Okanagan Lake Reports

....fish across from traders cove in about 200' of water. I was surprised that the first Rainbow I caught even bit the 4" Lyman since he was only 10" in length. Shortly after I caught a big fat ugly Squaw fish which was just shy of 4lbs. The wind picked up a bit so I headed to the North side of the bridge for shelter and caught a nice lunch sized 1.2 lb Rainbow and even threw back two more Squaw fish. I used two different Lymans and two Apexs for four hours (7:30-12:30) and I caught all five fish plus a few bites all on the same Rainbow trout colored 4" Lyman. So it looks like I'm still searching for that 10lb Rainbow but at least I had some action today. Have a good weekend, love your website! James

Glad to hear you got into some fish James, the bigger ones are just around the corner! Glad you like the site!

April 29 2012

Dave Ulvaan has been flogging the waters and finally got into a fine rainbow, here's his report:

Hi Sherm , I have taken several people fishing lately on Ok. Lake........ Johnny one day , and Bev's brother Buck another day , Bev's sister's (Kim) husband Rick another day and Johnny and I even tried Kal Lake last week and in all no fish were taken. So I went out this morn and had the lines in at 7am. and trolled darn near to Fintry Delta then managed to entice this "football '' at 9:45. I had 300' of line out. By the time the Diawa stopped screaming it was at 360' and then the fight was on......when it jumped the first time I couldn't believe a fish that small (360' away)could pull so hard but as it slowly got closer and continued jumping I could see it had good size. A quick pic (photo) and released. It took a black/silver apex. 1oz. Water temp 40F.

Thanks , Dave

Great looking fish Dave, persistence sometimes pays off! Let me know when your coming up and I'll give you the 101 on laker fishing!

April 28 2012

A report from Don Sheets, fishing south of the bridge:

Hi, It has been a long time since I have sent in a report. Myself and my brother had taken to the water on Sunday and finally got (photo) a decent fish. We got it south of the Eldorado on a bucktail 300’ back with no weight. The water temperature was 43 Degs F. There were lots of fish marking between 30’ and 85’ some were down as far as 234’(I wonder what denison of the deep that would be) Now to do it again... Wish us luck. Thanks Don Sheets

Reel nice fish Don, thanks for the report!

April 18 2012

Dave Kimble did a trip onto the north end of the lake, here's his report:

Hello Sheldon. I went out today to learn more about my new Hummingbird GPS/Fishfinder. I caught three over 5-pounds, all on a 4-inch Lyman; mottled grey back, pink sides, and white belly. All with a 2-ounce slip weight and 250-feet of line, and all between Cameron and Ellison points.

Two were dark spawners released next to the boat and I decided this bright one would be just right for Sunday supper. This one (photo) was 7-pounds. Great day. Dave

Nice fish Dave, thanks for the report!

April 19 2012

Jay made it out on to the south end of the lake, here's his report:

Hi Sherm ... The fishing is starting to pick up on the southside of the lake, I have been out several times since my last report and have been starting to pick up a few (photo) nice fish. Pink & white and grey & white bucktails pulled on the surface 200 feet back at 2.8 to 3.5 mph have been the best producers. Making lots of turns and changing your speed have been triggering strikes. Some good news for the kokanee anglers on Okanagan lake the season has opened as of April 1st. 2012. With a daily quota of 5. There is no close date posted on the freshwater fishing regs. in season changes. They must have had good returns last fall to open it up this early. Tight Lines ... Jay T

Thanks for the report Jay, good to have you back on board!

Blair Kennedy was out as well and appears to have the bigger fish corralled somewhere! Here's his report:

Hello again fishermen, Well another good day on the lake, only got one (photo) but it was a nice one. Seems like lots of people are reading about my luck, there were 3 or 4 boats where i fish . 11 lbs 6 oz ,31in long ,yes guys they are there ! same lure same depth as ever . Remember throw the big ones back someone else can have fun with them ! Good luck Blair

Nice fish Blair and I concur 110% with the release tip, thanks! Blair was fishing near Casa Loma for that fish and over deep water.

April 3 2012

Dave Ulvaan and Johnny did a trip towards the north end of the lake and came up big! Here's Dave's report:

Hi Sherm , I am starting to feel more like myself since my surgery and going fishing seems to be a good part of the recuperation. I took Johnny out and we were fishing at about 9:30. At about 10:30 I was lucky enough to hook into this (photo) beaut. We had a reel nice fight and then John did a good job of netting and a quick pic .......back in the lake for another time. He took a black/silver Apex (thanks Blair ) and 1oz. out close to the weather buoys ( there are 2 now) The weather forecast was for rain and 25K winds gusting to 45K but as you can see from the pic it was a very pleasant day. Water temp hit 40F. Thanks. Dave

Great fish Dave, thanks for the report and pic!

Hey Sherm, Hit Okanagan lake today with my buddy Jordan fished the Peachland to West Kelowna area. The lake temp was about 38F and we mark a ton of fish in the 50-150 area, lots of boat on the water including this large green Duckworth with a 50 foot rooster tail behind it when it pass us at light speed!!! We put two fish (photo) in the boat nothing major both were on bucktail with purple/pink/brown on them. Got a little bumpy in the afternoon and we called it a day. I have put a letter in the mail with some cash for my dad and my entry fee for the derby cant wait there will be some of us camping for one or two nights somewhere on the lake. Thanks Jordan

There's a flurry of reports from various anglers come in, not to promising from the sounds of it! Here they are:

Hey Sherm, great day today. First fish nine and one half lbs (photo) , second fish only two lbs ,but he thought he was bigger. this fish came in with both of my hooks in his mouth (photo) two rods ,two hooks, one fish ,wild never seen that before. Third fish was another big one ,,30 ft from the boat it jumped clear out of the water and spit the hook, oh well. I was just south of casa loma, 300 ft of water 14 to 16 ft deep good luck all..... Blair

HI Sherm, Got out on the lake for the first time since the derby. So was pretty excited to head out today. Sun was shining with a cool breeze. Headed out towards Adventure Bay and dropped the lines for a couple hours with no bites. Fish were marking but seemed disinterested in the lures. Headed across to parker cove area and saw another fisherman there in a green lund boat, he informed me that he had nothing either all day. Fish were marking at parker cove as well but again nothing taking. I tried just about everything in my tackle box. At least fish were marking. Cheers, Chris
Thanks Chris..

Hey Sherm, yesterday was the first day out this year as I have been super busy. My dad and I headed out to go fish Kal lake only to be disappointed because of no open boat launches. I was a little pissed to say the least. Headed on over to OK Center. Fished from 11-4. Not a single nibble. Marked lots of fish but nothing was taking. Washed pretty much every color combo of Lyman's and apex. A few hootchies and bucktails. Surface to 130ft. Very slow but awesome day on the water none the less. Matt

Thanks Matt..

Hey Sherm, I hit the water on March 23rd and 24th. On Saturday, I fished primarily north of rattlesnake island on the east side of the lake. Fished Lyman's and coyote spoons. At 1pm, I decided to change locations and zipped over to Seclusion Bay. I fished two Lyman's at 55ft and 75ft as it seemed the fish were marking in this range. I picked up a rainbow (photo)) at 1:30pm trolling around 1.7mph on a chartreuse/black Lyman. Lots of guys on the water this weekend. Counted 6 boats on the water at 8am in the Peachland Area. The lake is slowly warming up so hopefully the fishing picks up with the temps. Cheers, Robert

Its been a while since anyone has "slayed" the fish on this lake, but a few reports have come in over the last week or so but zippo to report! Craig Schelter and Trevor Platzer have been out a couple times but the fishing has just plain sucked, for lack of better words. Jay was just out and here is his report:

Hi Sherm ... Well, I finally got up and running for another season. Made the run out to Okanagan mountain park to charge up the batteries.
Fished a high line and a low line off the riggers . Tried the usual plugs, apexes & spoons with not so much as a bite. On my way back in I
tried bucktailing and hooked into a small one on a pink and white on the surface. That was it . A couple of other boats out did not look
like they were having much luck . I think on my next trip I will try planer boards and bucktails and see what happens . Tight Lines Jay T

Hey Sherm,
Went out fishing on Sunday in the Peachland area. The fishing was slow had one hit on a black and purple bucktail and that was it. We did mark a lot of fish and some big balls of something but no takers. Spoke with a guy name Robert at the launch he got a 5lbs and lost a nice one the day before. When we were loading up I gave Robert a call on the vhf and he had not gotten a bite so far on Sunday so slow fishing to say the least!!!! Jordan

Hi Sherm its Eckart. Works been getting in the way of fishing but finally got out last Sunday the 11th. I had Dave with me and Chad had Brad with him. Chad got 1 in the boat around 10 lbs while pulling his riggers in the middle of a storm. Around the same time I tied into a boot. It surfaced once then fought for 10 min finally rolling like mad on the surface 100 ft behind the boat and was gone a minute later. Chads was on a purple jesus lyman and mine was on a chrome black and pink apex. Going out tomorrow with my oldest son Mitch and Brads with Chad again. Hope I finally get one in the boat. No matter what ya cant beat a day on the lake.

Thanks for the reports guys, whether I posted them or not. As the "regulars" on the lake know, this time of year can be pretty spotty but, with water temps slowllllllllllllyyy picking up hopefully the fish will smarten up. All the best to Dave Ulvaan in recuperating and with respect to my "partner" SCPP, you'll be seeing him in a new boat this year! Just watch for the huge wake and that'll be him, he just picked up a new Duckworth Navigator and is in the process of getting it rigged up. Somehow I don't think it'll help his fishing skills but that's what I'm here for!

Hi Sherm , Johnny and I went out on Ok. Lk. at the Centre and had an awesome time. We got out late about 11am. John had a fish on at 11:10 but it somehow managed to get off his blue and white Lyman that is equipped with two treble hooks. At about 1:30 he got another hit on a pink Lyman and 1oz. That one (photo) we got in the boat and a pic and a successful release. Then we were thinking of calling it a day at about 3:00 so I got up and was "getting rid of some coffee " and just for a laugh I grabbed Johns line and spun the reel to see if he would jump. He said that would be funny if you enticed a fish to bite, right at that second zinggggggg!!! I had " fish on "my line . So with fly down I brought in my (photo) fish. Caught on a pink and white Lyman with 1oz. An other successful release and end to a good day.
Water temp. 37.5F. Thanks Dave

Thanks for the report and pic Dave, you'll notice I "cropped: the picture for you, I wish they'd have done that with mine!

I'd like to welcome a new angler to the site, Blair Kennedy, who works for Shelter Bay Marina. He did a couple of outings and got some nice fish, here's his report:

Hey, I read your fishing reports, thought i should contribute. My name is Blair and i work for shelter bay marina . I fish alot during the winter, here are two from this year. Feb. 10 I caught a 7 lb male 16 feet deep 300 ft of water, black and silver apex. Feb. 17 got a nice one (photo) 12.lbs 2oz male 16ft deep 400 ft of water, both of these were caught south of Kalimore park ,same lure 5 inch.....Blair

A couple of guys got out on the weekend, here's their reports from the south end:

Hey Sherm, hit the lake early Saturday morning fishing from Summerland to Rattle Snake Island 7:30am-2:30pm. Fishing was slow tried a lot of different things picked up a good size Squaw Fish on a 5 inch Tomic plug and that was it. The water temp was 37-38.5 and there we few fish marking on the sonar. Spoke with another fisherman at the launch and he had the same luck as us and he figured the fishing is slower than last year for him!!! Greg's is on the water today so we will see if he has more luck then I.!!! Jordan

The wind finally died down long enough to get out on the big lake after a dentist appointment and then a short visit with Colin at Lyman Lures. I was on the water by 11 and got into a tussle with this (photo) big male at 1PM. The report said the minor feeding time was at 1:34 . I am believing in the solar time table more and more. He took a #89 Lyman Lure on the surface in 320' of 38F. water near the Centre. Once on board he started twisting himself like an alligator , and got the net wound around the bottom jaw . I had quite a time getting him untangled . I got a pic and then held him in the water for about 5 minutes before he was fully revived. I stayed out until 4 with no other bites. Thanks Dave

Dave Ulvaan and his buddy Johnny did a trip to the north end of the lake and got a beaut, here's his report:

Hi Sherm , Johnny and I got out today ( Friday 13th ) turned out to be a lucky day for us and the fish. After a nice fight this (photo) 10lber swam right into the net , the single barbless hook slipped right out ,up for a quick pic and back in the lake to be caught another day. We picked it up near Fintry on a pink Lyman and 1 oz. 2 MPH. The day started a bit choppy but calmed right down later on. The major fishing time was 2:30 this was on at about 2. Water temp. 39F. ......... Dave

Thanks for the report Dave and nice fish Johnny! Good to see a few big ones still being taken.....

Hey Sherm, My Dad and I launched the boat in Summerland on Saturday for a little fishing. There was a few white caps nothing major and we saw 3 other boats on the water. We had 2 fish on but only my dad got his fish to the boat I lost mine. Both fishing were caught on a pink/purple apex on the rigger 103 feet down. The lake is pretty low right now and the water temp was 40.1F we were marking a lot of fish between 65-175 feet deep. We fished bucktails on the surface and also tried lyman plugs but didn't get any hits on them. In the last 2 outing I have had 6 fish on that pink/purple apex down between 98-103 on the rigger. I have been trolling between 1.8-2.4mph and often on the speed change I will get the hits. Thanks Jordan

Thanks for the report Jordan, good to see your getting into some fish on that end of the lake....