FISHING REPORT

Fishing Report for May 21, 2006:

Kootenay Lake:

Kootenay Lake is fishing excellent right now.  Of course not all days are big fish days, but we're getting fish every day out, and the chances of a rainbow over 10lbs are excellent.

This last week I spent a few days guiding on one of the tugboats on Kootenay Lake.  Old college buddies who have gotten together for the last 16yrs for an annual fishing trip had rented a tugboat for this years trip, and hired me to help them catch some fish.  The weather is just perfect the whole trip for cruising and fishing around Kootenay Lake, with lots of sun, and highs around 28 degrees.

Day 1 starts at 2:30pm, and we head out till early evening, boating a couple of bull trout to 9lbs.  We thought we had a monster on when Randy was bringing in the 9 pounder, as this fish peeled off a ton of line and was very hard to get in.  Turned out it was hooked in the tail. What a battle.

Day 2 we head north of Kaslo.  Not a bite for the first 2 hours, and I'm starting to get a little squirmy when the downrigger at 28ft. thumps a couple of times and then pops free.  Fish On!  Owen leaps from the top deck, and grabs the rod.  A little while later we net a fat 15lb bull trout.  The day continues great as we get another six fish to 7lbs to the boat that day.

Day 3 we start out of Kaslo and head south. I get the rods set up.  A nice chop, so I had four bucktails set out.  I sit down, and 5 minutes later I see the planer board line shoot back 15 ft. and release.  Line starts peeling of the reel, Bob grabs the rod, and I start yelling out orders to stop the tug and help me get these lines in we got a big one.  This fish has got some weight to him, and he pulls off a ton of line, stopping only to jump a few times.  Bob works this fish like a pro, and after what seems like an eternity, we finally see it 20ft. down looking like a chrome bar glistening in the sun.  Lots of tense moments at the back of the tug, as she dosn't like to get close to the boat, and my net is about a foot or two short for the long reach down to the water.  Finally she swims into the net, and the hook falls out of it's mouth.  Nice job Bob!!!  She weighed in at 18lbs - what a fish!!!!.....and what an awesome trip!

Tight Lines ... Brad
www.kootenaykingfisher.com
1-800-838-5269

Mail:        Kootenay KingFisher Guiding Services
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