BC Bass help

[Deano85]

Hi guys, I'd like to plan a BC bass trip for may long. I'm not looking for trophy fish but would like to catch as many large mouths as possible. Any suggestions? From my limited searching I was thinking Duck lake near Creston.

Any tips on what to use? Thanks

[Dust1n]

i doubt yull find trophy bass in BC go to wendevermere lake i think its by invermeer and winveremere. go to the beaches and docks and cast out poppers. summer/fall is best. iv never caught bass on anythign else then topwaters and flies so i guess you could use a sinkoe

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g348/EliteFisherman/500.jpg
and f things dont go well try for some gills and sunns

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g348/EliteFisherman/grgeg-1.png

[Speckle55]

Yes to Duck Lake they were fishing it Sunday and it is noted for big Bigmouths was just in Creston and drove by every day last week to get to Kootenay lake.. no motors on Duck though oars only .. good top water lake i hear stop in Sports shop and bounce ideas off the locals they will help.. David.. here is bows and bull we caught one day that we kept from Kootenay34755

[Dust1n]

h big is trophy for you guys 10lbs?

[npauls]

Does anyone know if Tie Lake has open water yet? I wouldn't mind getting out there sometime soon if it is.

[tacklerunner]

Does anyone know if Tie Lake has open water yet? I wouldn't mind getting out there sometime soon if it is.

I was by last week and heading out again at the end of this week. Never drove up to the lake but it's been pretty mild. Golf course in Jaffray is greening up. I'd say it's getting very close to ice off. Try calling Jaffray sports; the store across from the new pub/restaurant. They'd know.

[Mish@]

Try Lake Osoyoos

[Jwood 456]

PM sent.

[sheephunter]

Duck Lake is a great bet for May long...one of our traditions most years. Top water baits, spinnerbaits, Texas rigged worms and short/fat crankbaits all work well. Get out in the middle of the lake and work the emerging weeds. Remember that no motors of any kind are permitted.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h44/sheephunterab/DLBass0814.jpg

[Woolly Bugger]

Do any of these lakes hold Small Mouths as well ?

[sheephunter]

Fraser Valley:
Mill Lake - Abbotsford B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Hatzic Lake - Mission B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Chadsey Lake - Abbotsford, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Sturgeon Slough - Pitt Meadows, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Brunette River - Coquitlam, B.C. - (rumored) Largemouth Bass
Judson Lake - Abbotsford, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Pepin Creek - Abbotsford, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
N. Alouette River - Pitt Meadows, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Fish Trap Creek - Abbotsford, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Glochester Ponds - Aldergrove, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
West Creek - Langley, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Salmon River - Fort Langley, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Kawkawa Lake - Hope, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass (few)
Albert Dyck Park - Abbotsford, B.C. - Largemouth Bass

Okanagan:
Osoyoos Lake - near town of Osoyoos, B.C. - Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass
Skaha Lake - near Penticton and Okanagan Falls, B.C. - Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass
Vaseux Lake - S. of Okanagan Falls, B.C. - Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass
Deadman Lake - N. of Osoyoos, B.C. - Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass
Okanagan River - From Okanagan Lake to Osoyoos Lake - Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass

Kootenays:
Duck Lake - North of Creston, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Christina Lake - 22 km. E. of Grand Forks, B.C. - Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass
Kootenay Lake Flats - S. end of lake near Creston, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Summit Creek (slough) - W. of Creston, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Jim Smith Lake - 7 km. SW. of Cranbrook, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Baynes Lake - 11 km. SW. of Elko, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Tie Lake - N. of Jaffray, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass

Vancouver Island:
Diver Lake - Near Hwy 19, 7 km. N. of Nanaimo, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Long Lake - 16 km. NW. of Nanaimo, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Quennell Lake - 7 km. SE. of Cedar, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Shawnigan Lake - 50 km. N. of Victoria, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Elk and Beaver Lakes - 13 km. N. of Victoria, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Prospect Lake - 18 km. N. of Victoria, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Glen Lake - W. of Victoria, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Holden Lake - SE. of Hwy 1 near Cedar, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Langford Lake - NW. of Victoria, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Matheson Lake - SW. of Victoria, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Spider Lake - S. of Dunsmuir, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Young Lake - NW. of Sooke, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass

Saltspring Island:
St. Mary Lake - near Vesuvius harbor, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Cusheon Lake - near Fulford harbor, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass

[mszomola]

I think im heading to invermere this weekend , if anyone else is heading out pm me , maybe we can do a fun tourney out there . Should be interesting.


If the water can get into the 40s we might be in for an interesting day , if the sun comes out could be on fire for some pre spawn largies ...

[mszomola]

I would think closer to calgary is going to be colder so , maybe jigging spoons , cranks , finesse drop shot some deeper water with left over weeds ?

If your heading more Osoyoos i think the waters probly going to be in a good place to start hitting some big fish , i would throw anything to cover alot of water to start then slow down where you get some good activity happening , use the creek channels and work outwards

[npauls]

Tie Lake is actually large mouths not small mouths. Just don't want anyone heading out that way expecting to target smallies and only find largies.

[sheephunter]

Tie Lake is actually large mouths not small mouths. Just don't want anyone heading out that way expecting to target smallies and only find largies.

Ya you are right. Not sure how that got there.

[chubbdarter]

the Koot also has Carrot creek too

[Woolly Bugger]

Fraser Valley:
Mill Lake - Abbotsford B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Hatzic Lake - Mission B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Chadsey Lake - Abbotsford, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Sturgeon Slough - Pitt Meadows, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Brunette River - Coquitlam, B.C. - (rumored) Largemouth Bass
Judson Lake - Abbotsford, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Pepin Creek - Abbotsford, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
N. Alouette River - Pitt Meadows, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Fish Trap Creek - Abbotsford, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Glochester Ponds - Aldergrove, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
West Creek - Langley, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Salmon River - Fort Langley, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Kawkawa Lake - Hope, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass (few)
Albert Dyck Park - Abbotsford, B.C. - Largemouth Bass

Okanagan:
Osoyoos Lake - near town of Osoyoos, B.C. - Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass
Skaha Lake - near Penticton and Okanagan Falls, B.C. - Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass
Vaseux Lake - S. of Okanagan Falls, B.C. - Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass
Deadman Lake - N. of Osoyoos, B.C. - Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass
Okanagan River - From Okanagan Lake to Osoyoos Lake - Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass

Kootenays:
Duck Lake - North of Creston, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Christina Lake - 22 km. E. of Grand Forks, B.C. - Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass
Kootenay Lake Flats - S. end of lake near Creston, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Summit Creek (slough) - W. of Creston, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Jim Smith Lake - 7 km. SW. of Cranbrook, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Baynes Lake - 11 km. SW. of Elko, B.C. - Largemouth Bass
Tie Lake - N. of Jaffray, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass

Vancouver Island:
Diver Lake - Near Hwy 19, 7 km. N. of Nanaimo, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Long Lake - 16 km. NW. of Nanaimo, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Quennell Lake - 7 km. SE. of Cedar, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Shawnigan Lake - 50 km. N. of Victoria, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Elk and Beaver Lakes - 13 km. N. of Victoria, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Prospect Lake - 18 km. N. of Victoria, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Glen Lake - W. of Victoria, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Holden Lake - SE. of Hwy 1 near Cedar, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Langford Lake - NW. of Victoria, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Matheson Lake - SW. of Victoria, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Spider Lake - S. of Dunsmuir, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Young Lake - NW. of Sooke, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass

Saltspring Island:
St. Mary Lake - near Vesuvius harbor, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass
Cusheon Lake - near Fulford harbor, B.C. - Smallmouth Bass



Thanks for the great information, the island is definitely a good bet.

[Fishmaster]

Vaseux Lake is a good one too, been goin there every summer last 4 years camp right on the lake its right off the highway, no motors there either, but big bass and huge like i mean huge carp but never hooked into the carp tried a lot last 2 years, i see this one carp every year just swimming by the shore, id say its atleast 25 pounds but he never interested in anything, but i will get him one of these years!

[Deano85]

What lures and techniques do you find most effective?

[Deano85]

What color and brand of spinnerbait do you reccomend also any idea which soft plastic to texas rig? Thanks

[chubbdarter]

What color and brand of spinnerbait do you reccomend also any idea which soft plastic to texas rig? Thanks

for Duck my favorite hairpins had white or a blue/yellow skirt
favorite worm was brown with a chart. tail 7 inch
by far my best lure though is the zara spook

stop in and see Freddy at Mawsons in downtown Creston

[32-40win]

For any of the lakes in Jaffray area I've used a #8 or 10 black wooly bugger, some of the ponds seem to like green better some days. For Duck Lake i've used chartreuse and white, clousers and deceivers and a texas rigged Berkley worm in black & chartreuse. If you want larger bass, Duck is likely the best, Tie has some 20 inchers in it, and waterskiers. I've been told Windermere has some good fish in it. The rest around Cranbrook/Jaffray are lucky to break a pound as far as I know, best I've seen around Jaffray is in Tie. Baynes is a great place to take a kid fishing, if your line is in the water there, you will catch bass, you can watch schools follow your boat, and there is nothing there bigger than 10", except perch and dumped in brood trout.

[Dust1n]

right now:
black weedles jigs.
shallow running shad baits
white spinnerbaits.
fall and latesummer:
popers/zaraspooks

[marty1]

Duck lake,that's where i go lots of fish and large fish do roam the waters,im heading their tomorrow to try and break my personal best of 7 half pounds,can't wait.the best way i find to fish this water is with a canoe you can cover ground and you'll learn the water,their every where but a lake that's only 2 meters deep it still has it's sweet spots.good luck

[A187]

I fished lake Windermere one time and got SKUNKED, I suck lol. But I guess we didn't really know where the hell to fish and only had a few hours. Very beautiful lake tho, maybe I'll try it again someday.

I prefer other lakes for Bass that I've fished

[Deano85]

What times of the day are best to fish Duck lake? The standard morning and dusk? Thanks

[BobLoblaw]

Duck Lake is a great bet for May long...one of our traditions most years. Top water baits, spinnerbaits, Texas rigged worms and short/fat crankbaits all work well. Get out in the middle of the lake and work the emerging weeds. Remember that no motors of any kind are permitted.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h44/sheephunterab/DLBass0814.jpg

I've had some heart-stopping topwater action on Duck; throwing 'JitterBugs' early morning & late evening. Great fun!
Don't get caught out in the middle of Duck when a windstorm blows in; it can get narsty super quick. I swear you can get all 4 seasons in a day come through that valley!
Definitely some decent bass in there...
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/3118/p3290212.jpg (http://img256.imageshack.us/i/p3290212.jpg/)

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/4466/p3290218.jpg (http://img211.imageshack.us/i/p3290218.jpg/)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6650/p3290215.jpg (http://img291.imageshack.us/i/p3290215.jpg/)

I haven't been there for years; maybe this year...????

[B.C.boy123]

Does anyone know if Tie Lake has open water yet? I wouldn't mind getting out there sometime soon if it is.
no its isnt yet, i live 20 minutes away, but it should be soon

[brendan85]

another lake that has not been mentioned yet is wasa.. its deffinately worth checking out.

[ORV]

we went to wasa for 3 days last year.
water was low. bass fishing was really slooowwww.
compared to a couple years before when it was great.
weather maybe? it was raining a lot.
not a lot of fishing pressure but try not to get run over by the skiiers
etc.
think i will try tie this year.

orv.

[GaryF]

Just got back from Duck, did a lot of rowing. Friday all day and the sat morning fish were absolutely horrible, 4 bass between 6 of us. Sat eve fish we found em though and started pulling them in. Best lures were black slugos and sunfish looking hollow body. We even pulled some in on spinners running just under the surface. Next time I bring a canoe, LOL.

[Deano85]

Do you mean those storm wildeye sunfish? Also where's the best place to launch at Duck, thanks.

[Speckle55]

Do you mean those storm wildeye sunfish? Also where's the best place to launch at Duck, thanks.

North end of lake

[GaryF]

No, it was a berkley hollow body. As for launching, there are a few places to launch. we launched on the west side and the north end, really hard to describe the west side, but the north end just keep driving around till you can't go no more. Paddle out of the channel and head along the eastern side looking for the weed beds.

[Deano85]

Is it just bass and perch in Duck lake?

[chubbdarter]

Is it just bass and perch in Duck lake?

sunfish too

[horsetrader]

sunfish too

just like big brother Bass

[Deano85]

When using braid do you need a leader of mono or fluorocarbon for bass? Are they line shy at all?

[GaryF]

I was using straight green power pro, no leader, and a snap swivel to prevent line twisting. They didn't seem to care.

[elnino54]

I've fished Duck lake for years. The best lure I've used out there was a chartruese bladed Mepps spinner......easy to see, great for the perch, sunfish while your tying to locate the Bass. On the May long, you need to find the spawning beds, there should be a Bass on everyone of them. You can't miss them, circles where the weeds on the bottom have been cleared out.....

Of course fly rodding them with a popper is an absolute blast !!!

[Deano85]

Since you are allowed 2 lines when fishing alone in a boat I was thinking of using one to slip bobber. Would smelt work on bass or would worms be best?

[32-40win]

Actually, when using the berkley 4" black worm with a chartreuse tail, I've had the perch hang on to the worm, and bass nail the whole works. They hang on pretty hard trying to chew the tail off that worm, I've ripped them out of the water on a backcast and flung them out behind me, and had the odd one hang on thru a cast, they were not hooked, they just clamped on. Worm tails get eaten off fairly quickly, have to change them about every 15 min. Had them rigged on a 7 wt flyrod with a big worm hook and a small cone weight over the hookeye. Most weedless setup I could figure out to use there. Worked well.
Personally I like fishing the channel to the pumphouse. caught some good fish there.

[Jwood 456]

Is it just bass and perch in Duck lake?

sunfish too

Speaking of that, when I fished duck lake I could see a whole bunch of perch smacking my big bass lure and everytime I paddled through the shallow water, sunfish would be darting out of the weeds everywhere and I also caught loads of bass too. Fishing that lake I don't think will an experience I will soon forget.

[jesse34567]

Tie lake for me, has a lot of bass in it. Presentations that worked wonders is a drop shot rig with lighter colored plastics.

[Deano85]

Anyone ever target the sunfish and perch? Any ideas what to use?

[Speckle55]

Check in Creston fishing store on main street they will tell you it is a little of a hang out too.. but chronomids or wire worm on a indicator / bobber should work..about a foot off bottom.. David:)

[Dust1n]

Anyone ever target the sunfish and perch? Any ideas what to use?

be aggresive! theyll be hiding in weeds/structre or under docks.
use spoons/flies/mealworms/ they eat it when its going up at a constent rate or free falled down.

i caught this guy 2 inches from shore. i let him chase it in the shallows being he wouldnt grab it under the dock.
http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g348/EliteFisherman/grgeg.png

[Jwood 456]

Nice pumkinseed sunfish Dustin. I have seen many sunfish in Duck Lake and have not seen any sunfish that size. The biggest sunfish I saw, was probably only a 4 incher. I also must say that those pumkinseed seed sunfish have some of the most stunning colours out of any other fish in Canada.

[Dust1n]

Nice pumkinseed sunfish Dustin. I have seen many sunfish in Duck Lake and have not seen any sunfish that size. The biggest sunfish I saw, was probably only a 4 incher. I also must say that those pumkinseed seed sunfish have some of the most stunning colours out of any other fish in Canada.

ill find a pic on my camera of a 12 inch bluegill

[Jwood 456]

As for catching perch there, I will also add too that using a perch jig by C.E emanery or any small Fiskars jig tipped with a whole bunch of maggots may work great for the perch. Try the deeper water such as 6 to 8 FOW and just drop the jig down and agressively twitch the jig and pause. I perfer to hand jig for perch with a roll of 4lb or 6lb vanish. When I was bas fishing 6 to 8 FOW, I had endless amounts of perch smacking my 4'' or 6'' bass curly tail grub and propeler jighead.

[Jwood 456]

As for catching perch there, I will also add too that using a perch jig by C.E emanery or any small Fiskars jig tipped with a whole bunch of maggots may work great for the perch. Try the deeper water such as 6 to 8 FOW and just drop the jig down and agressively twitch the jig and pause. I perfer to hand jig for perch with a roll of 4lb or 6lb vanish. When I was bas fishing 6 to 8 FOW, I had endless amounts of perch smacking my 4'' or 6'' bass curly tail grub and propeler jighead.

Woops my bad, I meant Fiskas jigs not Fisakar jigs. Those two brand names sound very simular.lol... and I also was slighty off with the name of the other perch jigs. They are named perch eyes and are made by C.G Emery.

[elnino54]

Anyone ever target the sunfish and perch? Any ideas what to use?

Deano...........Trust me on the Chartruese Mepps Spinner. You WILL catch fish all day long...........Had my folks come out with us one year, and my mother caught a 24" Largemouth on this lure. The thing weighted about 8 lbs........trying to find a pic of that huge bass, and will post it if I can !!!

35164

35165

[Jwood 456]

Does that lake produce alot of perch over 6'' or are the perch in that lake mainly small?:thinking-006:

[Alberta_bassman]

i go to jaffray area and evey year i catch largies 5 pound + sumtimes 4 a year last year i caught over 11, 5 pounders ... gotta luv them largies .... the best fish to angle hands down!!!

[A187]

anyone else gone out to do some bc bassin yet this year?