Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: jekern1015 on April 29, 2012, 09:09:33 AM

Title: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: jekern1015 on April 29, 2012, 09:09:33 AM
I plan on towing my boat up to Okanagan lake next week in hopes of fishing for the kokanee. Can anyone point me in the right direction as to where to start looking for them. We will be spending a few days in Kelowna. We plan on fishing the morning hours and then hitting up the wineries in the evening. Fresh Salmon and a good bottle of wine sound really good for dinner. I also plan on hitting Stump lake and Kawkawa lake sometime during the rest of the week. I would also be open to any starting points on those lakes. I have also been giving some thought about putting my boat in the harbour and looking for salmon, but not sure if I want to deal with the saltwater. Thanks for any info you are willing to share with me.
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: mzmann on April 29, 2012, 11:02:15 AM
If you are targeting Kokanee then your chances will be much better in Wood Lake or Kalamalka Lake.....Wood probably being your best bet as it is a much smaller lake in comparison to both Kal and Ok and good numbers of Kok in there......they just again opened up Kok fishing in Ok lake so the numbers must be up from recent years but still somewhat of a rare catch in there as far as i've heard.....if its the koke's you seek then definately hit Kalamalka or wood....both right off the highway as well....Wood is just north of Kelowna and Kalamalka is a littel further north by/in Vernon.....if you are not familiar with the area already......cant say anything about Stump or Kawkawa as i've never been.
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: tuna on April 29, 2012, 11:22:11 AM
you would'nt be interested in about 100 diferent kokanee spoons and flashers and lake trolls and plugs all in new condition I bought them last year to get into kokanee fishing and decided to stick to flyfishing trout  .. sorry for the high jack
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: jekern1015 on April 30, 2012, 01:45:13 PM
What kinda price we talkin about. I don't have alot but I might have some left over after buying gas.
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: Old Blue on May 04, 2012, 02:24:25 PM
I've known some guys who have done well out by snake island by OK mtn park.  The shoreline between trout creek and penticton can get some good action as well.
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: BCfisherman97 on May 04, 2012, 02:41:28 PM
The Channel has great shore fishing if you don't want to take the boat out. Fly fishing and gear fishing. Big Carp willing to take flies, large Pikeminnows and some seriously big Trout! The Trout get huge! Ive seen some of the biggest trout of my life in there. It's hard to catch them tho, Ive only ever hooked one giant. If you walk on the platform on the dam and look down into the river, you can see them in there, right under the dam. They usually hang out in a group of 2-5, a few small ones then usually a really big one in the middle. They are very selective so its tough to trick them. Kokanee are in there as well as bass. The Kokanee  feed on dries before dark, so its pretty easy to pick them off. They aren't that big (10 inches). The Carp hang out in the current and will pick off leaches and I have even gotten them on dries. Just a great river to fish when you have some time to spare, usually really rewarding.

Here a video of what it looks like, I found it on Youtube. The water is high right now, as expected, but still very fishable. This guys having some fun with the Pikeminnows. Look what one of them spits out of it#s mouth!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SATqO8w9w28
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: Rodney on May 04, 2012, 03:27:41 PM
The Channel has great shore fishing if you don't want to take the boat out. Fly fishing and gear fishing. Big Carp willing to take flies, large Pikeminnows and some seriously big Trout! The Trout get huge! Ive seen some of the biggest trout of my life in there. It's hard to catch them tho, Ive only ever hooked one giant. If you walk on the platform on the dam and look down into the river, you can see them in there, right under the dam. They usually hang out in a group of 2-5, a few small ones then usually a really big one in the middle. They are very selective so its tough to trick them. Kokanee are in there as well as bass. The Kokanee  feed on dries before dark, so its pretty easy to pick them off. They aren't that big (10 inches). The Carp hang out in the current and will pick off leaches and I have even gotten them on dries. Just a great river to fish when you have some time to spare, usually really rewarding.

Here a video of what it looks like, I found it on Youtube. The water is high right now, as expected, but still very fishable. This guys having some fun with the Pikeminnows. Look what one of them spits out of it#s mouth!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SATqO8w9w28

Ok I'm sold after watching that video! Northern pikeminnow and carp, already planning the trip now. ;D I see several dams between Okanagan and Skaha, does it even matter which section one should choose to fish at?
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: BCfisherman97 on May 04, 2012, 03:56:08 PM
Ok I'm sold after watching that video! Northern pikeminnow and carp, already planning the trip now. ;D I see several dams between Okanagan and Skaha, does it even matter which section one should choose to fish at?

Ahahahha I fish where Okanagan Lake dumps into the dam which makes the channel. The channel dumps out into Skaha Lake. Its where the that big white ship that is used as a mu seam on Okanagan Lake is. I fish just bellow the dam.
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: Old Blue on May 04, 2012, 04:08:47 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't you not allowed to fish within 23 metres below any dam? 
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: BCfisherman97 on May 04, 2012, 04:48:12 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't you not allowed to fish within 23 metres below any dam? 

I never fish on or right bellow the dam, I don't know what the rule is, but I personally always walk down a bit from the dam. I don't know what the guy in the video was doing.
Title: Damn, Dam , Okanagan lake questions
Post by: cohojoe on May 04, 2012, 05:00:23 PM
Damn,  Dam,   Darn,   the fish are smart because they swim in schools.   They know the boundaries.
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: leapin' tyee on May 04, 2012, 05:01:51 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't you not allowed to fish within 23 metres below any dam? 

I don't think you can fish on the dam.
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: Old Blue on May 04, 2012, 07:23:18 PM
I don't think you can fish on the dam.

I thought so, I know the river is exempt from spring closure and unless he's native he's pulling a "no-no" even if it is coarse fish.  I've seen on a few occasions natives using trebles right at ok falls doing the old rip and yank for bows, pretty sad sight.
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: BCfisherman97 on May 04, 2012, 07:37:22 PM
I thought so, I know the river is exempt from spring closure and unless he's native he's pulling a "no-no" even if it is coarse fish.  I've seen on a few occasions natives using trebles right at ok falls doing the old rip and yank for bows, pretty sad sight.

Saw them stacking the carp in little piles as well  :o
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: Sandman on May 04, 2012, 09:06:27 PM
I never fish on or right bellow the dam, I don't know what the rule is, but I personally always walk down a bit from the dam. I don't know what the guy in the video was doing.

You really ought not to admit that, especially on this site.  It is every angler's obligation to "know the rules" before they set out.  Could get you an earful...or worse.
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: BCfisherman97 on May 04, 2012, 10:08:35 PM
You really ought not to admit that, especially on this site.  It is every angler's obligation to "know the rules" before they set out.  Could get you an earful...or worse.

Let them. I fish well bellow the dam. I know that if there is a restriction, I would be fishing bellow that area. Ive seen locals fish above me, and that gave me an indication, but I thought I might as well move down just in case. I thought about there being a restriction, and I moved well below the dam, so just in case there is one, I would not be breaking it.
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: Lundo on May 05, 2012, 07:55:38 PM
troll between Peachland & Antlers for koks. caught this one last week on the surface..... OK lake is starting to cloud up due to the spring run off so the fish shouldnt be as boat shy.
change up your speed + direction often to trigger strikes. good luck!



(http://i50.tinypic.com/168c4zm.jpg)
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: Old Blue on May 05, 2012, 10:28:46 PM
Nice one, solid chunky fish that's gonna be great for the BBQ.  They smoke up really nice too.
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: morganr3 on May 11, 2012, 04:11:24 PM
Hi All,
My first day on this board and was just wondering if it's possible to contact a previous poster on this thread in person (Tuna...above, in regards to his plugs and spoons for sale) other than posting on this thread. Thks all and enjoying the info so far. Haven't fished out here for years and looking to get back into it.
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: Sandman on May 11, 2012, 05:14:25 PM
Hi All,
My first day on this board and was just wondering if it's possible to contact a previous poster on this thread in person (Tuna...above, in regards to his plugs and spoons for sale) other than posting on this thread. Thks all and enjoying the info so far. Haven't fished out here for years and looking to get back into it.

Well, he should get a notification that you responded to this thread, but that doesn't mean he will read it.  You can scroll up to his post, click on his name and send him a personal message, but again, that doesn't mean he will respond.  Good Luck.
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: salmonlover on May 11, 2012, 06:17:02 PM
too bad there is no bounty on pike minnows. I was watching a program on pbs i believe, and they pay anglers 2 or 5 bucks every fish they bring in. Some anglers can take half a year off and sustain themselves catching them. They even put tags in some of the pike minnows and they are worth like 500. I think this was somewhere along the colorado river to protect the salmon. are they considered a pest here?
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: morganr3 on May 11, 2012, 07:17:19 PM
Hi Sandman
Thx for the reply. I tried clicking on his name but his email addy is "hidden" from view so i'm not sure if there is another way to contact him thru the profile or if i'm left with hoping he sees my addition to the thread. I dont use boards much so i'm kinda new to it. Thanks for any help you guys can offer.
Title: Re: Okanagan lake questions
Post by: Sandman on May 12, 2012, 06:54:31 PM
Hi Sandman
Thx for the reply. I tried clicking on his name but his email addy is "hidden" from view so i'm not sure if there is another way to contact him thru the profile or if i'm left with hoping he sees my addition to the thread. I dont use boards much so i'm kinda new to it. Thanks for any help you guys can offer.

After clicking on his name, click on the "Send this member a Personal Message" option down near the bottom of the page.  I sent you a message using this feature.  When you log in to forum, you should see a line near the top of the page that says "Hey, morganr, you have 1 messages, 1 messages are new." As will Tuna, if you send him a message.