Road to lake

Muddy shallow boat launch (depending on weather). Don't get stuck!

Paved launch with dock. Concrete blocks in the water that bounce the trailer around a bit.

Kawkawa Lake, just outside the District of Hope, is one of several lakes in Region 2 where anglers can find 25- to 35-centimetre kokanee. Kokanee are landlocked sockeye salmon, much prized for their deep red-coloured flesh and superb flavour. The lake is productive from opening day on March 1st until mid-summer. While fish can be caught occasionally from the floating dock at the boat launch, the lake is best fished from a boat. Kokanee are soft biters, so the more sensitive your setup is, the more likely you will catch one. Ideal setups are an ultra-light spinning rod or a 3/4-weight fly-fishing rod. A size 6 hook baited with krill, cooked deli shrimp, or single salmon eggs works best for these delicious scrappers. Small artificial lures (like spoons and spinners) can also be effective, especially those with some pink or red. On a sunny day, kokanee typically feed near the bottom. Anchor your boat in 10 to 15 metres of water (in this situation, a depth sounder can be very helpful). On cloudy days, fish are often active near the surface; you can either fish with bait suspended under a bobber, troll small lures, or fly-fish with chironomids (or even dry flies). Expect non-stop action if a school of fish presents itself nearby! Original Post: https://www.gofishbc.com/Blog/Where-to-Fish/Five-Springtime-Fishing-Hot-Spots-in-the-Lower-Mai.aspx

Local Lakes Report

June 29, 2016 The weather forecasts are looking much better these days and so are the fishing predictions. At this time of year we do get the benefit of cool evenings and warm daylight hours which is ideal on the lake scene. The fish are active, meaning they are eating and therefore fishing can be very good. Just remember that the fish feed during the day on their schedule that is related to weather, sun, cloud, wind, barometric pressure and moon phase. This is why they call it fishing and not catching. If the weather is good the fishing is better.The smaller lakes like Deer, Hicks, Kawkawa will be good choices this week as most of them will be. Pick your favourite and go have fun. Just a reminder that the Skagit River and Ross lake will open on July 1st. Water levels are good on the river. This system has some very good Trout and Dolly fishing. Make sure you take some bug spray. The bigger lakes like Chilliwack Lake are certainly a good option. The bigger lakes have bigger fish and they tend to be more consistant and dependable all around. Deeper lakes stay cooler and the fishing can be very good when the sun comes out. Trolling fish imitations can produce some good sized Trout and Char. Try using Williams Wobblers in gold, silver or 50/50 or zombie max lures. They catch fish that like to eat smaller fish. Check out the action on these and you will see why they work so well Report reposted from: http://www.fredscustomtackle.com/#!fishing-report/e4jvy

Kawkawa Report

"Kawkawa Lake has been reasonably good for salmon. It has been difficult to find fish on the bottom by using bait, but anglers have been doing well by trolling." Full Lower Mainland reports: http://fishingwithrod.com/fishing_report/

Lake of the Day June 9: Kawkawa Lake, BC

Red, red, and more red is what you want for Kawkawa Lake. This popular kokanee lake is a great spring fishery right from the end of March, if the ice is off. Rick Passek, author and fly fishing teacher, says that anything red and small will work here. He suggests size 12 or 14 red micro-leeches. “Troll your micro leeches on a type 3 sink line. Once you find your school of kokanee, hang a 20 foot line on a strike indicator, chironomid style.” Kokanee are always moving, he says, so troll around until you find them. Gear fishers can use small, red Apex lures, or Flatfish. Use a 30-inch leader behind a small red flasher. Passek notes that spinners are okay, but the flatfish and the apex will succeed far better in Kawkawa Lake. At one point, Kawkawa Lake was stocked with rainbow trout and cutthroats. Now, however, it is predominantly a kokanee fishery. Passek’s website, The FlyFish Fanatic, is a good resource for fly fishers. There, you can also order copies of his books, "The Freshman Flyfisher" and "The Freshman Flyfisher's Guide to Insects." Fly fishing success will improve immeasurably when you know your insects. Visit theflyfishfanatic.com for more information. LAKE ACCESS Kawkawa Lake is located near Hope. Follow Highway 1 east to exit 170, turning onto the old Hope-Princeton Highway and continue for nearly two kilometres to Seventh Ave. Kawkawa Lake Road is about half a kilometre from the turnoff. There is parking, a boat launch and a picnic area at the southern bay.

Fishing for Kokanee

Video from Rod Hsu (Fishing with Rod, www.fishingwithrod.com) about his kokanee fishing trip: http://www.fishingwithrod.com/video/video_blog/2013/03-10-spring-kokanee.html