… Official flyguys.net Northern British Columbia, BC Interior, Kamloops Area Lakes & Rivers Ice Off 2015 Fishing Reports post!
… and hopefully we don’t have to add a winter kill section this year! 😯
As before, please use the comments/reply section at the bottom of this post to share and discuss your 2015 fishing & ice off reports.
Please try to include:
- the name of the lake or the general area 😉 (NOT Mandatory)
- what worked, what didn’t work, & as many other details as you care to share.
- a picture is worth a thousand words so please feel free to include one or two as well!
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For those that would like to share a little more than just a fishing report we encourage you to submit your story (along with images/video links/etc) & we’ll post it up for ya!
And last, but definitely not least … a BIG thank you to Surplus Herby’s for stepping up yet again to sponsor our yearly fishing reports post! Be sure to stop in for all your fishing & outdoor gear needs before hitting the water this year!
That’s it folks … tight lines & good times to all! 😀
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Hey guys just saving some time. Wonderin if red is frozen and how much. Was on the ice at mglashan last weekend.
Word is “a good 3 inches” but please check for yourself if you. As an added incentive I’m told that it’s not taking very long to limit out! 😀
Heading out to Red tomorrow, will give an update when I get back.
Did make it out to Red on Tuesday. Managed 3 brookies and a rainbow. Close to 5 inches of ice no problem walking out to the island.
Thanks Jet! 😀
Went to check out Roche Lake area, and figured it’d be great to do a report.
The road is great and well groomed, except for Horseshoe Lake and Bleeker Lake entrance (4×4 required). All the lakes have been covered with at least 5 inch of ice. Fishing was quite consistent. Here are the lakes I visited:
Horseshoe Lake: fishing outside of the boat launch to the right, and using krills to land a couple of pan-sized rainbows and brookies. But it was quite frustrating to locate the fish though. Gratitude for the guys who left the guts of a few large brookies near the boat launch, as I found out what they had been eating 🙂
Tulip Lake: fishing outside of the dock about 10ft of water and 2ft of weeds(couldn’t get any bites around the shallow). Krills seemed to work, but fishing was quite slow. I eventually landed and let go 3 brookies since they were only a little over a pound. One of them was very skinny, didn’t know if it had any diseases or not…
Rose Lake: fishing quite shallow around 6ft of water. Krills didn’t work for me, but worms landed me 10 brookies around 1 pound each, took a 2 pounder home. Also, landed a 15-inch Rainbow, which is very rare for this lake and probably a blackwater. Wanted to release it, but too bad, it got killed by a bird when I was looking for my hook pliers.
Bleeker Lake: first time there, so I wasn’t disappointing for getting no bites. However, I saw a couple of gigantic rainbows (at least 20-in) swam by my hole just under the ice (around 10ft of water and 3ft of weeds) . So, I assume the lake is not winter-killed yet. Can someone share some ice-fishing techniques on this lake?
Thanks Lance! 😀
Thanks Lance, Rose was great today and was able to get the girlfriend into her first brookie! We each had one at about 1.5 pounds and I caught another smaller one. Heading up to Red lake tomorrow so will try and get an update once I’m back
Windy today, the ice is very slick. Didn’t have any luck, didn’t seem like anyone around us did either
Sorry to put this here folks but wanted to make sure to share this those that might not be on facebook …….
I haven’t been ice fishing for as long as some of the vets on this forum….but I have to ask about the murky water at Red Lake. I’ve been fishing through the ice for the past four years and this is something completely new. How often does this happen? I read about the suspended algae in Roche that is a new thing for that lake, and it has caused some new problems with winter kills on that lake. What’s happening at Red doesn’t look like algae to me, but I really don’t know. Is this something that happens every-so-often at Red, and will the lake clear-up over time? Thanks for sharing some history / facts about what’s going on in that lake.
I haven’t been to Red yet this winter, and so have not seen the water but have heard about it. Water chemistry is quite complex. I guess the simplest way to put it is that chemical reactions and/or phytoplankton blooms occur when everything is just right. You’ve had the right nutrient inputs to react at this particular temperature in the presence of this particular amount of light with the presence of just the right amount of this or these catalysts (dissolved o2, etc), and voila! As you can imagine, inputs vary in their constituents (phosphorus, nitrogen) and the quantities that naturally (or anthropogenically – by us humans) make it into the lake varies over time. Changes in water quality are basically due to perfect ratios to cause a reaction or trigger a bloom. With respect to blooms, the organisms are there al the time, but when everything is right, they just flourish.
Last week at Tulip Lk I was fishing a hole with about 2.5ft of visibility (for seeing my chartreuse ice fly) and moved about 50 yards, and then could easily see my fly is about 6′. Evidently there were plumes of turbid water rather than a uniform turbidity. Although I always think the fishing would be better where the visibility was better, I ended up getting 3 fish in the turbid hole and none in the clearer hole. Keeps a guy guessing!!
Thanks Benny. Great information as usual. It seems to have affected a majority of the lake, with some areas very turbid – almost zero visibility. It would be interesting to know if it is that way for the entire water column or just higher, near the surface. When you’re trying to look through it it’s tough to tell. A camera would be the way to figure that one out. Thanks again Benny.
Murky water to me is a turn over or just the fish stirring it up. Thing that had me stumped was the brown trout in our lakes , but I talk with the hatchery and yes few could find there way into the rainbow tanks/bins and find new homes in our lakes. I went to the fly tying night but no one from here was there so whats up with that.
Ollie
Couldn’t make it to the tying night Ollie but I’m sure Benny was there. The kids will be keeping me busy through the holiday season but I hope to make a few in the new year. PS … don’t believe anything Benny tells you 😉
OK Sunday night at 7:00 pm local fly tiers are meeting at Thompson Re-Use 708 Mount Paul Way Kamloops BC . Sit back and tie a few up and have a coffee or just take notes. Good way to expanded your fly arsenal.
Ollie
This is a lil off topic from the ice fishing… Im getting the spring chironnie itch, and the tying is starting to begin. Just curious of what everyones top 3 chironomid patterns are? My box would love some new additions.
My top 3 : #1 Bloodworm – Size 12, Gold Bead, Gills, Gold wire rib, Red Thread
#2 Black Anti-Static – Size 14, White Bead, Black Thread, Red Wire, Static Bag
#3 Chromie – Size 12, Black Bead, Gills, Red/black rib, Holographic Chrome tinsel
Haha me toooo! Been tying up a storm already. Unless there is visibly something very specific hatching out my typical starting point is …
… silver(ish) on one line (Kromie/GMC with either black or red rib) and black(ish) on the other (Zucchini/BlackNRed/BlackNSilver Red Butt) on the other. Often they stay on for the whole day 🙂
Having said that RLSs and Little Limeys are always on hand for when the little buggers are convinced they need a green chronie.
And, of course for fine tuning purposes I always pack Hot Chocolates, PTCs, Cherry Bombs, Strippers, Bleeding Limeys, Producers, Peacocks, Zebras, Peaches & Greens, Groovy UVs, Goldies, Lady in Reds … uh, damn sorry bout that got carried away ……. ¯\_(‘;’)_/¯
Would you mind Breaking down some recipes for those names Flyguys? I would love to know what all the names actually mean. I have heard some of those names hollered across the lake before and have found myself scratching my head wondering what the heck they are.
Here’s some pictures / recipes to go with the names 😉
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.313876618655260.72316.131791113530479&type=3
https://flyguys.net/category/fly-patterns/chironomids
Dayuum haha happy to hear im not the only one getting carried away. Ill have to tie some of your recipes.. i seen a bunch of those on your FB page. cant wait to try em’ out. Why is spring so far away!? :'( haha cheers
Test post … image upload:
YES! Finally got the image upload feature working again! Not absolutely necessary but helpful if you reduce image size before upload … 800X600ish or even 640x480ish is optimal for quick upload and still maintains good quality. If you don’t know how don’t worry about it I’ll adjust on this end.
PS … brookies in the Roche lake park area lakes slowing down but still active enough in spurts to get er done! 😉
Love those Brookies through the ice. We’re pretty lucky to have our Christmas smoked fish to enjoy with family every year. Merry Christmas everyone. This is a twelve-month forum that hits on the hottest region in the west. Best blog in the heart of B.C.!
Ohhh yeah, love me some smoked brookie (we’ll see if it lasts til Xmas)
Wish I could figure out how to program in a “like” button! Right back at ya Joe and all the best to all the flyguys & gals in 2016! 😀
Question for everyone, what size ice auger do you generally use? I have a 6″ cause it is so quick and easy to blaze holes but have a hell of a time trying to get bigger trout through it. 10″ was great when I lived in the prairies and had a power auger but parted ways with that. Do you see much benefit with 8″? Don’t really want to go power again since I do a fair bit of walking…
I use an 8″ hand auger. Used to have a 6 inch but found it to small also. The 8 inch makes a big difference. You better ask Santa for an 8 inch it’s not to late.
I find the 8″ to be the best compromise for the Kamloops area lakes … just tell your friends you have a sore shoulder and they’ll probably drill all the holes for you 😉
6″ is nice , 8″ is standard here in Kamloops , 10″ is work + as you have to mark that size hole. Hate to see a kid fall in it
Ollie
While some here are on the topic of ice hole diameter, I think Ollie here brings to light a very important issue here, that is, marking large holes and thinking about others (most importantly, the kids). I have stepped into TWO ice holes this year, both at Edith Lake, both on the same day and both were completely covered over by snow. The second time this happened, I went in up to my knee and went down pretty hard. We laugh about it now and at the same time, take this issue seriously. It seemed evident that whoever cut these holes, for whatever reason, decided it would be good idea to fill them in with snow when they were done. Late last year I seen someone must’ve been using a chainsaw to cut holes big enough for a person to fall in and then left them unmarked. My biggest concern is women, children, the elderly and even the disabled are out on the ice every year, especially these well known easy access lakes like Edith and I think it would really be nice to see more people putting forth just a little more consideration and effort to prevent others from ending up knee deep as I did (or worse) in someone else’s hole, it’s an unpleasant experience but one that could also result in personal injury. As per our provincial fishing regulations…***”It is your legal responsibility to warn other people of the existence of your ice hole…”*** (p.9 of the synopsis). Of course much is common sense, be watchful and careful when your walking on the ice and always be on the lookout for anyone that might accompany you as well. Sorry for the little rant, but there may be someone out there who reads this forum or knows someone who does that may benefit from it. Tight Lines everyone, and best wishes to you all in the New Year!
I agree! When the ice surface is rough it is hard to spot old holes. Just last week my friend (79 yrs.) went up to her knee in someone’s covered up hole. She could easily have broken a bone and it surely didn’t help her already compromised knee problem. There was also a huge cut out area (5 ft x 8 ft). Although this was clearly visible it would not have been if more snow fell. This too was not marked in any way. Think about others and their safety when you are out there, please.
I ice fish 30 plus times a winter and use a 6″ auger. I have used a 8″ before but there are days that i drill 20 plus holes trying to find the fish, you do the math how many holes over a course of the season. I have caught 5 to 6 pound fish and had no problem through a 6″ hole, sure a 8″ would be nice for the one fish a season you might need it for, but after drilling 500 holes or so a season your shoulder will thank you with a 6″.
6″ blasts holes quick. Drill two holes or more side by side as close as you can. Knock as much ice out between holes. The water will melt the rest of the hole to a 12×6 oval. Drill 3 holes in a triangle you can pull anything through it.
hey, going to be making a day trip to vernon. Just wondering if anyone knows if Swan Lake is frozen and able to ice fish on yet?? Cheers!
Sorry I don’t have an answer on Swan for you but hoping on route you might do a quick ice check on Monte for us? 🙂
Word is it’s frozen, some guys on the ice close to shore. 2.5″ of ice, that’s from yesteday. I’d give it a bit more time. Anyone try ice fishing for burbot there?
Was at Monte this morning. Less than an inch of ice. Only a skiff of snow on the lake. It was -7 and lightly snowing. Will be a few days before it’s safe.
Hit a few of the Roche park lakes this morning. Bog, Black, Horseshoe, Rose, Tulip … SLOW! Report from a couple folks that went to Red = same thing. Buggers must have all pigged out on Christmas dinner yesterday and are still full! 😉
Thanks for all the opinions on hole size. I hear you guys on the quick 6 as I am typically drilling a couple dozen per day. I’ve pulled up a couple over that 20cm size and with light line and small hooks it is a challenge…. Something over 6lbs will definitely take some skill to get through a 6″ hole and I would be choked to lose the biggest fish of the ice season (even though I would just let it go right away).
On a side note, yesterday was dead for us with the first and last skunk of the year. Boxing Day was slow until 9:30 when I hit a good bite and caught 5 in 20 minutes which happens to line up with a minor time on the solunar calendar. I never put much faith in the solunar times, though it was odd not to have he strongest bite at sunrise…. Who times their efforts around the solunar calendar ?
Had not been ice fishing for a couple years, but up to Rose the other day (Dec. 23rd I think). To me ice fishing is sort of like light beer – if it is all you have got, it is OK every once in a while. I also limit myself to artificial flies when I go ice fishing, As others have also mentioned, I have been spending more time on the bench recently – working on my arthritis rather than hypothermia. I decided to try out the idea of a balanced gammerus scud. This is what I came up with, and was eager to give it a go up at Rose. I don’t often fish scuds (even in open water season), but I liked the idea of just dangling it with little effort or jigging. I also hoped that it might be something I could use under an indicator in the spring and fall. I was pleasantly surprised as we caught a few in only about two hours, including a 2.5 pound broke. I had a few other hits on the scud, so there may be some merit to this pattern.
Pretty Kewl Deesee! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the share Deesee, I always enjoy tying up a few balanced patterns. I have a couple attractor type versions with some soft hackle in mind for the next round.
Phil Rowley has a couple good youtube how to video’s for anyone looking for more info on the technique.
Went to Edith yesterday with brother. We fished the bay at north end by the weeds. Six feet of water. Caught 5 between us from 9:30 untill 2:00. There were more fish swiming by the holes today than I have seen in the last four trips on hard stuff.Some really good sized to, probale 3-5 pounds. None bit though. See everyone next year, Happy new Year Flyguys and all !!! Have a good one and see you on the wet stuff.
Thanks for the report and the new year wishes Don! And with that I think it’s time to shut down this post and continue it here …….
https://flyguys.net/fishing-reports/flyguys-net-ice-off-2016-fishing-reports
MAY THE FISH BE WITH YOU in 2016!!!