- flyguys.net Official 2011 Kamloops Area Lakes Ice Off Report
So this year we wanted to try to keep all of the ice off reports in one post. We decided that the easiest and most efficient way to accomplish this was to use the comments / reply section at the end of the post. Might work, might not but we’ll give it a try and see how it goes! Check it out below! 😉
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As of today Kamloops lake is the only lake in the area we know of that is ice off and fishable. And … information from a friend that checked things out indicates that sporadic chironomid hatches (with pupae from size #16 – #12) are occurring over deep water. Stay tuned as I’m sure there will be some updates soon!
I had not been to Pat/Morgan or Six Mile lake before and on Monday, March 14th I decided it was as good of time as any as the sun was shining and 12 degrees at my place in Pineview Valley (~500′ above Six Mile). After taking the long way around, from Tunkwa Lake Road I found Six Mile! At first sight there were several large pools of water sitting on top of the ice. I took a walk out about 15 yards where I augered a whole. The Ice was approximately 2′ thick here and very soft. As I auger’d the hole would constantly fill with water. There were a few holes up to 3 inches in diameter that were openings in the ice. A friend I was with said these were ‘springs.’ Whatever the cause, they were all over the place it seemed!
All in all, the ice is deteriorating rapidly with the warmer temperatures and high winds! Not yet ‘pencil’ ice but broken up in its consistantly and saturated with water.
Ryan
Thanks Ryan! Sounds like we could be fishing Six Mile & Morgan Lakes within a week or so! 🙂
Checked out a couple more lakes over the last few days … stay away from the Edith lake elevation for a while yet but still going with Six Mile & Morgan fishable before month end! 😀
Edith Lake (3370′)
” alt=”Edith Lake – March 20, 2011″ />
Beaton Lake (2133′)
” alt=”Beaton Lake – March 19, 2011″ />
Six Mile/Pat Lake (1980′)
” alt=”Six Mile (Pat) Lake – March 19, 2011″ />
As these lower area lakes become fishable, you may want to refer back to the Benny S post on Early Spring Fishing Kamloops Style! Also got a couple buds out fishing big Kamloops lake today … hope to have a report soon! 😉
Update: Checked out a couple more lakes over the last few days and updated the post. Still nothing new but it’s getting a lot closer! Check it out!
Hey just up in the Jameson Lake area and there is still lots of snow up to 800 meters. Could hardly even see Whitewood lake for the snowbanks. Lac de Bois has snow on it but the lake is slow melting. Couldn’t even get down to Pass. Still 4 ft of snow in Saul Lake area!
4 feet!!! Sheesh … that’s depressing! Thanks for the report Ken!
Somewhere in B.C. the sun is shining and the grass is got a hint of green. Maybe the crocuses and buttercups are starting to push up. In Fort St. John not so much. Here’s a picture of my front yard on the first day of spring and there is still 3 feet of snow.
The lakes up here still have 2 to 3 feet of ice on. Historically the ice won’t come off until sometime between May 7 and May 17. That’s still another 2 months. I guess I still have lots of time to fill the fly boxes and dream of fishing and buttercups. … Gord FGND
lol … and we thing we’ve got it bad! 😉
lol … and we think we have it bad! Gord just posted an ice off report from Fort St. John! Check it out!
Here’s a status report on Jacko lake from a friend of mine that often hikes in that area to take bird photos. Unfortunately, basically, NOTHING has changed since last week, except there is a skiff more snow on top of the lake. The edges are perhaps slightly softer but the rest of the lake is like an iceberg. I can’t see anything happening for weeks. I’d guess that it will be behind last year’s opening by at least 4 weeks.
Jacko Lake – March 23, 2011
” alt=”Jacko Lake Kamloops – March 2011 – flyguys.net” />
Just posted an update on Jacko lake. Looks like it will still be a while! 🙁
Thanks Ron! Doesn’t look promising but the weather is supposed to be heating up so hopefully things will change fast!
6 mile on Mar 23 still lots of ice. The edges are wet but you still can’t launch a boat. Funny thing is that there were 3 other guys checking it out in the ten minutes I was there. Save your tires boys we have a bit longer to go.
DOH! This weathers gunna make a liar out of me. Fingers crossed I’m still going with ice off Six Mile & Morgan lakes before month end. 😯
Hey Ken,
By wet ‘edges’ is that just in the shallows then? No fishable water yet even by shore or belly/pontoon?
I was thinking of taking a drive up there at least one of my 4 days off starting tomorrow… Sounds like I’m dreaming? I already have my pontoon packed, rods and bin of waders/fins/etc. by the garage door ready to load!
lol … you’re even krazier than I am! 😉
Sorry I have pictures but can’t figure out how to download. Only if your pontoon boat was built for GI Joe action figures could you fish. I heaved a good size rock about 10 feet from the shoreline and all I heard was it hitting solid ice. No fishable water on Wednesday. Sorry to break your heart.
Hey Ken just send pics to [email protected] and I’ll post them for you. PS … if anybody has a GI Joe pontoon I’m betting it’s Ryan! 😉
Darn! Well I’ll have an update on the progress of sixmile within 4 days as well as a fishing trip on Kamloops Lake!
I was out in Noble Lake area today and the snow has really receded so there may some changes since there. The rain may have thawed things out. Fishing by April 01? Hope it’s not a joke
Ken
Hey Ken I got your pic (thanks) but I’m not going to post it until I see what the lake look likes today. I have a feeling it will look quite a bit different than it does in your photo (fingers crossed)!
PS … As for April1, I hope it’s not a joke as well!!!
Great info – cant wait for that darned ice to be gone!
Hey Jack, if I’m correct in assuming that your name puts you in the vicinity of the lakes, what’s the ice report for big & little Heffley?
Both Heffley Lakes are completely covered – Little Heff. came off March 31st last year so looks like they will be later this year. Couple of guys ice fishing Little Heff. last Thursday, braver than I am. Hate to see the practice of leaving fish flopping around on the ice, apparently never heard of bonking.
(Hope we all soon get) Tight lines,
Jack
On March 27th just before noon there was around 1″ of ice 10yards from shore near the East end of Morgan Lake(able to break through with a small stone). 1/4″ of fresh ice along the shore where there was open water the previous day. Saw some aquatic life buzzing around the shore line and many dead black water boatmen… not sure what there deal was? Stuck in the ice maybe?
Six Mile seems to have less progression than Morgan.
Thanks for the update Ryan! Looks like time is quickly running out on my thoughts of fishing open water there by April 1 … lets see what the next 3 days bring.
Hey Ryan, was just wondering if morgan was or would be fishable around shore line with belly boat yet? I’m from vernon area here and nothing not happenin here for awhile, and well I’ve been itchin to get my flies in the water!!!
Hey Brandon,
There was no fishable water on Morgan on the 27th. I will be heading out tomorrow and I’ll give you an update then. I’d say within a week it should be fishable (hopefully tomorrow but highly doubtful!).
Alright well thanks for the udate! Me and my buddy we’re going to check out scuitto lake today (march 29) but drove by monte lake and well there was only about 1 foot of water between the shore and ice, and then we decided it wasn’t worth it. Hopefully soon our dry flies will get wet!
Scuitto is definately solid these days! Rob just posted a video of me on the shores of Morgan yesterday(near the top of the page). There is no fishable water yet but where the water is less tahn a few feet deep the ice has melted. There’s no solid ice left on the lake from what I can tell; just slush and ‘penicl ice.’ Should be very soon! Stay tuned and at the latest I’ll have an update for you guys on Friday. I’ll be heading out Friday for a fish before night shift!
Hey Guys, here’s a video from today on Morgan Lake. Very Windy and mix of sun and clouds today.
Awesome! Thanks Ryan!
This just in: Paul lake (approx 2550 ft.) is ice off around the edges … approx 10 feet!