Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing Reports => Members' Fishing Reports => Topic started by: Rodney on June 24, 2012, 07:25:00 PM

Title: Okanagan & Skaha Lake, June 19th - 23rd 2012
Post by: Rodney on June 24, 2012, 07:25:00 PM
We spent a few days at a friend's cabin along the shore of Okanagan Lake last week. The weather worked out pretty well for once. We did some bass fishing at Skaha Lake, spent a bit of time fishing for carp while we relaxed at the cabin.

http://www.fishingwithrod.com/blog/2012/06/24/exploring-fishing-opportunities-in-the-okanagan/
Title: Re: Okanagan & Skaha Lake, June 19th - 23rd 2012
Post by: zabber on June 24, 2012, 09:03:14 PM
Great report!

Very nice pics; I especially like the one of the hooked carps head breaking the water.
Title: Re: Okanagan & Skaha Lake, June 19th - 23rd 2012
Post by: skaha on June 24, 2012, 11:18:09 PM
--fishing often last on the list when thinking of an Okanagan family vacation.
--an issue... there are not many fishing rental boats available... a fair number of guides for a variety of fishing experiences.. higher elevation belly boat to larger trolling boats and a few bass specialists.
--the big lakes can be stormy and no way to beat a storm to shore so keep an eye on the weather...
--there is surprisingly little fishing pressure on the big lakes so you don't really have to charge off a great distance from the boat launches to get into decent fishing.
--the most interesting problem for Skaha is what should I fish for?... kokanee, trout, bass, whitefish, carp, pikeminnow... and soon sockeye... expect a sockeye opening for the second straight year on Osoyoos.
Title: Re: Okanagan & Skaha Lake, June 19th - 23rd 2012
Post by: silver ghost on June 24, 2012, 11:58:08 PM
expect a sockeye opening for the second straight year on Osoyoos.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think that's a little ambitious...
Title: Re: Okanagan & Skaha Lake, June 19th - 23rd 2012
Post by: Rodney on June 25, 2012, 01:25:12 AM
--fishing often last on the list when thinking of an Okanagan family vacation.
--an issue... there are not many fishing rental boats available... a fair number of guides for a variety of fishing experiences.. higher elevation belly boat to larger trolling boats and a few bass specialists.
--the big lakes can be stormy and no way to beat a storm to shore so keep an eye on the weather...
--there is surprisingly little fishing pressure on the big lakes so you don't really have to charge off a great distance from the boat launches to get into decent fishing.
--the most interesting problem for Skaha is what should I fish for?... kokanee, trout, bass, whitefish, carp, pikeminnow... and soon sockeye... expect a sockeye opening for the second straight year on Osoyoos.

I was going to email you prior to our trip but my stay was pretty limited so couldn't really squeeze in another outing beside Jesse's bass trip. :) Perhaps we'll come back in the fall to do other features. So many options and so little time is always the problem.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think that's a little ambitious...

You're wrong. The Osoyoos Lake sockeye salmon fishery is not related to the Fraser River fishery.
Title: Re: Okanagan & Skaha Lake, June 19th - 23rd 2012
Post by: skaha on June 25, 2012, 11:29:21 AM
-- Expecting good Osoyoos numbers for sockeye from the Columbia.. also limited spawn area thus doesn't require record runs to have an opening.

--Rodney: I was fishing with Jesse a few days before you got here.... he is one of the most knowledgeable Bass guys in the area..
--Maybe next time you can talk Jesse into more Skaha Bass and if/when the wind comes up you can switch over to my boat for Trout and Kokanee or Carp and Pikeminnow on the flats. 
Title: Re: Okanagan & Skaha Lake, June 19th - 23rd 2012
Post by: blueback on June 25, 2012, 08:00:14 PM
Any idea of when they (the sockeye) will be in the lake? I would imagine that maybe the way to fish them would be similar to fishing them in the salt? Trolling with downriggers?
Title: Re: Okanagan & Skaha Lake, June 19th - 23rd 2012
Post by: skaha on June 25, 2012, 10:46:56 PM
--Sockeye Osoyoos
--expect late July but that does not mean they will open then... check Region 8 for in season opening..
--also check for gear restrictions   
--hoping I'll be here when the opening happens.... won't know till it gets closer if I'll be around.
--weather could be an issue... I don't know if they will open with high water temps although doesn't seem to be a problem now a few weeks can make a big difference.

--I will be doing some experimenting with a few other locals... will start out with dodgers and hoochies from downrigger.
--Also will try some up-sized kokanee rigs... tumbler lures..  behind an old crock lure which I use for a dodger.
Title: Re: Okanagan & Skaha Lake, June 19th - 23rd 2012
Post by: blueback on June 26, 2012, 10:17:01 PM
Ya; I hope I'll be around then, too. I have holidays around that time, but out of province for part of it. I've had success trolling small pink/red apex's for sox in the salt behind one or multiple flashers. Maybe it'll work in the lake. Thanks for the info and good luck!
Title: Re: Okanagan & Skaha Lake, June 19th - 23rd 2012
Post by: silver ghost on June 28, 2012, 11:57:42 PM
-- Expecting good Osoyoos numbers for sockeye from the Columbia.. also limited spawn area thus doesn't require record runs to have an opening.


Oh cool, I didn't know that!
Title: Re: Okanagan & Skaha Lake, June 19th - 23rd 2012
Post by: mojoman on July 15, 2012, 08:18:00 AM
if you fish Osoyoos for socks, just be aware the FN's here consider those fish theirs' and are aggressive to outsiders...just a heads-up..;))




mojo
Title: Re: Okanagan & Skaha Lake, June 19th - 23rd 2012
Post by: fishyfish on July 17, 2012, 12:19:30 AM
Hard to get "aggressive" when your net is stretched across a piece of water as you catch multiple numbers of sockeye at one time while the person you may allegedly be   getting  aggressive with has two lines out. A sport opening is a sport opening. Getting aggressive  by the Indians means as much as the non Indians standing by while the Indians bring in nets with many  sockeye. I saw it last year or the year before when it was open only to Indians before it was for sports in Osoyoos.  The Indians I met were friendly enough but they were fishing while we  were not able. I wanted to get aggressive but what the frick could I do about it? Nothing. Thanks for the heads up never the less but don't let that deter you from fishing if you have a right to fish fricken fish.  The Indians will. Just saying.