Kootenay Lake
May was pretty good fishing. Lots of days with 10 to 15 fish to the boat. The bugs came out, as well as flying ants, which seem to get all the fish in a frenzy. Lots of bug eaters or small fish were caught, with the odd big fish each day.
Some Rainbows up to 17 pounds and Bull Trout up to 14 pounds have been coming in. We’re also experiencing some good Kokanee fishing in the West Arm (during the opening) and just outside the west arm. So, there’s definitely been a lot of action.
Water temperature is perfect for most fish now, so we should see some good days of fishing ahead.
What are they biting on?
Most fish are feeding on the surface now, so we have been running mostly surface lines with the usual gear.
My favorite bucktail flies have been producing good numbers of Rainbows and even a few Bull trout on the surface. Lucky flies have been: black, black, and more black. Since the flying ants have been hitting the water, it seems the fish are keying in on the black colours. So, our favorites have been the black ant pattern #208, the usual black and white #228, and a few others gray and white #210 and green and white #221.
Also our Lyman plugs have been producing well on the surface and the downriggers. Greens have been working well due to the colour of the lake water. So, lucky #55 or #53 or #97 have been producing. Also the natural colours representing Kokanee have been working well. Lucky numbers 16, 98, and 100 have been producing some good fish as well.
Columbia River
The river has been running higher lately, but that seems to have created some new holes for fishing. We’ve been fishing the usual back eddies and catching some nice fish.
Fly-fishing with nymphs has been the most productive lately. However the warmer weather has created a few hatches and we have begun dry fly fishing with caddis and flying ants as well.
The bait fishermen have been doing good as well. Try using spinners tipped with worms or a three-way rig on the bottom with bait. Both methods have produced some nice fish. Rainbows between two to five pounds have been coming in, as well as Walleye between two to five pounds. I’ve even seen a few Pike caught lately up to 10 pounds.
So, there is not a lack of fish to be caught on the river. You just have to get out there.
My favorite months are coming up for river fishing. Look out for the famous Caddis hatch, as it will put every fish into a crazy feeding frenzy.
Tight lines …
— Kerry Reed is from Reel Adventures Sportfishing. Contact him at 250-505-4963 or reeladventuresfishing.com.
