Osoyoos Lake Sockeye

[Brandonkop]

If any of you vacation around Osoyoos you might want to try out the Sockeye fishing next Summer, it's pretty good.

This was our first time to Osoyoos lake to fish for the Okanagan Sockeye Salmon run. This is a recent re established run that has been open to public harvest again the last few years. Hundreds of thousands of Columbia River fish swim up through the lake and stage before going on to spawn in the Okonagan river. The fish all seem to hang out at the North End of the lake and are usually caught 50-60 feet down. We were using Les Davis size 0 dodgers with a 13 inch leader, 15 pound fluorocarbon and a pink UV hoochie with a red 3/0 barbless hook. We added Pro Cure Krill and Shrimp scent to the bait and trolled with downriggers very slowly. Most strikes came when slowing to a stop or starting from a stop. These are great tasting fish as well so go give it a try next summer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJRnQ3Gjmfo

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/Canadian%20Fun/IMG_20140826_131955.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/Canadian%20Fun/IMG_20140826_131955.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/Canadian%20Fun/IMG_20140826_191502.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/Canadian%20Fun/IMG_20140826_191502.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/sockeye.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/sockeye.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/Canadian%20Fun/IMG_20140826_203335.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/Canadian%20Fun/IMG_20140826_203335.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/Canadian%20Fun/IMG_20140827_184640.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/Canadian%20Fun/IMG_20140827_184640.jpg.html)

[The Reel Deal]

Those grill marks made my mouth water!

[spinN'flyfish]

fresh caught salmon.... the best

[tight line]

Those grill marks made my mouth water!

Lol.. X2 those look tasty!!beauty fish!

[Wild&Free]

Should try Babine Lake next year for sockeye, they're about twice the size. hang out in front of the Fulton River near Topley Landing in about 40-50 fow and can be caught on basically the same setup you were using.

[marlin1]

very nice

[Brandonkop]

Should try Babine Lake next year for sockeye, they're about twice the size. hang out in front of the Fulton River near Topley Landing in about 40-50 fow and can be caught on basically the same setup you were using.

Would love to but that is a long drive from Kelowna. Osoyoos is under a couple hours from Kelowna.

[ddddd05]

Great informative post. Thanks. What time of year does the run take place?

[HookedOnKokanee]

:sHa_shakeshout:this is how happy I get when I read your reports

[Brandonkop]

:sHa_shakeshout:this is how happy I get when I read your reports

Haha, thanks HookedonKokanee!

Great informative post. Thanks. What time of year does the run take place?

So the Run starts the end of July through September. Fishing on the Canadian side in the North Basin of the lake is typically the first two weeks of August with a limit of two per person daily and bag limit of four. After two weeks the fisheries department assesses the population and how the run is doing. If their escapement target is being met they'll extend the season and increase limits. This year they extended the Season until September 2nd and they increased the limit August 19th to 4 sockeye per person. So I went after the increase in limit for the day and caught a limit for the smoker and one for the BBQ. The fish was fantastic both ways.

[HookedOnKokanee]

Brandon, you do know that HookedOnKokanee is my handle right? Cheers Doyle!:confused0068:

[Brandonkop]

Brandon, you do know that HookedOnKokanee is my handle right? Cheers Doyle!:confused0068:

Yes, I figured that out over the summer Doyle ;)

[THERICARDO]

Just got back and man did we have some fun in BC, kokanee, dolly's, Bass, and lots of Rainbows... amazing trip that I cannot wait to do again next year, learnt so much and caught lots of fish...

[Brandonkop]

Just got back and man did we have some fun in BC, kokanee, dolly's, Bass, and lots of Rainbows... amazing trip that I cannot wait to do again next year, learnt so much and caught lots of fish...

Where did you go? Got any pics?

[Brandonkop]

Here is the Underwater Sockeye View Video that went along with this day of fishing. I think I put the camera down to late. The fish would chase but not commit. It's amazing how many fish are down there. Seems where were always two or three on the screen with others in the distance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6SfZkpOrO4

[Lornce]

We usually hit the interior in August so definitely will try to get there. Have the same rigs we use for Koks but not in that combo, love the idea of the Spin-& Glo in that position. What was the cost of the out of province licensing this year?

[livinthedream]

Brandon - I have to ask - I apologize for my ignorance, but are those Sockeye or Kokanee? They don't look anything like the Sockeye we catch in the Fraser River or in the Pacific!

[Brandonkop]

We usually hit the interior in August so definitely will try to get there. Have the same rigs we use for Koks but not in that combo, love the idea of the Spin-& Glo in that position. What was the cost of the out of province licensing this year?

The non tidal salmon license was $30, then the non resident was another $55. A little pricey compared to Alberta. But out of the three fishing licenses I have it isn't the most. California Costs me almost 70 bucks and that is a resident price for the annual. Plus you have to pay to get a boat on almost every waterway down here. This is not the land of the free. That's ok next year I'll be buying the BC res license and Alberta's and thats probably it.

[Lornce]

The non tidal salmon license was $30, then the non resident was another $55. A little pricey compared to Alberta. But out of the three fishing licenses I have it isn't the most. California Costs me almost 70 bucks and that is a resident price for the annual. Plus you have to pay to get a boat on almost every waterway down here. This is not the land of the free. That's ok next year I'll be buying the BC res license and Alberta's and thats probably it.

Thanks that's not bad at all, always spring for the BC one anyway.

[Brandonkop]

Brandon - I have to ask - I apologize for my ignorance, but are those Sockeye or Kokanee? They don't look anything like the Sockeye we catch in the Fraser River or in the Pacific!

So these are the Columbia strain of Sockeye salmon they range from about 2 to 4 pounds. Smaller than the Fraser ones. These sockeye are adapted too migrating through high water temps in the Okanogan river. They are ocean run sockeye and not kokanee. They do look like sockeye just smaller ones.

[fishinggeek]

Mouth watering. Num Num Num. Lol. Awesome fish

[Wild&Free]

Would love to but that is a long drive from Kelowna. Osoyoos is under a couple hours from Kelowna.

It's a long drive from Edmonton as well :(

lower Fulton river was one of my favorite places, could catch 5-6 species in a day with some impressive cutbows feasting on sockeye and kokanee spawn.

thought you were making the trip from AB which is why I suggested it.

[Brandonkop]

It's a long drive from Edmonton as well :(

lower Fulton river was one of my favorite places, could catch 5-6 species in a day with some impressive cutbows feasting on sockeye and kokanee spawn.

thought you were making the trip from AB which is why I suggested it.

Thanks for the tips, I'll keep it in mind and one day might make it there.

Yup I either get to BC from AB or CA, but I'm usually headed to Kelowna since my parents have a place an RV on Kalamalka lake. So that's the home base for my BC fishing.

[Bigdad013]

That's ok next year I'll be buying the BC res license and Alberta's and thats probably it.

How do you buy 2 res licences?

[Lornce]

How do you buy 2 res licences?

OOps my mistake, I'm originally a Kelowna boy so easy to make that mistake in my mind. Should has said non res.

[Brandonkop]

How do you buy 2 res licences?

Next year I'll buy a BC res licence (because I'll now be living there) and an Albertan License.

The Alberta resident license is the same price as a Canadian Resident anyways.

Sportfishing Licence Cost
Alberta Resident 16-64 years of age $25.66
Canadian Resident from outside Alberta Age 16 or older $25.66
Alberta Non resident outside Canada 70.90

So it doesn't really matter? Just can't apply for walleye tags but that is ok plenty of lakes to get them without a tag.

[Wild&Free]

I think next year Alberta is upping the cost for non residents.

[Brandonkop]

I think next year Alberta is upping the cost for non residents.

Well it is about time!