Kootaney Lake

[harrydude]

well we are planing a trip out to kootaney lake in the summer

so any ifo on the lake an best rv camping there would be apreciated

[rielbowhunter]

go right now if you want to catch big fish.

[sheephunter]

Yup, you'll need to head deep if you are fishing there in the summer for rainbows of bulls. Be sure to take a downrigger.

[bucktaker]

hit Duck Lake, large mouth bass wooooohoooooo :sHa_shakeshout:

[gl2]

if you have the kids, wife ect i would stay at woodbury resort and marina in ainsworth. havent been there in a while but they had a beach,store ect. you wouldnt be too far from the hot springs and if you dont have a boat i think you can rent them at jones boys there.

[Deb]

http://www.schroedercreekresort.com/index.html

We spent a week at this resort and would go back for sure. Power's not the greatest, 15 amp, and it's not fancy-schmancy, but we liked it just fine (and we thought the prices reasonable). The campground has a mix of seasonal and transient campers, a store that has bare essentials and it's nice and quiet. We had a blast going to Kaslo in our boat for groceries.

There's a beach, but when we were there, the weather wasn't the best for swimming. And like the others mentioned, if you're fishing for big ones, you'll need downriggers and summer probably isn't the best time because the big guys are down deep. In the summer, you'll probably catch some decent dolly vardens and kokanees (learned all about snubbers that summer!).

Don't know if you have kids or not, so you might want a place with more kid stuff, but for a couple of old farts like my husband and me, you might like the more secluded campground that this is. It's at the north end of the lake, scenery is gorgeous .. so even if fishing is slow, it's an amazing place to be.

Deb

[greylynx]

hit Duck Lake, large mouth bass wooooohoooooo :sHa_shakeshout:

And then the Sirdar Hotel to compare your Bass with the one on the wall.

Of course there are other things you can do at the Sirdar Hotel.

Just say your pro logger.

[chubbdarter]

hit Duck Lake, large mouth bass wooooohoooooo :sHa_shakeshout:

DEET is your most important piece of equipment.

mirror lake has a small campground with bass in their private pond also and the main lake is just yards away

[tacklerunner]

I'm from Nelson and Kootenay area. Spent well over 1000 days on Kootenay Lake. Still went back about 20 times last year. :sign0068: 20 lber eluded me this year but got a 15 lber and dozens of others.

It really depends what you plan to do. You might want to stay on the East or West side.

Have a boat?
Plan to fish a lot or mainly just camp?
Want to be secluded or close to a town?
Taking a wife and kids?
Want to do some touring around?
What size of RV are you hauling?

Problem is most campgrounds don't take reservations. I know on long weekends you have to take your RV out Wed night or Thurs morning to get a spot most times. There's some nice spots with a dozen sites and some with 100.

I could give you a better recommendation with more info. Also could hook you up with some bucktails for the big Gerard Rainbows and Bulls as well a some tips on trolling speeds, techniques and areas more populated with Rainbows if you'd like. Not sure if you've had experience there or not.

TR

[Johnny]

if you have the kids, wife ect i would stay at woodbury resort and marina in ainsworth. havent been there in a while but they had a beach,store ect. you wouldnt be too far from the hot springs and if you dont have a boat i think you can rent them at jones boys there.

ditto...I came here from the west Kootenays. They have some guided fishing tours out of Balfour. If you like fly fishing, try Summit lake up by Nakusp. There are some nice little rainbows in there and there is a campground right beside the lake as well. Can't remember if they have electricity. Check out www.discovernelson.com. There is some good information relative to the activities surrounding Nelson. Definitely a good place to take the family in the summer. I go back there 3-4 times a year.

Good Luck.

[harrydude]

this is the greatest site

lots of people willin to help

ko list of info

yes a boat will be coming ...just a 12 foot tin tub with 9.9 and electric
yes scotty down rigger only 1

and all the related gear needed to fish


as for the trailers four in total and ???

20-24 footers

so anywere will do ...loogging road ok

we were thinking of this place
http://www.pilotbayresort.com/index.html

or??

and only teanagers coming othr thaan tha just wives and old farts

[chubbdarter]

this is the greatest site

lots of people willin to help

ko list of info

yes a boat will be coming ...just a 12 foot tin tub with 9.9 and electric
yes scotty down rigger only 1

and all the related gear needed to fish


as for the trailers four in total and ???

20-24 footers

so anywere will do ...loogging road ok

we were thinking of this place
http://www.pilotbayresort.com/index.html

or??

and only teanagers coming othr thaan tha just wives and old farts


pilot is very nice
great golfing near bye
one of the most protected bays if the koot gets nasty.
good central location to discover many points of interest in the area.
creston, kaslo, duncan, new denver, ainsworth will all make great day trips
1 down rigger is alright just stack the lines
the kokanee are delisious,the fish im mean.
you'll fall in love with the lake , its like the world and all its fast paced crap forgot about this area.
it and pend orielle are the greatest trophy rainbow trout waters ive ever fished.
have fun

[harrydude]

kool thanks

[saskbooknut]

Bush camping - years ago we liked:
East side of the lake north of Riondel there was a nice camp at Bernard Creek (locally known as Deer Creek) - logging road access along the lakeshore

[tacklerunner]

Pilot Bay is right in the ZONE!!! If you troll due south and straight across the lake from pilot bay or pilot point to the "tressels" as the locals call it, which is a train bridge you can see up in the mountain a bit you will be in one of the most populated areas on the lake for 10+ pound rainbows. We affectionatly named this the "rainbow run" in 1978. There's also some creeks on the south side which are good for trolling straight toward. Lots of fish in the middle of the lake too.

Now if you're in a 12 foot aluminum, you have to be very cautious of the weather. It can blow up and you'll have 3 foot swells with 3 foot whitecaps on them before you know it. Spend many an afternoon hiding out in pilot bay waiting for the wind to die down just to get back to Balfour; and that was in a 21 foot Reinell.

Trolling around just outside of the bay is great too. Got a 15 pounder there in December. Might be a bit more comfortable sticking around there. Really depends on the conditions. Also i like to head north around pilot point and troll along the "chimneys". Always seem to have luck there.

If you want specific info on fishing and techniques PM me before you leave and I can tell you what colours and depths and trolling speeds are working.

[harrydude]

thanks again guys for th help

and for the weather conditions kicking up I can see it happenening

I grew up or atleast older on the ocean (vancouver island) so big water does not scare me.....just have to be smart.....but it should be ok in august...


But another question for the local guys.....do you know of any dog kennels in the area...as we will be taking our hound with us and when we go day tripin we want him looked after

thanks again

[Duramaximos]

.....but it should be ok in august...


Don't make any assumptions. The lake can kick up without notice. Several times in the middle of summer we got our butts kicked by Kootenay. Last year was a 1 hour "crossing of the Kootenay" when we were forced to navigate 5-6 footers at 1 hour before dark. The crossing usually takes 10 minutes. 2 hours before that the weather was +30 and dead calm, as we enjoyed a care free day on the beach.

I would not dare to cross it in a 12 footer. No disrespect to you since you seem to have plenty of experience, but I suggest you take baby steps, so to speak, when it comes to Kootenay.

[harrydude]

good to know thanks

[chubbdarter]

yes sir that pretty lake can turn ugly in a heart beat.
youve picked as good a spot as possible in Pilot.
just outside the Bay lies a Kootenay lake ferry....on the BOTTOM.
i dont recomeend cutting across the lake to the tressels or rhino point.
Some of the worst storms happen when gale force winds from the west arm clash with a north arm wind.
stay safe and have fun

[Guitarplayingfish]

I lived in Nelson for a while. Never got a chance to fish the kootenay on a boat, but it is known for its monster gerrard rainbows. I don't know if they still have the tag program going.. but if you catch a fish with a green tag, cut the tag off (whether you release the fish or not) and its worth 100$ cash. Also, if your heading near balfour... they have THE BEST chicken sandwich i have ever eatten :bad_boys_20: It tastes like a chicken wing burger... mmhmmmmm. Don't miss out! (Im talking about the restaurant/bar to the left after coming off the ferry into balfour.

[rielbowhunter]

I am thinking of going in two weeks. What are the best ways to fish this time of year? I will be staying in boswell.

[chubbdarter]

I lived in Nelson for a while. Never got a chance to fish the kootenay on a boat, but it is known for its monster gerrard rainbows. I don't know if they still have the tag program going.. but if you catch a fish with a green tag, cut the tag off (whether you release the fish or not) and its worth 100$ cash. Also, if your heading near balfour... they have THE BEST chicken sandwich i have ever eatten :bad_boys_20: It tastes like a chicken wing burger... mmhmmmmm. Don't miss out! (Im talking about the restaurant/bar to the left after coming off the ferry into balfour.

names change alot in Balfour.....but last name i remember is the Rainbow.
Langs is across the ferry ramp and serves a mean breaky

[chubbdarter]

I am thinking of going in two weeks. What are the best ways to fish this time of year? I will be staying in boswell.

depends on water conditions and what your after.
trophy hunting is best intentionally done with intent rather than hoping to be lucky. I see by your avatar you understand that concept..congrats nice animals.
Bulls?...flasher and hoochie, kelp cutter and fly, lymans, witch doctors
Rainbows?
small fish to 15lbs?.....spoons, hockey sticks, plugs...fished in top ten feet
medium fish 15-20lbs?.....billies, water dogs, zinger plugs..maybe hair
holy crap fish 20-25lbs? ".................................................. ........"
trophies 25-30lbs?.........".................................................. ........"

[harrydude]

I read the regs but it is bc and did not see if you can use bait fish

it does not have a bait ban

so does that mean I can use them?

[tacklerunner]

I've never heard of anyone using baitfish. Maggots, yes for Kokanee. Never even seen bait fish for sale in the area.

Kootenay Lake has it's own set of rules so ask the locals but I don't think you'd want to use fish as bait anyways.

[fish-slaughter]

I was out there in september this year at woodbury resort place was ok lots of nice fish pulled out around there i got some pix on my profile of what we pulled in!We were trolling with a shiner fly(black white n silver) on the surface but thats more of a spring n fall technique i think.