Showcasing Fisheries from BC and the Pacific NorthwestThe Thompson – Nicola (Region 3) is host to one of the foremost Kokanee fisheries in southern British Columbia which is Monte Lake. These seams can also be created by 2 different directions of winds meeting in the middle of the lake. One moment they will hit a pink hoochie then minutes later you can’t buy a bite with the same lure, but then a small UV spoon will work. The challenge would be finding the kokes with the masses of sockeye fry and smolts in … Kokanee Salmon Kokanee, a landlocked strain of Sockeye salmon, are distributed throughout the province, often sharing the same lakes as Rainbow trout. Just like any other salmon species they require food while trying to expend the least amount of energy as possible. Kokanee feed on Even though Monte Lake receives a lot of angling pressure in a year it still will not disappoint. Little Deka is an excellent option for smaller boats.The lake is managed as one fishery. The best way I can explain it is that these Kokanee are the Rocky Balboa’s of the Kokanee world!Bridge and Deka Lake are found in the heart of the BC Cariboo next to the quant community of Lone Butte, which is only a quick 2 hour drive north of Kamloops. During the early spring you can catch Kokanee cruising the shallow water along the shorelines feeding on small insects. It is located just 2 hours west of Williams Lake on Highway 20. Be sure to bring weight from 1 to 4 ounces to target the depths of where the fish are marking on the sonar. These fish can be extremely fickle in their selection. There is no established camping site along this lake but there are many other accommodations nearby such as Little Deka Lake seems to produce fish a bit smaller fish than Big Deka, however the average size is still pushing 2lbs +. Kokanee mainly feed on plankton, but aquatic insect can also be part of their diet. I’ve caught a grand total of 2 kokes in Shu, both as by-catch targeting rainbows. Big Deka is known for producing Kokanee over 4lbs! These fish will move from being suspended over deep water to hold within currents and wind seems off points and other pieces of structure.
Kokanee opportunities largely fall in the shadow of these trophy fisheries. This slapping sound also repels fish away from your boat and presentation.
300 feet and the average mean depth is 70 feet. The use of small willow leaf flashers with red or pink wedding rings tipped with pink maggots will bring you decent results. Monte Lake is located approx. Over the past 10 years the lake has been stocked with over 1.3 Million Diploid Kokanee (130,000 average each year). Be very cautious on weather and winds when pursuing Big Deka as winds can pick up very quickly.
Again tipping your lure with pink or chartreuse maggots will help seal the deal.This lake can become very windy very quickly! The BC Cariboo Region is home to over 30 plus lakes that offer outstanding Kokanee fishing, but the 2 lakes that outshine them all are Bridge and Deka Lake. There will be times that fish will not mark on the sonar no matter how much water is covered. As the water temp warms into mid-May switching to baits such as cured & dyed krill or white shoepeg corn is extremely effective. In late June the upper mixed layer of the lake can be less than 60F. The average weather temperatures in the Cariboo are much less than say the Okanagan or Lower Mainland areas. Fishing: Kokanee are a popular sport fish because of their schooling behaviour, willingness to strike, and excellent eating qualities. The BC Freshwater Fishery Society and the Province have done an excellent job in managing this fishery. The water temperatures reflect the cooler weather and are much colder allowing Kokanee to cruise easily throughout the water column of the lakes. Food will be pushed together in these zones and the Kokanee will hold in this vicinity. Although some fly … But for the average fisherman who is interested more in catching a few fish for the bar-b-que or taking a friend or family member fishing, kokanee are the ticket. The deepest portions of the lake can be found in the Big Deka section of the lake. These Cariboo Kokanee do seem to be very boat shy. A clean content and family orientated group to talk about fishing British Columbia's kokanee lakes. The fish are very aggressive in nature and deliver aerobatic-tale walking fights when hooked. Trout averaging 2 pounds can be caught from shore as well. The area in which you launch from is Little Deka. This is a tell tail sign that the fish are holding in the upper 20 feet of water.