vaguely heard of ..
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I have never eaten a Kawkawa kokanee but have heard conflicting stories regarding their flavor - some say they are awesome, others say they are muddy tasting.
I don't kill fish to eat often but I do enjoy kokanee. Early in the season they taste great, once the water warms and they have been feeding on the bottom for a while they do get a bit of a muddy taste. Usually by the time the weather gets nice and the lake gets taken over by water skiers, they will be already getting muddy in my opinion
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Got out there for a few hours today, weather was rather bipolar, And so where the fish, There was a mayfly hatch down by the slides, And the water was almost literally boiling with fish rising to the surface, I didnt think much of it and only brought my wet box. Picked up a few fish on red micro leaches, And a few fish trolling wedding bands tipped with bits of shrimp, Overall it was a nice day, Albeit Slightly wet and cold.
Got a little bit of everything, from land locked coho, Cutties, Kokanee, and this nice little rainbow. which was quickly released to do its thing after a quick picture.
(http://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1.0-9/1017153_10151918384175667_425053446_n.jpg)
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Got out there yesterday and the water was boiling with fish coming up to the top. Lots of coho around. I was using a reddish/wine colored micro leech and a shrimp pattern and they both worked. Got a few Kokanee and they tasted good... ;D
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Why does Freds Fishing Report say that cutthroat cannot be legally retained in this lake? Am I missing something from the regulations?
http://www.fredscustomtackle.com/Fishing-Report_ep_77.html
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Must be a mix-up. Cutthroat trout and rainbow trout can be retained at Kawkawa Lake, coho salmon cannot. The daily quota of trout and char in Region 2 lakes is 4 per day, with the exception of some lakes.
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I'm pretty sure someone at Fred's meant to write Coho instead of Cutthroat.
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Anyone out on the lake this weekend?
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Any report on latest fishing condition?
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Fishing's been alright, Fish have been very active at the surface, And I've gotten more coho, and cutthroat then i have kokanee. Large hatches all over the lake the last few times I've been there. Good time for all the flyfisherman to hit the lake, I would be if some low life didnt steal my fishing backpack a couple weeks back with my fly boxes in it.
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+1 lots of coho on the fly. Some Kokanee in the mix as well.
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I was in the neighbourhood around noon today so I stopped by to have a look. There were fish showing all over the place. There was no wind or rain and the temperature was nice. The only thing missing was the fishermen. Not one boat.
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Where can I buy some nice size krill for curing? I bought some from an aquarium supply store in Burnaby on Lougheed and they are just tiny & fragmented after defrosting. Spent $8 on 2 frozen packs for nothing. Sigh.
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I found same thing but it helps if you defrost them on a opaper towel and check on them periodically to see how much they've defrosted and dehydrated but if you want to buy some pretty cured andprepped try some local tackle shops. everyone has they're preferences.
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Freds Kawkawa report is rewritten and now it says BOTH the cutthroat and coho can't be retained.
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Where can I buy some nice size krill for curing? I bought some from an aquarium supply store in Burnaby on Lougheed and they are just tiny & fragmented after defrosting. Spent $8 on 2 frozen packs for nothing. Sigh.
You can buy them at any Bosley's pet store. They are a nice size and I fire cured with Pauztke's. Works like a charm and they don't fall apart.
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Like I think someone said earlier First Light does a great job of curing them. They are ready to go. Also a very helpful guy!
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I broke off from Steelheading about noon to check out Kawkawa fishing condition. It was quite rainy there and a bit windy. Saw 3 boats came back with every one reporting very few bites even though they saw the fish on the fishfinder. People were saying not sure why they are off bite. One guy said he tried every thing, from krill to dick lite, top to bottom, nothing worked. Not a productive day there. I couldn't see many rises from the boat launch either.
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Any update report on fishing at Kawkawa?
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Fished Kawkawa on Saturday. There were perhaps eight boats on the lake. Had some good success trolling flies close to the surface.
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Nice I want to go this weekend what flies were you using?
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Anything bright red or orange will work with Kokanee.
There are 2 flies that I use:
- a red Spratley
(http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/angling/flies/searching_patterns/spratred.jpg)
- another that looks like a red wooly bugger but not quite so "wooly" - just red wool wrapped thickly around the body of the hook - I think it has wings too.
I'll take a look in my flybox when I get home for a pic.
Kind of a crappy pic but here it is:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/BCfisher/kokanee_flies_zps48d4b8f9.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BCfisher/media/kokanee_flies_zps48d4b8f9.jpg.html)
You want something that imitates the krill - little red/orange freshwater shrimp.
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Thx I used krill last year I want to fly fish for them this year also how are you fishing for them troll? or cloudy days casting is there a general area that is good for Kokanee on the lake?
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Anything bright red or orange will work with Kokanee.
There are 2 flies that I use:
- a red Spratley
(http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/angling/flies/searching_patterns/spratred.jpg)
- another that looks like a red wooly bugger but not quite so "wooly" - just red wool wrapped thickly around the body of the hook - I think it has wings too.
I'll take a look in my flybox when I get home for a pic.
Kind of a crappy pic but here it is:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/BCfisher/kokanee_flies_zps48d4b8f9.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BCfisher/media/kokanee_flies_zps48d4b8f9.jpg.html)
You want something that imitates the krill - little red/orange freshwater shrimp.
Just as I was reading your post, I was thinking "Red Carey"...and there it is!!!