The
Lakes of Okanagan Similkameen
Photo:
Allison Lake
Allison Lake: From Princeton travel north on Hwy #5A. Allison is found
on the west side of Hwy #5A. Allison was stocked with 10,000 Pennask stock
Rainbows in 1994. It provides a good summer and winter Rainbow fishery
for trout up to 3-1/2 lbs.
Arlington
lake #2: From the city of Kelowna, travel southeast on Hwy #33. Turn
west (right) off Hwy #33 at the Arlington Lakes turn-off. Follow this
road a short distance to the 3 lakes. Arlington is an excellent family
lake providing good quantities of smaller sized Rainbow trout.
Arthur
Lake: Arthur Lake can be reached by travelling north on Hwy #97 from
the city of Vernon. Arthur provides a Rainbow fishery for trout up to
2 lbs.
Beaver
Lake (Swalwell Lake): From the city of Kelowna travel north on Hwy
#97 to Winfield. Turn east off Hwy #97 onto Beaver Lake Road and follow
it to Swalwell (Beaver) Lake. Swalwell, also known as Beaver Lake, provides
a high catch rate for the fishermen. This popular lake has also been known
to serve up trout in the 5 lb range.
Bolean
Lake: Bolean Lake can be reached by travelling north on Hwy #97 from
the city of Vernon. Bolean provides a good Rainbow fishery for trout up
to 2-1/2 lbs.
Bouleau
Lake: Bouleau can be found by travelling along a secondary road approximately
24 km (15 mi) south from the Hwy #97 turnoff. Bouleau Lake is considered
an excellent family lake providing very good numbers of smaller Rainbows
in the 1/2-1 lb range.
Brenda
Lake: Brenda is located about 30 km (19 mi) northwest of the town
of Peachland. Stocked yearly with 2000 Pennask Rainbow, Brenda provides
a good family fishery for trout in the 2 lb range.
Browne
Lake: Browne is approximately 46 km (29 mi) southeast of Kelowna.
Browne is a quality fly fishing only lake which provides a fine Rainbow
fishery for trout up to 2+ lbs with some occasionally reaching up to 7
lbs.
Buck
Lake: From the city of Kelowna travel east on Hwy #33 to the community
of Beaverdell. Buck is located approximately 20 km (12 mi) northeast of
Beaverdell on a rough gravel road that exits off Hwy #33. Buck Lake is
considered a quality lake for Rainbows up to 2+ lbs.
Chain
Lake: Located approximately 40 km (25 mi) northeast of the town of
Princeton. Chain is a very popular lake which provides a great Rainbow
fishery for trout in the 1 to 2 lb range.
Christina
Lake: This lake is located just off of Highway 3 22 km (13.6 mi) east
of Grand Forks. A campground with all facilities and boat launch are provided.
Rainbow trout and kokanee are readily caught while trolling.
Conkle
Lake: From the city of Kelowna travel east on Hwy #33. Stay on Hwy
#33 following it south past the community of Beaverdell. 5 km (3 mi) before
reaching the community of Westbridge turn west (right) off Hwy #33 onto
a gravel road which will take you 21 km (13 mi) to Conkle Lake Provincial
Park. Conkle is maintained as a high use lake and is stocked annually
with 8,000 Rainbow trout. Reports of trout going as high as 4-1/2 lbs.
Copperkettle
Lake: Copperkettle is found approximately 64 km (40 mi) from Westbridge.
Copperkettle is a quality fly fishing only lake that provides fishermen
with Rainbows up to 2+ lbs.
Cup
Lake: Cup is found northeast of Beaverdell on a gravel road which
exits east off Hwy #33. Travel up Beaverdell Creek and turn right onto
a branch road follow this road to Cup Lake. This small, Rainbow stocked
lake provides a good fishery for trout up to 2 lbs.
Dee
Lake: From the city of Kelowna travel north on Hwy #97 to Winfield.
Turn east off Hwy #97 onto the Beaver Lake Road. Follow this road past
Swalwell (Beaver) Lake, and continue a short distance to the Dee Lake
chain of lakes. Dee Lake chain supports good numbers of Rainbow, some
of which will occasionally reach 5 lbs.
Eneas
Lake: Located west of the town of Peachland. Both Big Eneas and Little
Eneas contain Rainbow trout to 2 lbs and remain popular lakes throughout
the fishing season. Limited access.
Echo
Lake: Located approximately 50 km (31 mi) east of Vernon. Follow Highway
6 to Lumby, and turn right onto Creighton Valley Road. Stay on Creighton
Valley Rd. for 22km (14mi) to Echo Lake. Echo lake is located with in
Echo Lake Provincial Park.
Flyfish
Lake (West): From the city of Kelowna travel north on Hwy #97 to Winfield.
Turn east off Hwy #97 onto the Beaver Lake Road. Follow this road past
Swalwell Lake and the Dee Lake chain. Turn right just before Doreen Lake
and travel for about .8 km (.5 mi). This fly only lake is known for its
good Caddisfly hatches and Rainbows up to 4 lbs.
Gardom
Lake: Pass through Enderby and turn left on Hwy #97B. Gardom is accessed
by turning left off Hwy #97B onto a short secondary road. This popular
lake is heavily stocked with both Rainbows and Eastern Brook trout.
Grizzly
Swamp Lake: From the city of Kelowna travel north on Hwy #97 to Winfield.
Turn east onto the Beaver Lake Road. Follow this road past the Dee Lake
chain and Doreen Lake. Travel onto Haddo Lake. Grizzly Swamp is located
just minutes due south of Haddo. Rainbow Trout are the Game Fish at Grizzly
Swamp.
Haddo
Lake: From the city of Kelowna travel north on Hwy #97 to Winfield.
Turn east off Hwy #97 onto the Beaver Lake Road. Follow this road to Doreen
Lake. 3 km (2 mi) past Doreen Lake turn south (right) and follow this
road to Haddo. Haddo is an excellent family lake with good quanities of
Rainbows in the 1-2 lb range.
Harmon
Lake: From Merritt, head south on Hwy #5A. Drive for 17.5 km (10.9
mi) and then turn right onto the Kane Valley Road. Drive 9 km (5.6 mi)
and turn left. From this point you will find many accesses to the lake.
Harmon is a very popular family lake which provides a Rainbow trout fishery
that produces fish up to 2 lbs. throughout the season.
Hatheume
Lake: Hatheume can be reached by travelling west on Hwy #97C from
the town of Peachland. Rainbows aat Hatheume are now being caught in the
2+ lb. range.
Headwater
Lakes (1): Located approximately 29 km (18 mi) northwest of the town
of Peachland. Headwater 1 is the largest lake in the chain and supports
a fine Eastern Brook trout fishery, often reaching 3 lbs or better.
Hidden
Lake: Turn east at Enderby on the road leading to Mabel Lake. Travel
for about 9 km (5.6 mi) and then turn south on a secondary road which
will take you to a fork in the road. Take the left fork and continue on
to Hidden Lake. A quality lake which supports a good Rainbow fishery for
medium to large sized trout. Rainbows up to 7 lbs have been caught at
Hidden.
Holstein
Lake: From Shuswap Falls travel north for about 10 km (6 mi) on the
road to Mabel Lake. Turn east on a gravel road to Holstein. Rehabilitated
in September 1985 and later stocked with Rainbows, fishing is considered
a hit and miss proposition at Holstein.
Hoodoo
Lake: From Beaverdell. Turn east (left) off Hwy #33 onto a gravel
road and follow it to Taurus Lake. Hoodoo is located just north of Taurus
Lake. Trolling, spinning and fly fishing produce good results in this
small Rainbow stocked lake.
Hydraulic
Lake: Hydraulic is approximately 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Kelowna.
This large reservoir lake provides a good Rainbow fishery with trout that
sometimes reach up into the 5 lb range.
Idabel
Lake: Idabel is approximately 38 km (23.5 mi) southeast of Kelowna.
Idabel provides a good Rainbow and Brook trout fishery with trout reaching
up to 2+ lbs.
Island
Lake: From the city of Kelowna travel north on Hwy #97 to Winfield.
Turn east off Hwy #97 onto the Beaver Lake Road. Follow this road pass
Swalwell (Beaver) Lake and continue onto the Dee Lake chain of lakes.
Island provides a good Rainbow fishery for trout up to 2-1/2 lbs.
Jackpine
Lake: To reach Jackpine from Westbank take the road to Last Mountain.
From the city of Kelowna, Jackpine can be accessed by taking the Bear
main logging road up to Lambly Creek. Good Rainbow fishery for trout up
to the 2-3 lb range.
Jewel
Lake: The lake is approximately 23 km (14.3 mi) from Greenwood via
13 km (8 mi) of paved road and 10 km (6 mi) of gravel road. The lake provides
good winter fishery for Brook trout and there is a good balance between
size and catch success.
Jimmy
Lake: Travel to the community of Westwold. Turn south (right) on the
road following Ingram Creek. Travel this road to Jimmy Lake. Rainbows
at Jimmy Lake will reach 6 lbs or better.
Kentucky
Lake: Kentucky is located approximately 60 km (37 mi.) north of the
town of Princeton. Kentucky is considered to be somewhat slow, however
it quite often produces large trout in the 4-5 lb range.
Kidney
Lake: From the city of Vernon travel north on Hwy #97A to Enderby.
Turn east on the Mabel Lake Road. Turn north, just before reaching the
small community of King Fisher on Mabel Lake, onto a gravel road that
follows Dan Forth Creek. Follow this road to Kidney. Kidney supports an
excellent Rainbow fishery for trout up to 5 lbs.
Lambly
Lake: Located approximately 36 km (22 mi) northwest of the town of
Westbank (just south of the city of Kelowna). Stocked with Rainbows, Lambly
is considered a good family fishery for small Rainbows.
Lassie
Lake: From the city of Kelowna, travel east on Hwy #33 to the community
of Beaverdell. Lassie can be found approximately 34 km (21 mi) northeast
of Beaverdell via a gravel road which exits east off Hwy #33 Lassie is
just a few kilometers northwest of Cup Lake. This heavily Rainbow stocked
lake provides a good fishery for trout up to 2+ lbs.
Loon
Lake: From the city of Kelowna travel north on Hwy #97 to Winfield.
Turn east on the Beaver Lake Road and follow it past Swalwell (Beaver),
Dee Lake chain and Doreen Lake. Access to Loon is found just east of Doreen
Lake on your right (south) side. In the past Loon has produced Rainbows
up to 4 lbs.
Mabel
Lake: From Enderby turn east (right) and follow the road about 37
km (23 mi) to King Fisher on Mabel Lake. Mabel is a large lake that provides
a very good fishery for Rainbow, Dolly Varden, Lake trout, Kokanee and
Whitefish. Fish tend to be very large with Rainbows reaching up to 8 lbs
or better, and Lake trout that have been caught up to 18 lbs, Dollies
will reach up to 12 lbs, while Kokanee average 1 to 2 lbs.
Mara
Lake: Located north of the city of Vernon. From Vernon travel north
on Hwy #97A to the community of Enderby. Mara is found on the left (west)
side of Hwy #97A, approximately 22 km (14 mi) north of Enderby. Mara,
like other large lakes such as Mabel and Sugar, offers a good fishery
for Rainbow, Dolly Varden, Kokanee, and Lake trout.
Nevertouch
Lake: Nevertouch is approximately 75 km (47 mi) from Westbridge. Nevertouch
provides a very good Rainbow fishery for trout up to 2 lbs.
Okanagan
Lake: This is the largest lake in the Okanagan Valley. Highway 97
travels along the shoreline from Penticton to Kelowna with lovely communities
between these two cities. Okanagan Lake is world famous as the home of
Ogopogo, but offers good fishing, excellent swimming, boating, water skiing
and other water fun activities. There are many resorts, provincial parks
and campsites up and down both sides of the lake.
Osoyoos
Lake: Lake Osoyoos is 43.5 kilometres long with sandy beaches. On
the edge of the lake, the community of Osoyoos is located in the south
Okanagan at the junction of Highways 97 and 3. A variety of fish are available
including Large Mouth Bass, Trout, Kokanee, Perch and White Fish. There
are three boat launches and several marinas where you can rent boats,
skidoos, or paddle boats. Other recreational opportunities available include
canoeing, swimming, boating, hiking, and waterskiing.
Oyama
Lake: From the city of Kelowna travel north on Hwy #97 to the town
of Oyama. Travel east on a rough gravel road for 15 km (9 mi) to Oyama
Lake.Oyama is a productive lake with lots of feed supporting a quality
Rainbow fishery for trout up to 8 lbs.
Paradise
Lake: The lake can be accessed from the town of Peachland by following
Hwy #97C east to the Elkhart exit and turning north to the lake. Paradise
Lake supports a very good small Rainbow fishery with trout averaging in
the 1/2 lb range. Ocassionally 4-5 lb trout will end up at the end of
your line.
Pennask
Lake: Pennask can be reched by travelling west on Hwy #97C from the
town of Peachland. Fishing on Pennask is consistent throughout the season
for trout to 1-1/2 lbs.
Pillar
Lake: From Falkland, turn north (left) and follow this good 2wd road
to Joyce and Pillar lakes, found on your left side. Pillar can also be
found by travelling north on Hw. #97 from the city of Vernon. Pillar provides
a good Rainbow fishery for trout up to 2+ lbs.
Pinaus
Lake: From the city of Kamloops, travel 27 km. (17 mi.) on Hwy. #1
(Trans Canada Hwy.). Turn south (right) onto Hwy. #97 at the Monte Creek
junction. Travel till you reach Westwold. When leaving Westwold, you only
have to travel a very short distance before coming to the Pinaus Lake
Resort sign on the right side of Hwy 97. (There are two roads off Hwy
97 that will take you to Pinaus Lake please take the first one when coming
from Westwold, as the second road is not maintained.) Follow signs along
Ingrim road to Pinaus Lake Resort. Pinaus Lake supports a good Rainbow
fishery for trout up to 5 lbs.
Postill
Lake is located about 45 minutes north east of the city of Kelowna.
The is located between Kelowna and Winfield on Hwy 97. Postill Lake is
stocked with rainbow trout and offers good catches fly fishing for Rainbow
and Brook trout from 6 to 18 inches. The immediate area is home to six
excellent trout fly fishing lakes: Postill Lake, Twin Lakes, Meadow Lake,
South Lake, Roddy and Heron. Postill Lake Lodge Fishing Resort offers
lakefront cabins equipped with housekeeping facilities, plus lakefront
or upper campsites, motor and boat rentals.
Silver
Lake: Located approximately 20 km (12 mi) northwest of the town of
Peachland by taking the road to Brenda Mines up Peachland Creek. Silver
is stocked, and is a good producer of small rainbows up to 1 lb.
Sugar
Lake: Turn north at Cherryville on the road to Brenda Falls, and travel
for about 17 km (10.5 mi) to the south end of Sugar Lake. Stocked yearly
with 10,000 Gerrard Rainbows, Sugar is reporting good catches of Rainbows
up to 5 lbs Dolly Varden have been caught up to 12 lbs.
Skaha Lake: Located in the South Okanagan
has easy access from the city of Penticton and the town of Okanagan Falls.
Skaha is best known as a tourist destination and a family vacation lake
because of its lovely sandy beaches and windsurfing opportunities.
Tahla
Lake: Located approximately 70 km (43 mi) northwest of the town of
Princeton. Tahla is stocked with Rainbows. This is a very productive fishery,
producing trout in the 2+ lb range.
Taurus
(Bull) Lake: From the city of Kelowna, travel east on Hwy #33. Stay
on Hwy #33, following it past the community of Beaverdell. Turn east (left)
off Hwy #33 onto a rough gravel road, and follow it to Taurus Lake. Stocked
yearly with Rainbows, Taurus is considered a good producer of 2+ lb trout.
Thalia
Lake: Thalia can be found by travelling north on Hwy #5A from the
town of Princeton. Thalia provides a very good Rainbow fishery for trout
that average in the 1-3 lb range. However this lake is also well known
for its large fish as well. Rainbows up to 22 lbs have been caught.
Thone
Lake: Thone is located northeast of Westbridge on a secondary gravel
road which leads right (east), off the main road to Christian Valley.
Stocked yearly with Rainbows, Thone produces good quantities of trout
in the 1+ lb range.
Whitehead
Lake: Whitehead is located west of the town of Peachland. Managed
as a quality lake, Whitehead is stocked annually with 10,000 Rainbows.
This lake supports a good Rainbow fishery capable of producing fish up
to 6 lbs.
Williamson
Lake: This small lake is located 30 km (19 mi) from Greenwood via
25 km of gravel and dirt road. A 4X4 is recommended. Large rainbows are
readily caught using either fly or trolling methods
Wilgress
Lake (Loon Lake): This small lake is located 22.4 km (14.3 mi) west
from Grand Forks on Highway 3. provides the visitor with camping facilities,
boat launch , picnic site and modern restroom facilities. Ice fishing
is good for rainbow and brook trout.
Xenia
Lake: The lake is 30 km (19 mi) north of Grand Forks on gravel road
then 6 km (3.7 mi) by 4X4. Rainbow trout averaging 1 kg (2.2 lb) are readily
caught using trolling or fly fishing methods.
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