… Official flyguys.net Northern British Columbia, BC Interior, Kamloops Area Lakes & Rivers Ice Off 2013 Fishing Reports post!
… and hopefully we don’t have to add a winter kill section this year! 😯
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Fishing at Monte Lake today. About 6 to 8 inches of ice. Lots of soft bites. Did manage to catch 5 but took several hours. Well worth it great tasting fish.
What set-up did you use??
I am courious aswell
Use a large silver flasher 3 to 4 inches long, then about an 18” leader 4 or 6 lb test. Use a very small hook, the smallest glow hook works well in red. Use red maggots for bait. Suspend your rig at anywhere from 15 to 20 feet down. Constantly jig, they will always bite when the hook is floating down. If you leave your set up still you will not get a bite.
Good luck!!!!
Thank you for the info..
Was the glow hook a jig head?
Glow hook is a brand name. It’s a J hook with a colored blob at the top. They come in a variety of colors and sizes. Sold at any tackle shop.
Would you be able to give me the size of the hook? ie: # 10 or #12
Not sure of the hook size. They come in 3 sizes, buy the smallest ones and your good to go.
Sorry to bombard you with so many questions, however, I would be extremely grateful if you could tell me if there were any quads or snowmobiles on the ice when you were there and what part of the lake were you on?? I have quad and am thinking if the ice is safe enough for it.
When I was there Monday everyone was walking on the lake. I would say there was about 4 to 5 inches of solid ice with a couple of rotten inches on top. There is a pullout off of the highway about 1/2 of a kilometre past the start of the lake. There is a path down to the lake from there. There will be numerous people parked there every day. There must have been at least 30 people out on Monday. Good Luck!!!!
I am planning my fishing for 2013 and need some advice.
If you had two weeks to fish the Kamloops area in June which two would you choose. The first, middle or last two weeks.
I would choose the first two weeks followed by the middle and then the end but you could make them all work depending on what you prefer to fish and by playing with elevation. 😉
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Caught a 2.5 pounder at Edith right close to the road on a white jig and a worm but other than that I never saw or heard of anyone else getting anything
I’ve been out to Kamloops Lake the past few nights trying for burbot, havent managed to wrangle one in yet. I got lucky and pulled in this nice Bull Trout (5-7 Lbs) on a roe sac! Im heading out again tonite to try my luck.
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Beauty! If you dont mind me asking, I was curious where you caught it…out by the train tunnel?
yes, just on the far side of the first tunnel. took another shot at it last night, this time we hiked down just before the first tunnel (cooney bay). between 6pm-1am we got 4 soft bites, havent caught a burbot yet though…
Those soft bites could very well be burbot … are you setting up right away on them? If so try to resist and let them take more of the bait (and therefore hook) before striking.
Im thinking the soft bits were either burbot or squawfish.. We went out the next day, near sunset we got another soft bite, rather then setting up on the fish right away we decided to wait. it took about 15min of pecking at the bait, but eventually it was on! and my brother set the hook. After a quick fight the fish was at shore.. We had our fingers crossed, hoping for that elusive burbot… nope, it was just a squawfish. Heading out again tonite, anybody have any ideas for a bait? we’ve been trying roe sacs and smelt.
Try some chicken meat> I caught one on a chunk of grouse. Anything meaty
I been there a couple times in the spring/summer…looks like I will have to give it a go this winter sometime too, Thanks for the info! Much appreciated!
I’ve heard of a fishing tournament on shumway lake around this time of year has anyone heard of when exactly when it is or any other tournaments
Someone else should confirm, but I’m pretty sure they haven’t done the Shumway derby for a few years now. I would think Surpus Herbies or Wholesale Sports would know if one was happening. You might try there.
Shumway sicks me out. I’ve never seen grosser water anywhere! Looks like compost stew!
Was back at Monte Lake yesterday. I had my limit by 10 a.m. . I spoke to a gentleman that had on previous trips limited out but still did not have a bite. He said he was not even marking fish on his fish finder. Other fisherman seemed to have limited success.
The Kokanee travel in schools at varying depths, it’s a matter of being at the right place at the right time.
Haven’t gone fishing in a couple weeks…I was wondering if anyone had any info on what lakes have been really slow or been good fishing lately and maybe some tips on what seems to be working the best?
Any responses would be greatly appreciated, Thanks!
Haven’t been in about a week but I’ve been having great luck at red lake jigging worms by the island been at Edith and its slow but the odd brookie will take the worm in the shallow water
Went to Monte today, (hooked one, I believe was a Bow but before I seen what it was, it somehow broke my line!) There was a ton of people fishing, however I only know of/seen one fish that got caught today (besides the remains of two Kok’s, I seen by the road), I didn’t see or hear of anyone being very sucessful over the 5 hours or so that I was there. … I wonder if there’s something differnt I should try the next time fishing for kokanee? I was using all the same general bait/lures I always use for trout/char. I didnt try using any large flashers as Jet recommended. Maybe that’s the trick to getting some bites? Or is there something in particular I should know about, that they do or dont like? Perhaps, just wrong spots/wrong day? 😕
Hey Evan we were their on the same day the fish turned on at 7:30 and the bite was over at 8:00 we limited out but it was because we were their early. We were done before anyone came on to the lake. Fish 7to 10 feet at first light then proceed to fish deeper as the sun comes up the magic depth after 11:00am is 27to30 feet.
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Caught this guy out of lac des roches . Slow fishin but they are biting around 20feet depth. measured 33 inches and weighed 12 lb 3oz. Cant wait to fry him up tonight!
Yeah baby! We were out there last night as well … very slow for us too but did manage a few tiddlers. Congrats on a beauty burbot! 😀
…skunked again at Edith today! 🙁
Don’t feel bad. We went to Edith yesterday and also got skunked. Lots of fish showing up on the fish-finder but not even a bite.
edith lk gone saturday and sunday and got lots with my buddy and Heather
Was out fishing at edith yesterday, latched on to this monster bow, she weighed in at 7 lbs… Loved it..
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Nicely done! 😀
Was at edith today, between 3 of us, this is what we caught. Fishing was slow but we had fun.. 15 lbs total.of fish..
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Which end of the lake were you at?? We were at the East end..near the shore..nobody was getting fish there.. Saw a blue ice hut at the west end..is this where you had all this luck..where the quad was parked??
We were at the spot where hull lake creek runs into edith, there were 5 tents in that bay, we were there from 7am till an hour ago.. 🙂
Oh ok I thought you were talking about yesterday.. Saturday was not a productive day..all the guys on the east end were without fish
Yesterday we were in the same exact place, and we brought home 7 between 2 of us.. 🙂
I’ve fished at Edith a few times and only ever had one bite and ended up landing a 2.5 rainbow but other than that I couldn’t get a sniff. I was using worms on a jig and I’ve tried many different depths jigging and letting it sit. What other bait/tackle would help improve my luck ? Should I go deeper and use a fish finder ? Any tips would be much appreciated, thanks !
We were out on Edith on Saturday and were skunked. I had my fish finder and fished showed up all over the screen but none were biting. We used shrimp on a red jig-head. I also asked the guys fishing in the same area and all were coming up empty. I saw pics of fish caught by others on the same lake. They must know of a secret that I don’t know anything about..LOL
hey John try meal worms or shrimp/prawns theres several places to fish on Edith Too. Do you like deep or shallow fishing. I can give you some info on either. I fish that lake quite a lot.
Well I have a tent so I like shallow waters when I can see the fish but I haven’t seen many really wherever works better ill go I’ve got some shrimp so ill bring them next time and ill pick up some meal worms is there any time of day that works better ? Any info on location would be much appreciated I’ve tried close to the first parking area only and along the shore on the north side till the big tree
John I do volunteer on thurs day but call me on a land line.I will help you out, my # 250-377-8347 and yes my name is Ollie
Will ad more pics later..
Edith lake pics, yesterdays catch and todays tents.. 🙂
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😯 I think I obviously must have picked a bad area to fish because I only seen one fish all day and it was even interested in biting…I’ve been trying everything there that I can think of and bought every kind of bait and tackle that I know of to use! I dont think I am doing anything wrong, I have switched it up numerous times. Edith has never been very good to me…
*also want to say THANK YOU to everybody for all the helpful replies recently. I am from the coast and still a little unfamiliar with alot of lakes and ice fishing here. Starting to miss the Vedder!
Were you one of the three guys who came from the coast that we met briefly on the ice? Also, is anyone using an Eskimo S33Q8 Ice auger??
I think many ppl have that ice auger, lol..
I also have one and Im finding a gasoline leak when I use the primer bulb. Does yours leak too?
hmmm, take it to bl motors and talk to them, he may have an answer for you..
As you had indicated, many ppl have an Eskimo auger. If anyone reading this message has one, please let me know if this leak is common in all Eskimo augers or perhaps its only mine doing it.
No, wasn’t me…I was there sunday, and never mentioned to anybody where I was from.
maybe try to fish in 8 feet of water or less.. That 7 Pound bow was caught in shallow water.. As for hooks, we have had most luck on pink, red, green, olive and black type jig heads.. We use meal worms, and shrimp.. As for depth, these past couple of days have been different, we went last Wednesday, we only caught 5, but they were m0stly biting about 2 feet below the ice, then Saturday they were biting 3 feet below the ice and on the bottom.. Yesterday they were biting on the very bottom.. There was a guy fishing with us, and he said he thought he was on the bottom and then say a brookie swim under his bait, so he readjusted and caught one.. they must of been scratching their bellys on the lake floor.. Thats how low they were..
Hope this helps..
I messed up, wednesdays catch is just above, and here is saturdays catch..
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hmm, mealworms eh? Never used them before… Thanks! I’ll have to go pick some up next time I go and try ’em out!
Hey Evan, when is the next time you are planning on heading up there?
I just might give it another go tomorrow? I am still unsure, I will most likely try again Saturday/Sunday. Your pics gave me some renewed hope, haha…Went and bought some mealworms today! …My cheap single man Ice hut broke on the weekend, so I might just go by weather.
Wholesale Sports has really nice one man tents for $140, when it quits snowing I will make my way up there, prob sat or sun..
Was at Monte again today. They were biting fairly well. Had my limit by 10.
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Some anglers were doing well others were not catching at all.
They were really biting well from just before 8 for about 15 minutes.
Lots of fun. Great fish.
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Those are some beautiful Kokanee!
Hey guys, I fished red today with a buddy with good success, 18 fish total, all brookies but only 2 keepers. Ive fished edith recently too but havent caught any fish there yet. but all this talk of kokanee and rainbows has got me interested. Ive never fished Monte lake and im wondering where to begin. Im just wondering what to use for kokanees since Ive never fished for them and where in the lake you might find them, north south east west? any help would be much appreciated. tight lines yall!
Read replies from Jet(January 15th) and Fishpimp(January 27th), they seem to be doing well at Monte. Good Luck!…
Thanks Fishnaked, Got the tent! Awesome! 🙂 Perhaps I’ll see you on the ice this weekend!
Hey CB, mind me asking what spots on Red have been good?
Ive fished all around the island and the reeds straight past that on the far shoreline. Ive seen lots of fish at both places and have caught fish both places, its just slow fishing sometimes.
Overall decent day at Edith today. Pretty slow at times, but we still had some fun…
We started a little after 9:30 or so, at the East-end (around the same time that others fishing in the earlier hours were leaving unsuccessful). We didn’t have much luck in the deeper water, but after moving to shallower water (maybe 6ft), we were seeing lot’s of fish and getting lots of soft bites. Around 12:30 seemed to be the best time for some action. I released mine and both the wife and kid kept theirs. No bites on the krill or mealworms, pieces of prawn was doing ok and the rainbows seemed to be more interested in the feathered jigs (all colors working, but hooking them was a little more tricky). We only took some brookies home, but…Surprisingly, all fish were caught with just a redworm on a plain hook, just dangling off the bottom (no jigs, colors or anything fancy!). I never tried it ice fishing before but the ol’ worm and bobber never seems to fail! Also, seen some REALLY DECENT BOWS in there today! Most fish seemed to be right on the bottom, and they sometimes camouflage pretty good the deeper you get, so some egg shells always work great for lighting up the bottom to see better.
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I fished Edith today too, started at the south end where the creek comes in, saw lots of fish around sunrise but didn’t catch any until i moved to the north shoreline, near the two large trees. and you’re right, around 12:30 the bite turned on, i caught 8 little brookies in under 5 minutes, then nothing again. But no keepers and I didn’t see a rainbow! ill be back for them. going to monte tomorrow morning lookin for kokanee tho so another day.
Good report, great picture! Thanks for sharing! 😀
Im thinking that i may hit edith on saturday, gonna work sunday.. But evan, if you wanna contact me through email- [email protected] i could help ya out more.. What are your plans for saturday?
Has anybody heard anything about how mcConnell lake is doing? Any info would be much appreciated thanks.
Hey Brad, I fished Mconnell for 20 minutes today, Unfortunately I had to leave right away due to an emergency, but I was having bites within the first 5 minutes! I’m going back for sure, maybe tomorrow…will update!
Lots of action but small fish … not always a bad thing though.
hmm…how small??? the one i seen must’ve been approx 3 pounds, I thought maybe even close to 4… I got a really good look fishing shallow water, is that a really large and rare size for that lake? If I were to go back, do you have an area, you might recommend? Not interested in catching a bunch of small fish…I’ve had enough of catching 1-2 lb’ers.
Probably average will be about a pound as they have over stocked the crap out of it the last few years. Not saying there isn’t the odd lunker hanging around but it certainly would not be my first choice if I was looking for big fish. Having said that I am strictly going by the stocking charts and would love to be proved wrong 😉