Fishing on Arrow Lake during the winter months can be a rewarding experience for avid anglers and even those who are not so avid lake trollers or winter fishers.
Lower Arrow Lake is a reservoir on the Columbia River backed up by Hugh Keenleyside Dam just north of Castlegar, and a short 30-minute drive from Trail.
Recently, I left the fly rod at home and joined three friends on an excursion to Lower Arrow Lake to troll for big bull trout and rainbows.
Low water and dam fluctuations, plus sub-zero temperatures can make fishing a challenge on the Arrow in winter.
I am very fortunate to have friends that have the tools and the acumen for fishing in cold winter weather conditions. It was -7C when we pushed off at around 7 a.m., but within the first hour we landed a six-pound bull trout.
The bull shook its head in contempt several times and made several short runs but was eventually landed and released. A good start to a good day.
Trolling tools: We hooked the bull on a flasher and hoochie set up, an effective trolling method on large West Kootenay lakes.
The flasher attracts fish by mimicking the movement of prey, combined with a hoochie, a squid-like lure. The flasher creates a visual stimulus that draws fish from a distance, while a scented hoochie entices them to bite.
Both the flashers and hoochies come in a variety of colours and themes, and finding the right combination for current conditions is key to success.
We used the set up on downriggers at depths ranging from 40 to 140 feet.
Bill Norman plugs are another popular choice for winter fishing on Arrow Lake. These versatile lures are designed to mimic baitfish.
Their lifelike action and bright colors are particularly effective in the clear, cold waters of the Arrow.
When the water is just a few degrees above freezing, it is crucial to troll slowly, maintaining a speed of around 1.5-2 mph. In cold water conditions, trout metabolism slows down, and they become less active, yet they continue to feed on kokanee and other prey.
We caught a second bull trout a short time later on another flasher-hoochie combo. The seven-pounder stayed deep, pulled hard and put up a good fight.
The bull trout were in beautiful shape, fat and healthy, cream coloured with the tell-tale blue halos and pink dots along its flanks.
We had another strike around 1 p.m., but the trout snapped the line leaving us dumbfounded and impressed.
But an hour or two later, a massive trout hit the Bill Norman and took off for Nakusp.
I had the good fortune of reeling in this beast as well. The fight was very different from the bulls, as the trout made several sideways runs, but didn’t break the surface until it was at the boat, and we realized it was a rainbow trout.
A big and girthy 9.1-pound chrome rainbow trout.
We thought it was a triploid it was so wide, but to the best of our knowledge, there is no stocking of the genetically modified trout in the Columbia or the Arrow.
Just a great fish on a great day.
Thanks to Mike, Kyle, and Derek for an amazing day on the water, and look forward to the next outing.
Because every day is a great day when you are fishing the Columbia.
