Map of The Day: June 15, 2016

Bardolph Lake is a small lake east of Vernon with lots of rainbow trout to catch. The lake has been stocked every year since 1968 and usually with fall fry. In 2015, 1,500 trout were stocked here. Early spring is a great time to fish Bardolph Lake, and the ice is usually off fairly early. Nick Pace, owner of Trout Waters Fly and Tackle in Kelowna, recommends bloodworms and chironomids early in the season. Using a bobber (strike indicator), fish these fly patterns in about 16 to 18 feet of water with the fly dangled less than a foot off the bottom. Other popular fly patterns include micro-leeches and dragonfly nymphs, says Pace. Lure fishers may want to troll with standard gear such as Willow Leafs and Wedding Bands. A good spot to start is directly out from the recreation site. The northwest side of the lake can be weedy, providing great trout habitat. Shoal areas are other good places to concentrate and can be particularly rewarding here. To learn more about fly fishing lakes in the Okanagan drop by Trout Waters Fly and Tackle, check out their store, and talk to their helpful staff. LAKE ACCESS From Kelowna, follow Highway 97 north to Vernon and turn right (east) onto Highway 6. Continue for roughly 20 kilometres to Coldstream Creek Road on the left (north). Follow this road about 3 km to a crossroad and turn right (east) taking you across Coldstream Creek. The turnoff to Bardolph Lake is on the right (south) about one kilometre from the crossroad turnoff. Beware: there are numerous side roads enroute to the lake which make it easy to get lost. We suggest getting a good map of the area before heading out. The road is very bumpy but Pace says it is accessible by most 2WD vehicles. There is a small recreation site on the northern shore of the lake. There is a cartop boat launch and space for a few tent pads.