kootenay fishing

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Kootenay Fishing 2013 3rd Ed.

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Kootenay Fishing 2013 Free maps at www.AnglersAtlas.com

Caution: Do not use this map for navigational purposes. This map may not reflect current conditions. Uncharted hazards may exist.

Kootenay Key Map

The Kootenay region, situ-ated in British Columbia’s

south-east corner, is known for rugged mountains and river valleys. The lakes in this re-gion range from long deep trench lakes to small, highly

productive trout lakes.

Larger lakes featured in this guide in-

clude Kootenay, Slocan and

Upper Ar-row Lakes.

The re-

maining lakes showcased here are considerably smaller and many are great for small crafts, even belly boats.

We also feature two rivers in this guide for those who enjoy to fish moving water: the Elk River along the eastern edge of the region, and the Columbia River between Castlegar and the US border.

The waters featured in this guide are only a fraction of the fabulous fishing available throughout the Kootenays. To learn more about other lakes in the region, visit our website where we profile thousands of lakes across British Columbia,

or get in touch with some of our contributors and

sponsors. Tight lines!

We welcome feed-back, and have set up our website to collect photos, map markers and other

comments from users. Just visit your favourite lakes and start

posting!

KOOTENAY FISHING 2013

PublisherSean Simmons

Production Co-ordinatorKathy Buhler

Contributors: Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, Garred Huber Kerry Reed, Randy Mar-tin, Rick Passek, Rod Zavaduk

Advertising sales, printing and distribution managed by Glacier Media Inc.

Kootenay Fishing 2013 is part of The Angler’s Atlas and is owned by Goldstream Publish-ing Inc.

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Campbell lake

Quick FactsSurface Area• 5.63 Hectares

(13.9 Acres)

Maximum Depth• 7.2 metres

(23.6 feet)

Elevation (ASL)• 815 metres

(2,673 feet)

Survey Date• July, 1986

Contour Units• Metres

Campbell Lake has been des-ignated one of the region’s

Family Fishing Waters. These lakes are so-named because they offer convenient access and good op-portunities to fish from shore or from a small b o a t . C a m p -bell Lake has been s t o c k e d with adult and catchable sized rainbow trout, and in 2012, 1200 fish were re-leased into the lake.

Randy Martin from Mountain Man Out-doors says that Campbell Lake is a nice small lake, good for pontoons and float tubes. While summer fishing can be a challenge in some of the smaller lakes, patience and the right gear can make it worthwhile. Martin recommends smaller lures such as a Panther Martin, Mepps, or Blue Foxes.

Campbell Lake has several weedy spots where it can pay to watch for insects emerging. If you’re fly fishing, Martin suggests shrimp and leech patterns.

LAKE ACCESS

Campbell Lake is located northeast of Kimberley. From

Kimberley, head south on Highway 95A about 25 km. Take the High-way 3 / Highway 95 North ramp to Radium, and head north for about 5 km. Take the ramp onto High-way 93, following this towards Radium Hot Springs for about 12 km, past Fort Steele. Campbell

Lake is located on

the right (east) side of the high-

way. Note that the lake is not marked

as such, but only marked as a Rest

Area. Alternately, take Highway 95A north from

Kimberley, and turn right (south) onto Highway 95/93. Follow this highway south and Campbell Lake will be on your left (east). There is parking available and a day-use area.

New for 2013! Now members of the Angler’s Atlas can “follow” their favourite lakes! Get new in-formation about your local lakes as soon as it’s posted. Have some-thing to say? Post to the pages of your favourite lakes and share vid-eos, current conditions and tips to help out your fellow anglers. Visit www.anglersatlas.com for more information.

© The Angler’s Atlas

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Champion Lakes are some great family fishing lakes in

Champion Lakes Provincial Park. These three lakes are great desti-nations on their own. As a series, they provide a wide range of fish-ing opportunities that will excite beginners and challenge more ex-perienced anglers.

Pick a quiet evening and head out for a run at some mayfly fishing, or later in the season, take your caddis patterns. Third Champion Lake, the first in the series, is great for a Tom Thumb.

Some of the more spectacular fly fishing can be had on First Lake, which is, oddly enough, the last in the

chain, and is only accessible by hiking. Pack in a float tube and try chironomids, nymphs and dry flies such as Tom Thumbs and Wulff pat-terns.

Gear fish-ers will do well here, too, with Mepps, Pan-ther Mar-tins, and Blue Fox spinners. A n g l e r s will find plenty of shore casting opportunities here among the forests and tranquil sur-roundings.

Second Lake, as you may have guessed, is the middle lake, but the fishing here isn’t aver-age. The weed beds and dropoffs around the southeast end offer excellent fishing. In the mornings, try

your mayfly and damselfly varia-tions.

Champion Lakes are stocked with rainbow trout. In 2012, 5,000 fish were released into the lakes, 2,000 of which were catchable-sized.

Share your experiences about Champion Lakes on the Angler’s Atlas lake page: www.anglersat-las.com/lakes/291. Sign up to fol-low your favourite lakes and get notified when new information is posted.

LAKE ACCESS

Champion Lakes, where ice-off usually waits

until May, is located past Fruit- vale on Hwy

3B. Turn left at Champi- o n

Lakes Road and drive 10 kilometres to the park.

Map and article based on source material pro-

vided by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC.

Quick FactsSurface Area• 33.6 Hectares Total

(83 Acres)

Maximum Depth• 11 to 24.3 metres

(36 to 80 feet)

Elevation (ASL)• ~ 1,047 metres

(3,435 feet)



ChaMpion

LaKes




Cherry LaKe


(94.9 Acres)

Maximum Depth• 13 metres

(42.7 feet)

Elevation (ASL)• 1,227 metres

(4,025.6 feet)


Contour Units• Feet

High in the McGillivray Mountain Range, Cherry

Lake is home to rainbows and cutthroats. This productive little lake is perfect for early summer fishing, and then again when the leaves turn colours and the winds blow cooler, signalling the end of the long, hot summer days.

Some of your best fly options are dry flies. Smaller, pale morning duns, blue wing olives and Tom Thumbs are good choic-es. At the dropoff on the southwest side, anglers can also take out their nymph patterns. A Prince Nymph, or a Hare’s Ear nymph, cast from the shallows to the depths, is pro-ductive.

Cherry Lake is big enough to troll with a small boat. Troll back and forth across the shoals, from deep to shallow and back again. Panther Martins, Blue Spinners and Mepps are good choices.

Want to find out when new infor-mation is posted to your favourite lakes? Sign up to follow your local lakes and be notified as soon as

new posts are added. Visit www.anglersat-las.com for details.

LAKE ACCESS

Access to Cherry Lake is half the fun. There are several

different logging roads and ac-cess points. The easiest, however, is from Highway 3 / 93.

Take the Kikomen-Newgate Road over Lake Koocanusa to the Craven Creek FSR. Fol-low Craven Creek FSR past the Bloom Creek FSR for four kilo-metres, until you see the turn off to Cherry Lake. The access road can be challenging and rough. A high clearance vehicle is needed here.

Cherry Lake Rec Site is located

o n the eastern shores of Cher-

ry Lake. After the Bailey Bridge over the Lake Koocanusa, take the second road to the left (west). Follow the Craven Creek FSR 32.5 km where the road forks. Take the right fork. Continue on the Craven Creek FSR until the fork @ 39 km. Take the right fork until 42 km where the road forks again. Take the right fork and the recreation site is on the left within the first 500 m.

The Rec Site is a small, heavily treed site at the east end of Cher-ry Lake. Suitable for launching car-top boats and canoes.

Map and article based on source material provided by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC.


Fishing Tip #1For lake and river fi shing, go where

the water turns from shallow to deep.

Fish like to congregate and look for food

in this area.



DuCK LaKe

Duck Lake is a highly produc-tive waterbody and is known

for fantastic bass fishing. The shallow nature of the lake means extensive areas have underwa-ter plants, providing ideal bass habitat.

Garred Huber of Wynndel Foods is an avid angler who loves to fish Duck Lake. Huber notes that the fishing is good all sea-son, but makes special mention of spawning season.

“It is best when bass are spawn-ing in May and June. The only [hitch] is that dur-ing the p e a k

spawn from May 15 - June 15, the bass are catch and release only.”

He suggests anglers may want to try the north end of the lake. Plastic worms and leeches work well in the summer, as do Top Water Poppers and Buzz Baits.

For flyfishers, he suggests leech patterns or a mouse imitation.

Only non-motorized boats are permited on the lake.

Please note that permits are required for fishing on all waters within the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, includ-ing Duck Lake. For details on acquiring a permit visit www.crestonwildlife.ca or call 250-

402-6900.

Please consult the BC Freshwater Fishing

Regulations for quotas.

Wynndel Foods has a great selection of

tackle for the bass found in Duck Lake. Stop by and talk with Garred

Huber and his staff for more

tips.

CRESTON VALLEY WILd-LIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

The CVWMA has a history rich in commitment and con-

servation. As Duck Lake is criti-cal wildlife habitat, conservation-ists and biologists have joined forces to enhance and protect the area, mainly for nesting and migratory waterfowl, but also for all wildlife.

The lakes and wetlands that form the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area are home to an extensive array of wildlife. Several educational initiatives contribute to our understanding of the biodiversity of the Creston Valley. Please visit the CVWMA website at www.crestonwildlife.ca for more information.

LAKE ACCESS

There are several ways to ac-cess Duck Lake. Via Chan-

nel Rd. from the south, there is a boat launch on the west side of the lake. Another option is to put in along the Kootenay River. On the east side, along Hwy 3A, the town of Sirdar has a place where you can launch and store boats (with a valid permit). Please note there is no access to Hwy 3A from the dykes at Duck Lake.

Quick FactsSurface Area• 1,694 Ha (4,186 Acres)


(8.2 feet)

Elevation (ASL)• 531.8 metres

(1,745 feet)

Survey Date• May, 2012

Contour Units• MetresMap provided by The Creston

Valley Wildlife Management Area.

Your Gateway to Kootenay Lake

• Gas • Boat Gas • Diesel • Propane• Fishing & Hunting Licences• Liquor Store • Post Offi ce• Fishing & Outdoor Supplies• Full Convenience Store Hwy. 3, Wynndel, BC • 250-866-5314

Fishing Tip #2Shiny fi shing lures

can attract certain fi sh, but the refl ection of the sun can blind them and cause confusion. Use a matted metal fi shing lure instead if possible,

to avoid too much refl ection.



Columbia RiveR:

Be t w e e n Castlegar and

the US border lies a unique stretch of the Columbia River that offers anglers a world class rainbow trout fishery. This section of the river begins at the bottom of Keenleyside Dam and runs about 40 kilometres to Waneta, at the US border.

Other game fish also inhabit this secton of the river, includ-ing burbot, kokanee, walleye and whitefish.

There are a number of places to fish from shore, as well as several boat launches (see markers).

Beaver C r e e k Provincial park is an excellent location to set up camp right along the river. There is a paved single wide boat launch. It is recommended that launching of trailer towed boats should only be attempted by vehicles equipped with four wheel drive. The shoreline is rocky and not recommend for boat mooring to shore.



CastlegaR to the us boRdeR

Anglers should be aware of several regulations for this river, including recent changes, so check the regula-tions for further details.

For fishing tips and other helpful advice, contact one of the local tackle shops in Trail, Castlegar or Rossland.

MAP MARKERS

A. Keenleyside Dam

B. Old Robson Ferry Crossing

C. Boat Launch

D. Train crossing

E. Gyro Park

F. Indian Eddy Boat Launch

G. Beaver Creek Provincial Park

H. Border with the US

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Caution: Do not use this map for navigational purposes. This map may not reflect current conditions. Uncharted hazards may exist.Caution: Do not use this map for navigational purposes. This map may not reflect current conditions. Uncharted hazards may exist.

eLK

river


The Elk River watershed is located in the south-eastern

corner of British Columbia, and is nestled among the spectacular scenery of the Rocky Mountains. The river runs through the towns of Elkford, Sparwood, Fernie, and empties into Lake Koocanusa. The eastern portion of the watershed forms the border between Alberta and British Columbia.

The headwaters of this river begin at Elk Lake Provincial Park, located at the northern extent of the water-shed. Highway three runs along Elk River between and Sparwood and Elko, providing many good access points to the river. North of Sparwood is Highway 43, which runs along the river to the town of Elkford. Beyond Elkford is a log-ging road that takes you along the river, to the entrance of Elk Lakes Provincial Park.

It is the region’s best known river and has gained a ‘must fish’ reputa-tion with many anglers. There are cutthroat trout, ranging in size from 14 to 22 inches, and bull trout from 18 to 30 inches.

When the season opens on June 15, the river is often a little muddy but with persistence and maybe a few bright streamers the fishing can still be rewarding. Zonkers and Bow River Buggers are two of the best and both cutthroat and dollies respond well to them. The Stone

fly hatch on the elk is truly hit and miss. One day it can be excellent with even the big boys coming up only to have the next day quiet. If you plan on fishing this time of year be sure to use Stimulators and Madame Xs or anything else large. Even in the early season murky water the trout will pounce the surface.

After mid July you can count on the water being clear and fast. If your nymphing a strike indica-tor and a heavy weight is the ticket. Almost any nymph with a bead will catch fish but some may be bet-ter than others. Large brown and golden stones work in the spring while Princes, Hare’s Ears and Pheasant Tail nymphs line most of the guides’ boxes all season.

The cutthroat truly

are kind to the dry fly fisher all summer long on the Elk. An old beat up royal Coachman will allow even the newest fishers a great day. Caddis hatches occur off and on primar-ily at night with May flies

hatching almost every day. Many locals swear by the traditional patterns but many successful fishers are catching more trout on new innovative patterns.

Chernobyl Ants, Turks Tarantulas, Foam Spiders and just about anything else all have their time and place on the Elk. With the increased pres-

sure every year the trout seem to have wised up to the pat-terns they

took in the past. If you’re more of a traditionalist don’t worry, Elk Hair Caddis, Adams and Stimulators prob-ably still work the best.

As the trees start turning

and the crowds disperse those

familiar Blue Winged Olives start to work the surface. Similar to the Crowsnest these tiny Mayflies (16-22) cause the trout to ignore their surroundings and begin the heavy feeding required for the long win-ter. Wading is easy this time of year and the temperature is often just right. Small Mayfly nymphs and emergers should work before and after they break free to the air. Tiny Pheasant Tails work well weighted and with a dab of floatant they can also imitate the emerger. The CDC blue winged olive and small Adams fool even the old wise trout at this time of year and usually the largest fish of the season are hooked in the fall.

Remember to check the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations before heading out. The Elk River is Class II water when open and other restrictions exist.

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Caution: Do not use this map for navigational purposes. This map may not reflect current conditions. Uncharted hazards may exist.Caution: Do not use this map for navigational purposes. This map may not reflect current conditions. Uncharted hazards may exist.

hahas LaKe

Quick FactsSurface Area• 43 Hectares

(106 Acres)


(40 feet)


(2,982 feet)

Survey Date• August, 1958


Hahas Lake has been desig-nated one of the region’s

Family Fishing Waters. These lakes are so-named because they offer convenient access and good opportunities to fish from shore.

Hahas Lake has been stocked with various sizes of Black-water and P e n -nask

strains of rainbow trout from fry to adult and catchable sized. In 2012, 2,000 catchable sized trout were released into the lake. Hahas Lake is not

o v e r l y deep, suiting the

feeding and forag-ing behaviour of the

more shallow-water Blackwater strain.

While shore fishing is pos-sible, Hahas Lake is probably

best fished with a small boat or tube. The shores of Hahas Lake are sandy beach, and in places it can be more difficult to access deeper water from the shore. If you don’t have a boat, your best shore fishing locations are along the east and west sides.

Randy Martin from Mountain Man Outdoors says that many different fly patterns will work, “though it’s not really a chirono-mid lake.” Instead, he suggests that anglers try shrimp or scud patterns, small leeches or half-backs.

Small gear should work well in Hahas Lake, Martin notes. Small spin-

ners, Panther Martins or Mepps are good choices for gear fish-

ers.

LAKE ACCESS

Hahas Lake is located northeast of Kim-

berley. From Highway 95A, turn west onto Lost Dog Forest Service Road. Approximately 3 kilometres in from the highway, there is a road on the left hand side where Hahas Lake is locat-ed. There is another small lake just to the north of Hahas called Solar Lake.

Accommodations are available in and around Kimberley, rang-ing from campsites to hotels. There is also a cabin available to rent on the north side of the lake, and several Bed and Breakfast options. Contact Tourism Kim-berley for more information.

New for 2013! Now members of the Angler’s Atlas can “follow” their favourite lakes! Get new information about your local lakes as soon as it’s posted. Have something to say? Post to the pages of your favourite lakes and share videos, current conditions and tips to help out your fellow anglers. Visit www.anglersatlas.com for more information.


Fishing Tip #3

Cast close to the shoreline

for more bites.


Caution: Do not use this map for navigational purposes. This map may not reflect current conditions. Uncharted hazards may exist.Caution: Not to be used for navigation. For navigation, use Canadian Hydrographic Service Chart number 3050

Quick FactsSurface Area• N/A

(n/a Acres)


(504 feet)


(1,738 feet)

Survey Date• n/a


Kootenay LaKe (north)

Kootenay Lake is long, large and deep, and is one of the larg-

est lakes in the province. At over 100 kilometres long and more than 300 feet deep, Kootenay Lake offers fabulous fishing in a stunning set-ting, with many more aquatic and land activities to round out your trip there.

Kerry Reed, local guide and owner of Reel Adventures Fishing Charters, knows and loves Kootenay Lake, and has shared his knowledge with our readers.

Fishing on Beautiful Kootenay Lake

(by Reel Adventures Fishing Charters)

The North arm of Kootenay Lake extends from Balfour up to the very end of the lake at Argenta. The deep-est area is around 450’ and shallow-ing off in the far north to around 300’.

Fishing can be very good on the North arm of the lake, especially in the spring, although these fish are constantly moving, so, you never know.

Gerrard Rainbows up to 35 Lbs have been caught in Kootenay Lake, which keeps anglers from all over the world coming back for that chance of a fish of a lifetime. More common are Rainbows between 5

Lbs – 15Lbs. Also, Bull Trout have been caught up to 29 Lbs, with the average Bulls ranging between 5 Lbs – 12 Lbs.

Favourite lures vary with the weath-er conditions and time of year. When fishing the far North arm, I prefer using plugs or apex lures. Bull Trout seem to be more abundant in the North arm and they seem to prefer these lures. And for Rainbows, our favorites are bucktail flies on the surface when it’s breezy. Or plugs and apex lures when it’s calmer.

Also, Kokanee salmon are a popular fish for eating. While not the biggest in size, they are definitely the best for eating. Trolling with small gang trolls and small spinners seem to work best for these tasty treats.Kerry ReedReel Adventures Fishing ChartersNelson B.C250-505-4963www.reeladventuresfishing.com

Along with the Recreation Sites noted on the map, there are sev-

eral other campsites and creeks. Schroeder Creek, Lost Ledge, Davis Creek, Fry Point and Campbell Bay are just a few of the others worth noting.

Please visit local tourism infor-mation centres to get directions and information. A helpful website is Visit Kaslo at www.visitkaslo.com.

Always consult the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations before head-ing out.

© The Angler’s

Atlas

Kaslo, BC

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Caution: Not to be used for navigation. For navigation, use Canadian Hydrographic Service Chart number 3050.

Fishing the South arm (or main stem, as it’s also known), can be

similar to the North.

Kerry Reed, of Reel Fishing Adventures, says, “There seems to be more of a mix of Rainbows and Bull trout throughout this middle section of the lake. Again, the same techniques for fishing can be applied as in the North.”

He continues, “Remember the rule of thumb for colors: Dark colors on dark days and light colors on light days. This will help increase some odds. But then again, sometimes there’s no rhyme or reason. So, you just need to be out there.”

Reed notes that trolling speed is also an important factor, and depends on the weather and the season. “Spring and fall water temperatures seem to bring more aggressive fish. So a faster troll can be good. However in the heat of the summer or the dead cold of winter, slower trolling seems to produce more. You just have to experiment.”

Reed reminds anglers that as in the North arm, Kokanee salmon are abundant throughout the lake. ”Trolling with small spinners and gang trolls is the ticket for these popular fish.”Kerry Reed can be reached at:Reel Adventures Fishing ChartersNelson B.C250-505-4963www.reeladventuresfishing.com

The BC Camping and RV Coalition has listed several dif-

f e r e n t camping options on its website: www.camping.bc.ca/koote-nay_rockies/Kootenay_lake_camping_listings.aspx

Drewry Point Provincial Park lies along the western shore of Kootenay Lake. The small, three-site, user-main-tained park is accessible only by boat. Located 36 km south of Balfour, this park provides protected moorage in both the north and south bays making it easy to get out of the wind.

Kootenay Lake Provincial Park is actually several different sites along the west shores of Kootenay Lake. Each site has its own unique amenities. Check the BC Parks website for more detailed information.

BC Parks says that Pilot Bay Provincial Park, on the eastern shores of Kootenay Lake, is the safest harbour on Kootenay Lake. Here, boaters often take shelter dur-ing summer storms when they are caught on the lake. As a bonus,

some of the best fishing for tro-phy trout is nearby. Primarily marine accessed, the park can be reached by road.

Lockhart Beach Provincial Park is the easiest park on the

south arm to access, providing 18 sites and basic amenities.

Along with provincial parks, there are several rec sites along the north portion of Kootenay Lake. Garland Bay, Bernard Beaches, Pebble Beach and

Fletcher Creek are all options

offering camp-ing and pit toilets

along Kootenay Lake. Please note that some of these sites charge fees. Please check the BC Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts for specific informa-tion about each site.

Also please keep in mind that many parks and rec sites are first come, first served, and can be very busy,

particularly in the summer.

Kootenay LaKe

(south)

NOTICE REGARDING MAPS FOR KOOTENAY LAKE NORTH, SOUTH AND WEST ARM:

This product has been produced by Goldstream Publishing based on Canadian Hydrographic Service data, following any minimum stan-dards / guidelines that may have been established by CHS, pursu-ant to CHS Paper VAR License Agreement No. 2011-0211-1260-G

The incorporation of data sourced from CHS in this product shall not be construed as constituting an endorsement by CHS of this product.

This product does not meet the requirements of the Charts and Nautical Publications Regulations under the Canada Shipping Act. Official charts and publications, corrected and up-to-date, must be used to meet the requirements of those regulations.


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Caution: Not to be used for navigation. For navigation, use Canadian Hydrographic Service Chart number 3050.

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Kootenay LaKe (West arM)

Fishing in the Nelson area can be a little easier than fishing

the other arms of Kottenay Lake. The West Arm, from Balfour to Nelson, offers areas where shore fishing is possible, and its smaller size makes it a little easier to ex-plore this section.

Kerry Reed, of Reel Fishing Ad-ventures, notes that fishing on the West Arm can be a lot different than the other sections of Koote-nay Lake.

“With a few openings during the season for Kokanee, it is a popular fishery in the spring,” he says.

Reed is enthusiastic about the different opportu-nities through-o u t t h e year.

T h e r e is “great

f l y - f i s h i n g throughout the

summer months and some fantastic Bull Trout

fishing throughout the winter months.”

“It is a lot shallower than the main body of Kootenay Lake and

is almost river-like in some

areas. Depending on water levels, the currents will change throughout the year,” Reed cautions.

He also reminds readers to check the regulations for Kootenay Lake regu-larly and for in-season changes. The West Arm is a separate fishery from the main stem of the lake.

Kerry Reed is available to help you make the most of your trip to Kootenay Lake. Contact him at:Reel Adventures Fishing ChartersNelson B.C250-505-4963www.reeladventuresfishing.com

Accommodation options are plentiful in this area. Along the south side, Sunshine Bay Regional Park has a sandy beach and a boat launch. Balfour, located at the en-trance to the West Arm, also has a boat launch and ferry services to the south side of the lake. There are also shore fishing options in and around Balfour.

The West Arm of Kootenay Lake and the town of Nelson, offers sev-eral accommodation options from rustic campsites to hotels. Situated entirely within the Selkirk Moun-tains, it is narrower than the main

lake and more shallow, providing a more sheltered

lo-cation,

great beaches, and a greater number

of options and facilities for ac-commodations.

West Arm Provincial Park and Ko-kanee Creek Provincial Park are two of the parks along the West Arm. West Arm Provincial Park is largely undeveloped, although there is walk-in wilderness camp-ing available and picnic tables at beach areas. Campers are expected to be fully self-sufficient here. Ko-kanee Creek Provincial Park, on the other hand, is a popular tour-ist destination, providing sandy beaches and two campgrounds.

Visit the Chamber of Commerce website at www.discovernelson.com for more information.

Quick FactsSurface Area• N/A

(n/a Acres)


(157 feet)


(1,737 feet)

Survey Date• n/a



Let's Go Fishing!

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Mitten LaKe

Mitten Lake is popular with waterskiers, swim-

mers and anglers. Although not that large, Mitten Lake’s scenery, easy accessibility and great fishing make it a very busy place, indeed.

Stocked with the Gerrard strain of rainbow trout, which grow to large sizes, Mitten Lake is best fished in the deeper sec-tions. Gerrards usually prefer to stay deeper than many other

strains of rainbows, and are more likely

to be holding at the depths than in the shallows.

Generally, and especially for Gerrards, your flies and lures should be imitating small bait-fish. These highly piscivorous creatures prefer to feed on fry, and will more often take to these. Greens and browns are good colour choices for Mitten Lake.

Head out from the boat launch on the eastern side right where the bay comes around. Try troll-ing back and forth across the

depths,

rather than along the shoals.

LAKE ACCESS

Mitten Lake is close to Parson, which is be-

tween Golden and Invermere on Highway 95. From Parson, turn south onto Mitten Lake Road and follow for about 14 km. The road is 2wd acces-sible, though it can be rough in places.

Mitten Lake is easily acces-sible and very busy. Amenities include a dock, a boat launch, wheelchair-accessible toilets and a beach. There is a fee for camping here.

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts reports that the use of jet skis here is highly discouraged and may be banned. Please leave your skis

at home.


(153 Acres)


(38 feet)


(3,251 feet)




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Fishing Tip #4Sunrise is an excellent time

to fi sh, try to go out early in the

morning.



north star LaKe

North Star Lake is an-

other in a series of popular lakes in the south-eastern Koo-tenay region. As is typical of many other regional lakes, North Star has extensive shoal areas around the shore.

North Star Lake has been stocked with several strains of rainbow trout, and most recently with the Blackwater strain. These fighting lunkers can grow to very large sizes in North Star Lake, perhaps because of the abundant food in this rich aquatic environment. In 2012, 4,000 trout were released into the lake.

Blackwater trout are mid- to shallow-water foragers, and pre-fer to feed more often during the day. They are well-suited to North Star Lake, as the deeper sections here are confined to the middle and west areas. The rest of this lake tends to be muddy in places, and shore fishing is dif-ficult here.

Gear fishers will find their best success with Kwikfish, gang trolls and spoons. Nymphs, molluscs and snails are the food of choice early in the spring, and as the water warms, going deep is your

best b e t , even in the morn-ings and eve-nings, though occasionally these trout will venture closer to the sur-face to feed.

Because North Star Lake is at a relatively low elevation, fly fish-ers can start fishing with chirono-mids as early as mid April.

The lake is very clear, and there are some great hatches that can make for great dry fly fishing. Leeches, mayfly nymphs and damselflies can all be productive patterns for North Star Lake.

LAKE ACCESS

North Star Lake is south of Jaf-fray. Follow Highway 3/93

to Jaffray, and then south along

the J a f f r a y -

B a y n e s Lake Road

for about 5 km until you reach the branch road east to North Star Lake and the rec site.

The rec site has space for 9 ve-hicles, along with a small boat launch.

New for 2013! Members of the Angler’s Atlas can “follow” their favourite lakes! Get information about your local lakes as soon as it’s posted. Have something to say? Post to the pages of your favourite lakes and share videos, current conditions and tips. Visit www.anglersatlas.com for more information.



(51.8 Acres)


(32.8 feet)


(2,778 feet)

Survey Date• September, 1985



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peCKhaMs (norbury) LaKe


(33.4 Acres)


(30.8 feet)


(2,739.5 feet)

Survey Date• Unknown


Peckhams Lake, together with its neighbour to the

south, are formally known as Norbury Lakes. Peckhams Lake is a great little spot just east of Cranbrook. It is home to a thriv-ing trout fishery. This popular lake is one of two in Norbury Lake Provincial Park.

While many lakes in the Cran-brook area are not known for their c h i r o n o -mid fishing, Peckhams Lake is an exception, with good c h i r o n o m i d fishing starting in April and continuing into June.

Lure fishers can try a vari-ety of gear from Kwikfish to small spoons. As various types of rainbow trout have been stocked here, trout may be found at varying water depths at various times in the season.

Peckhams Lake does suffer through the summer doldrums. As well, the fishing pressure increases as the season pro-

gresses.

At these times, it’s even more important to get down deep. Fast-sinking lines and weighted gear will help. As well, when possible fish in the early morn-ings and later in the evenings for best success. As the fall

moves in and the water cools, chironomid fishing is once again a good method for

fishing Peckhams Lake. Shrimp and leeches

are also popular fall patterns

here.

Just to t h e

south of Peckhams, Norbury Lake also supports a good rainbow fishery, as well as a thriving cutthroat fishery. The best time for Norbury Lake is also in the spring and fall. This lake is stocked with rainbow trout from both the Gerrard and Fraser Valley strains, including catchable - sized.

LAKE ACCESS

Peckhams Lake is just east of Cranbrook. Follow

Highway 3 / 93 to Fort Steele and turn east onto the Wardner-Fort Steele Road. Follow this for about 16 km. Just past the junction with Fenwick Road is Peckhams Lake.

The park has a large campsite with 46 sites, located at Norbury Lake to the south of Peckhams.

Both lakes have water, pit toilets, and small

boat launches. M o t o r i z e d boats are not allowed.

Map and article based

on source mate-rial provided by the Freshwater

Fisheries Society of BC.© The Angler’s Atlas

Fishing Tip #6

Research the region you will be fi shing in to fi nd out what kinds of fi sh live

there and the things they like.



preMier LaKe


(469 Acres)


(107 feet)


(2,822 feet)

Survey Date• June 1987


Premier Lake lies against the western edge of the Rocky

Mountains and its emerald green waters are a favorite destina-tion for many travellers through the Kootenays. Premier Lake is heavily stocked with rain-bow trout. In 2012, 50,000 trout were released into the lake.

In the heat of summer, troll leeches and bead-head nymphs on full sink lines at the dropoffs on the east side. Dry flies can be especially productive in the eve-nings. The southwest end is good for spring fishing.

There is a provincial park at the southern end of the lake, which includes hiking trails leading to several smaller lakes also stocked with trout. They are Turtle, Canuck Yankee, and Cats Eye Lakes, and are between 20 to 45 minutes from the camp-ground.

The provincial park has 57 campsites, ten of which can be reserved.

There is a concrete boat launch located past the day use area.

There are special restrictions on Premier Lake. A southern closure between May 15 and June 20, is in effect although the rest of the lake is still open. A speed restric-tion is in place for the southern half of the lake, where no tow-ing/water skiing is allowed.

New for 2013! Now members of the Angler’s Atlas can “follow” their favourite lakes! Get new information about your local lakes as soon as it’s posted. Have something to say? Post to the pages of your favourite lakes and share videos, current conditions and tips to help out your fellow anglers. Visit www.anglersatlas.com for more information.

LAKE ACCESS

From Cranbrook travel 72 km north along Highway

93/95, to a paved road on the right (east) leading to the park.


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roCKbLuff LaKe


(49 Acres)


(84 feet)


(2,500 feet)



Rockbluff Lake is one of the best fishing lakes in

the Kootenays, with scenery to match. The ice comes off this lake a little later than at some others, and the trout are hungry and ready for action.

Rockbluff Lake is long and deep in some places, though most of its water is in the mid-depth range. The Pennask rain-bow trout that are stocked here are fighters and known for their jump. They also prefer the deep water, and are most active in the evening. In 2012, the lake was stocked with 2,000 trout.

Just after ice off, try chirono-mids if you’re fly fishing. It’s well worth learning to fish these patterns properly and effective-ly, as chironomids make up a very large part of the diet of most trout in the province. Try the areas around the islands in the south and right around the middle eastern side of the lake.

Another tip for fly fishers is to move from wet flies at the beginning of a hatch, to dry flies as the hatch progresses.

Kwikfish, lake trolls and Hildebrandt spoons can be very effective here. Good colours to try are blue and silver or green

and silver combinations.

LAKE ACCESS

From Cranbrook travel 72 km north along Highway

93/95, to a paved road on the right (east) leading to the park. Keep going past the park; it is a short drive to Rockbluff Lake. There is a parking area at the south end of the lake and an outhouse.

Camping is available at Premier Lake Provincial Park, with 57 campsites, a playground, water pumps, a boat launch and pit toilets.

Along with the provincial park, there are several other accom-modation options. Springbrook Resort is located south of Premier Lake at Skookumchuck along the Kootenay River. It offers travellers all type of acco-modations from motel to self contained cabins, Seasonal RV to over night tenting and RV Park and is a great launch point for exploring the great lakes and rivers in the area.



Fishing Tip #7

Be patient. Patience really

is the key to good fi shing. Remember

that good things come to those

who wait.



rosebuD LaKe

Rosebud Lake is a pretty little spot west of Creston. This

is one of the region’s Family Fishing Waters, and it is an excellent place to teach young-sters and beginners about the joys of fishing. Despite being a popular lake, Rosebud Lake is not usually crowded. 1,500 rainbow trout were stocked in Rosebud Lake in 2012.

Ice off occurs in around April, and early c h i r o n o -mid fish-ing is

superb. Try short leaders and fish in the shallows near the shore.

Chironomid fish-ing continues well

into early June. Mayflies in their var-

ious forms are the food of choice into early summer. When you’re matching the hatch,

try to change up your patterns through the day, as

the insects go through their vari-ous stages of emergence.

Dragon and damselflies are good choices for mid summer. One of the best times for fishing is in the fall, when the waterboat-

men take flight. Fishing waterboatmen patterns is exciting and can make for some fast action as the trout key

in on these small silver bullets.

If you’re gear fishing, one of the best ways to teach chil-

dren to fish is with a simple cast and retrieve. Another effective technique is to still fish -- cast or drop your line into the water, and jig a little, or troll slowly back and forth across the shoals.

LAKE ACCESS

From Salmo, head east on Highway 3 for about 14 km,

and take Highway 6 for about 9 km towards the US / Canada bor-der. Turn left onto Rosebud Lake Road and head down another 6 km to Rosebud Lake.

Facilities are minimal at Rosebud Lake. There’s a small cartop boat launch and wilder-ness camping available, as well as an outhouse.

Fuller facilities are available in Salmo and in Creston.

New for 2013! Now members of the Angler’s Atlas can “follow” their favourite lakes! Get new information about your local lakes as soon as it’s posted. Have something to say? Post to the pages of your favourite lakes and share videos, current conditions and tips to help out your fellow anglers. Visit www.anglersatlas.com for more infor-mation.



(33 Acres)


(56 feet)


(2,654 feet)

Survey Date• 1949



There is a reason we’ve been around so long

Creston, BC

Mawsons Sports

Suppliers of fi ne hunting, fi shing & camping equipment

T. 250-428-4130

Fishing Tip #8Switch up lures

regularly to determine what

the fi sh arepreferring for a particular day.



sLoCan LaKe

Quick FactsSurface Area• 6,928 Hectares

(17,121 Acres)


(978 feet)


(1,755 feet)

Survey Date• 1965


Slocan Lake, one of the few large non-dammed lakes in

this region of British Columbia, is cool, beautiful and pristine. Slocan Lake is home to the Gerrard strain of rainbow trout, as well as kokanee.

Gerrard rainbow trout feed heav-ily on kokanee, and tend to do very well when there are kokanee to be had. They tend to dwell in the depths of deeper lakes, and the conditions in Slocan Lake are ideal for their large growth.

The Slocan Chamber of Commerce website says that fish-ing tends to be best at the creek mouths, “either from boats or floating flies out with the cur-rent.”

In the early spring, when the trout are hungry, go after the trout with silver colour combinations if you’re gear fishing. In clear water, bait fish may take on these silver and blue colours in order to better blend in with their environ-ment. Lures and flies should take on these hues.

If you’re targetting the trout, almost without question, your lures and flies should resemble bait fish. After they reach a certain size, a Gerrard’s diet changes from

o n e consist-ing most-ly of insect and inverte-brates, to one consisting mostly of other fish.

Please note that all of Slocan Lake’s tributaries are sub-ject to a bull trout release, and there are many restrictions in place for the Slocan River. Please con-sult the BC

Freshwater Fishing Regulations before heading out.

Visit the Slocan Lake page on the Angler’s Atlas website to

share your stories, tips and photos. See www.anglers-atlas.com/lakes/1710.

LAKE ACCESS

Valhalla Provincial Park, along the

western shores of Slocan Lake, is a wild, rugged, wilderness with glacial

lakes, waterfalls and back-country trails. Some camping is possible here; check BC Parks for further information on ser-vices and amenities.

Accommodation is available in the towns of Roseberry, New Denver, Silverton and Slocan; check the Slocan district Chamber of Commerce web-site for great information about Slocan Lake, the area, and the surrounding trails: www.slo-canlake.com. The Chamber of Commerce publishes an excel-lent guide to the lake, the sur-rounding parks, accommodations and trails. Visit their website for

more.


Fishing Tip #9

While wading through rivers and streams

avoid wearing bright colours or plain white, as it often spooks fi sh.

Wear drab colours to blend in with the

background as much as possible.



st. Mary LaKe

St. Mary Lake is a popular fishing and canoeing desti-

nation between Kimberley and Marysville. In the past it was stocked with rainbow and cut-throat trout. Nowadays, the lake is home to a wide variety of fish species.

This is a fly

fisher’s paradise, and fall is prime sea-

son. While the weath-er may be changeable in the

fall, the fishing is still hot.

It seems that virtually every kind of trout resides in St. Mary Lake. This makes the options for fly patterns nearly endless.

It’s a good idea for anglers to cast to the rising trout in the evenings. Anglers can try Royal Wulffs and other attractor patterns. Stimulators and hoppers are good to have on hand.

If you’re using hardware, you can try trolling Flatfish.

St. Mary Lake is a good lake for canoes and small boats because it

never gets too rough. Care is required

once you leave the lake and navi-gate the river.

Fall is also prime season for river fishing, and St. Mary River is no exception. The trout are feeding heavily in preparation for winter.

The river is productive, and this adds to the quality of the fishery. Stoneflies, caddis and mayflies are all available food sources for the trout.

Please note that special regulations apply to the St. Mary River, and St. Mary Lake is catch and release for burbot. Please consult the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations for information. For more information about fishing local lakes and rivers, stop by your local tackle shops and get up to date information.

Check out the new

feature on the Angler’s Atlas website! Now members

can follow their favourite lakes and Experts, and be notified whenever new information is posted. Visit www.anglersatlas.com for details.

LAKE ACCESS

St. Mary Lake is located between Kimberley and

Marysville. From Kimberley, drive south on Highway 95A for about 5 kilometres. Turn west on St. Mary’s Lake Road and drive about 20 kilometres to the lake.

The Kimberley Riverside Campground is located nearby, and several accomodation options exist in town.


(729 Acres)


(69 feet)


(3,150 feet)




GuidedFly Fishing

TripsSt. Mary, Elk, Bull Rivers

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suMMit LaKe

Southeast of Nakusp, Summit Lake is located within Summit

Lake Provincial Park. Known for its mountain goats and toadlet events, Summit Lake also boasts fabulous fly fishing.

Rod Zavaduk from Castlegar Fly Centre and Sports Shop, offers some great advice for fish-ing Summit Lake.

“The ice is off early here, and right away you can go with chi-ronomids and leeches. When the lake turns, the fishing slows a bit, but it turns quickly and is clear again,” says Zavaduk.

Chironomids, damsel and drag-onflies, and sedges are good pat-terns for early in the season, he says. In early summer, good troll-ing flies are leeches, damselflies and minnows. Chironomid fishing warms up as the season progresses. “Chironomids are great, period,” Zavaduk notes.

In early summer, try Carey pat-terns, which work well because of the sedge hatch. In the heat of the summer, Zavaduk suggests get-ting deeper with beadhead leeches, olive or black Mini Leeches.

Closer to the end of summer, sedg-es continue to work well, along with many other dry flies. As fall approaches, work with leeches again, dragonflies, and damselflies.

“All wet flies are the ticket,” in the fall, Zavaduk suggests.

Summit Lake also has good ice fishing. Larger flies will be the way to go for winter, and Zavaduk says he will go with Pheasant Tails, or Red Chironomids, in size 10.

Please check the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations for

quota information.

Stop by Castlegar

F l y

Centre a n d Sports Shop in Castlegar and talk with Rod Zavaduk for some expert advice.

LAKE ACCESS

Summit Lake is located just southeast of Nakusp along

Hwy. 6.

Summit Lake Provincial Park has amenities for

day-use as well as a campground. The islands near the campground are nesting grounds for shore-birds. You’ll also find eagles, hawks and kingfishers. Please be very careful in these areas, and watch where you step. It’s best to leave dogs back at your camp. The areas north of the park are home to grizzlies, mountain goats and cougars.

The campground has 35 sites available, all of them smaller sites. There is a boat launch, picnic area and well water available. Sites are available on a first-come, first-

served basis.


(30 Acres)


(27 feet)


(4,856 feet)

Survey Date• June, 1971



802-HWY 3 • FERNIE, BC1-866-423-5532

JOHN FENDLEYGeneral Manager

FERNIECHRYSLER



WhitesWan LaKe


(934 Acres)


(63 feet)


(3,698 feet)



Whiteswan Lake, in south-eastern British Columbia,

is a beautiful lake surrounded by high, craggy mountain peaks. One of two amazing lakes in Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park, Whiteswan Lake offers excellent fishing for rainbow trout.

O u t d o o r Canada magazine has

even named Whiteswan Lake one of the top lakes in Canada for rainbow trout. The best time for fishing this great fishery is in early spring, and again in the fall. The lake is deep enough that it won’t necessarily suffer through the summer doldrums, however, the fish are always more active when they’re feed-ing heavily right before or after winter.

Medium sized spoons and spin-ners work well here. Fly fishing is great here as well. Some of the most productive patterns can be midges or damselflies. Work the dropoffs or the edges of the

marl flats.

Whiteswan Lake was last stocked with rainbow trout from the Gerrard strain in 2009. These lunkers are a real treat for anglers, as they put up a good fight and grow to very

large sizes.

The Gerrard strain will feed on insects and small invertebrates in their smaller states, however as they reach the larger sizes, their feeding habits change and they focus almost exclusively on other fish. Lures and flies, therefore, will want to imitate baitfish.

The other lake in the park is Alces Lake, which has been stocked with rainbows as well. This stunning alpine lake is a fabulous fishery in itself and is worth the trip.

Now Angler’s Atlas members can follow their favourite lakes, and be notified whenever new infor-

mation is posted.

Visit www.anglers-atlas.com for details. Members can also add tips, photos and stories to lake pages. See the Whiteswan Lake page at www.anglersatlas.com/lakes/2069.

LAKE ACCESS

Whiteswan Lake is locat-ed in Whiteswan Lake

Provincial Park. Access to the park can be challenging, and BC Parks warns users to exer-cise extreme caution at all times when driving in. Please consult their website for further infor-mation: www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks. There are hotsprings, camping and boat launches available.


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(56,704 Acres)


(948 feet)


(1,415 feet)


Contour Units•

Upper Arrow Lake, and its counterpart, Lower Arrow

Lake, are reservoirs formed from a dam of the Columbia River at Castlegar. Water levels fluctuate, sometimes significantly. Never-theless, there is still great fishing to be had. Like many lakes in the Kootenays, Upper Arrow Lake is stocked with the Gerrard strain of rainbow trout.

Local fishing guide, Kerry Reed, owner of Reel Adventures Fish-ing Charters, says that fall and winter are his favourite times to fish Upper Arrow Lake.

“Early in the fall we can catch most Bull Trout and Rainbows on the downrigger at depths between 50 - 100ft. Although as the water temperature drops to the magic number, we will start catching more and more on the surface,” Reed notes.

For bull trout, Reed says, “My favorite lures of choice are Apex lures, Lyman plugs, and a flasher/hoochie combo from the surface down to 100ft.”

Darker colours such as shades of purple can work well in the winter. Try varying your speed according to the weather. In warmer weather, try trolling at a speed just a little faster than you would in the win-ter.

“The magic temperature for the

bigger fish seems to be around the 50 degree mark. As it gets colder throughout the winter, make sure to slow down your presenta-tion, as these fish seem to slow down also,” Reed sug-gests.

Please bear in mind that Upper Arrow Lake is subject to several differ-ent regulations and exemp-tions. Please be familiar with the BC Freshwater Fishing Regula-tions before heading out.

Kerry Reed is available to help you make the most of your trip to Kootenay Lake. Contact him at:Reel Adventures Fishing ChartersNelson B.C250-505-4963www.reeladventuresfishing.com

LAKE ACCESS

There are a number of access options between Nakusp and

Revelstoke, and several accommo-dation options. There are provin-cial parks and rec sites, with vary-ing services and amenities. There are also accommodations available in Nakusp and Revelstoke.

upper arroW LaKe


1440 Hugh Allan Dr. Kamloops, BCE: [email protected]

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Wapiti LaKe


(50 Acres)


(32 feet)


(2,500 feet)



Wapiti Lake has been desig-nated one of the region’s

Family Fishing Waters. These lakes are so-named because they offer convenient access and good opportunities to fish from shore.

Another reason to fish this lake is because the Freshwater Fish-eries Society of BC stocks it with trout every spring. 1,600 brook trout and 1,000 rainbow trout were released into Wapiti Lake in 2012.

Some of the trout can grow to 4 pounds. A small boat or float tube works best to fish Wapiti Lake, especially to reach the shoals where the trout are lurk-ing.

Wapiti Lake is surrounded by lily pads. The rich vegetation makes for prolific insect popula-tions, and as a result, the fish get quite large.

On occasion, Wapiti Lake is subject to winter kill, but when this doesn’t happen, the trout are even larger the following sea-son.

Really good fishing can start as early as April. There are good chironomid hatches, and it’s worthwhile to try scud patterns, damselflies and leeches.

Several lures will work on Wa-

piti Lake, including “Old Faith-ful”, the Five of Diamonds. Mepps and Panther Martins are standards that can produce well, too. The spoon should be jigged. Reel it in, then stop. Play around with the movement.

LAKE ACCESS

Wapiti Lake is located off Shelborn Road, West of

Highway 3 / 93. Either follow Shelborn Road from Jaffray or exit onto Rosicky Road if head-ing south from Wardner, and turn south onto Shelborn Road.

There are Forest Service Rec sites on the north and east sides ofthe lake with pit toilets avail-able.

New for 2013! Now members of the Angler’s Atlas can “fol-low” their favourite lakes! Get new information about your lo-cal lakes as soon as it’s post-ed. Have something to

say? Post to the pages of your favourite lakes and share vid-eos, current conditions and tips to help out your fellow anglers. Visit www.anglersatlas.com for more information.

Map and article based on source material provided by the Freshwater Fisheries Society

of BC.




WhitetaiL LaKe

Whitetail Lake is a popu-lar fishing spot, man-

aged for trophy Gerrard rain-bow trout. Whitetail Lake is stocked and is also a popular family lake and is great for a weekend getaway.

Along with rainbow trout, Whitetail Lake supports a good population of brook trout. Try an Elkwing Caddis when targetting the brook trout. Pay particular attention to the weedy areas.

When going after the trophy Gerrard rainbow trout, chi-ronomids are often a good standard choice. Anglers can also try a gray beard nymph or a caddis. Lure fishers may want to try a size 6 or 7 Kwikfish. Choose a colour that’s closest to what’s in the lake. Greens are good choic-es for Whitetail Lake.

Please check the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations for information about Whitetail Lake before heading out. There are gear restrictions in place, as well as a quota in effect. Also note that the inlet and outlet streams for Whitetail Lake

are closed to fishing all year.

Stop by any of the local taackle shops in Cranbrook or Kimberley to find out the latest reports on this lake.

LAKE ACCESS

Whitetail Lake is located north of

Canal Flats. From Canal Flats, head north for about 4 kilometres on Highway 93 / 95. Turn west onto the Findlay Creek Forest Service Road. Follow the signs to the Blue Lake Forestry Camp along the Findlay FSR and the Deer Lake FSR. Do not turn off to Blue Lake at the 23.5 km mark. Stay right at the 25.5 mark, and take another right turn to the Whitetail Lake Rec Site. This road is passable with trailers and 2WD, though it may be quite bumpy in sections.

The Forest Service Rec Site offers space for 32 vehicles, with most sites being shad-

ed and offering good access to the lake. This is a popular site that

is busy on weekends. Please note that the sec-ond group of sites does not have a turnaround

area for trailers.


(400 Acres)


(63 feet)


(3,497 feet)




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GIFTSHOP

Authorized Dealer for Redington, Sage & Rio Fly Fishing Gear

FISHING, BOATING, CAMPING & RVS

Located next to the Carwash in Fairmont Hot Springs



GuidedFly Fishing

TripsSt. Mary, Elk, Bull Rivers

Upper Columbia Riverwww.stmaryangler.com

1-800-667-2311401 Cranbrook St. N.

Cranbrook, BCV1C 3R5



WiLbur LaKe


(30 Acres)


(33 feet)


(4,190 feet)



Wilbur Lake is a small lake west of Highway

95, north of Mitten Lake. This relatively shallow lake is a high elevation body of water, set among a series of great fishing lakes.

Wilbur Lake is stocked by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC with Pennask rainbow trout. These are feisty, fight-ing fish, feeding heavily on chironomids. They tend to be most active in the eve-ning,

and prefer the mid-level waters for foraging.

Going after these trout, chi-ronomids are a great place to start if you’re fly fishing. Rick Passek, author and instructor, notes that chironomid fishing, when done properly, can be highly rewarding and exciting.

It’s definitely worthwhile to take the time to learn ch i ronomid

fishing, and how it differs from fly fishing other patterns.

Several different lures can work here. Spinners and spoons are good to try, and plugs seem to do really well in landing trout.

LAKE ACCESS

Wilbur Lake is located west of Parson. There

are several logging roads in the area, and your best bet

is to consult a good road map for these roads. From Parson, follow the Crestbrook Main Road southwest. Stay on this road past the

Spillimacheen North FSR, and the turn off to

Wilbur Lake will be on your right.

There is a small rec site at Wilbur Lake, with pit toilets and a small boat launch.


Live BaitLures • Rods

Large Selection of Flies

EXPERT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

914-10th Avenue South, Golden, BC • ph. 250 344 5714 • [email protected]

D00

1466

781

The Best Place to Find Your Fishing Supplies in Golden, BC

WestviewMarina.com250.934.7672




(3,978 Acres)


(21 feet)


(2,624 feet)



WinDerMere LaKe

Windermere Lake is one of the most popular lakes

in all of southeastern British Columbia, and for good reason. The recreational opportunities are endless and the fishing is fabulous.

Like some other lakes in the southern part of the province, Windermere Lake is becom-ing known as a bass fishing hotspot.

Brian MacKenzie from Invermere Home Hardware notes that the lake is fairly con-sistent all year round. Ice fish-ing for bass is a popular win-ter activity among locals, and although it is relatively shallow, the fishing can be good even in the heat of the summer.

“Bass have only moved into the lake in the past 3 or 4 years,” says MacKenzie. “There have been bass in the creeks, among the weeds, for a long time, but as the weeds have crept into the lake, the bass have moved in.”

To fish the bass, he says he is selling quite a few 3 inch frog and minnow lurers. Chartreuse is a good colour for the frogs, and a rainbow trout colour is a good

choice for the m i n -now lures. Frogs can be fished in a num-ber of ways, from skimming along the surface to imitat-ing a hopping action among the weeds. Try to keep the action as realistic as possible, but don’t be afraid to experi-ment with your technique.

LAKE ACCESS

Windermere Lake is located north of

Cranbrook. From Cranbrook, follow Cranbrook St. North to Highway 3B / Highway 95. Take the ramp onto Highway

93 / 95 and follow the Highway for 32 kilometres. Stay right to keep on the Highway and fol-low this road for another 90 km. There are several access points to the lake along the highway.

Accommodation is available at one of the many resorts in the area, and also in the town of Invermere, on the north shore of the lake. There are also camping options at Dry Gulch Provincial Park or at Kootenay National Park, where there are 3 major campgrounds.

There is a day use area just north of the town of

Windermere, at James Chabot Provincial

Park. A boat launch and sandy beach are available, along with picnic tables,

water and pit toilets.

© The Angler’s

Atlas

www.invermerehardware.ca9980 Arrow Road, Invermere, BC

250-342-6908

www.invermerehardware.ca9980 Arrow RoadInvermere, BC250-342-6908

WE CARRY A FULL LINE OF DRAGONFLY FLY RODS,

REELS, LINES ANDACCESSORIES. ALSO A LARGE

SELECTION OF FLIES ANDFLY TYING ITEMS.

www.invermerehardware.ca9980 Arrow Road • Invermere, BC

250-342-6908


Waterbody Name SpecieS releaSed

AOSTA LOWER WCT 1,000AOSTA UPPER WCT 500BARREN WCT 1,000BARRETT RB 2,000BAYNES RB 1,050BEAR RB 1,500BEAR RB 1,500BEAR EB 2,000BEAR WCT 1,000BEAVER RB 2,000BEAVER RB 2,000BIG FISH RB 4,484BITTERN RB 4,000BLACKWATER RB 2,200BOX RB 6,000BRONZE EB 3,600BURTON EB 500BURTON RB 250CAMERON RB 6,000CAMPBELL RB 1,500CANUCK RB 1,000CANYON #1 RB 2,000CANYON #2 RB 2,000CARTWRIGHT RB 8,000CATHERINE RB 2,000CEDAR #1 RB 2,000CEDAR #2 RB 2,000CEDAR #3 RB 2,000CEDAR #4 RB 2,000CHAIN #2 EB 4,000CHAMPION RB 6,000CHAMPION RB 3,000CHAMPION RB 2,000CLELAND RB 2,500COTTONWOOD RB 2,550DEEP RB 500DIAMOND RB 500DOGSLEG RB 1,000DOROTHY RB 500


DUNCAN RESERVOIR

RB 56,872

ECHO NORTH RB 1,000ECHO SOUTH RB 1,500EDWARDS RB 10,000EIMAR RB 200ENGLISHMAN RB 2,000ENID RB 5,250FENWICK RB 500FISH RB 1,500FISHER MAIDEN

RB 500

FROZEN WCT 1,000FUSEE EB 1,500FUSEE RB 750GRAVE RB 35,017GREY HORSE #1

RB 1,000

GRUNDY RB 1,000HALFWAY RB 750HARTLEY WCT 1,000HORSESHOE RB 5,846IDLEWILD RB 2,000JADE RB 1,000JEB EB 2,500JOYCE RB 500JUBILEE RB 500KIAKHO WCT 1,500LARCHWOOD RB 1,500LAZY RB 4,000LEECH PONDS EB 1,000LILLIAN RB 6,000LISBON EB 1,500LITTLE MITTEN RB 500LITTLE MONROE

WCT 3,000

LITTLE WILSON RB 3,000LOON RB 1,000LOON RB 5,000LOON RB 2,000


LOST EB 1,500MARION RB 5,540MCCLAIN RB 1,000MCNAIR NORTH

RB 500

MCNAIR SOUTH

WCT 1,000

MILFORD RB 1,000MIRROR RB 1,000MITE WCT 500MITTEN RB 10,000MONROE KO 10,000MONROE RB 10,000MONUMENT WCT 1,000MOOSE RB 1,000MOYIE KO 65,000MOYIE RB 30,000MOYIE (NORTH)

KO 115,000

MOYIE (NORTH)

RB 30,000

MUD EB 1,000MUD RB 750NANCY GREENE

RB 6,000

NEW RB 2,000NINE RB 1,500NORBURY RB 1,500NORTH STAR RB 4,000PECKHAMS RB 3,250PICKERING EB 3,600PICKERING RB 2,000PREMIER RB 50,164ROCKBLUFF RB 2,000ROCKY POINT RB 2,500ROSEBUD RB 1,500ROSEN RB 3,000RYAN PARK EB 500SAM'S FOLLY RB 1,000SEVEN MILE WCT 2,000

2012 Kootenay Trout Stocking Report



SILVER SPRING #1

RB 500

SILVER SPRING #2

RB 500

SIWASH RB 2,000SOUTH CARIBOU

RB 2,000

SPRING RB 2,500SPURR RB 500STEAMBOAT RB 500

Stock Species Codes:EB Eastern Brook Trout (Char) KO Kokanee RB Rainbow Trout WCT Western Cutthroat Trout

For more information on Fish Stocking in British Columbia, visit:

www.GoFishBC.com

Go fishing before their childhood becomes the one that got away.

This season, share the joy and relaxation of fishing with your kids. Or introducea friend to the sport. Before you go, check out our latest stocking reports,pick up tips from the pros and learn how to get your licence at gofishbc.com


STONEY RB 2,000STONEY POTHOLE

RB 500

SUMMIT RB 5,000SUMMIT RB 2,000SUMMIT EB 2,000SUSAN EB 4,000SUZANNE RB 10,000TAMARACK RB 4,000THREE ISLAND RB 1,000TOPAZ RB 500TWIN LAKES RB 1,000UPPER HALGRAVE

WCT 2,000

WAPITI EB 1,600WAPITI RB 1,000WHITETAIL RB 12,000WILBUR RB 1,000WILLIAMSON RB 1,050WILMER RB 2,000WILSON RB 2,000WOODENSHOE WCT 1,000

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