January Fishing report

(we left the christmas on a little longer this year becase people were calling in to say leave it until they show their pals the poem.... but enough  is enough.... Happy New Year Everyone...

Happy New Year to all the fishermen on Kootenay Lake.

As keeping with the tradition of New Year predictions we at the Gill and Gift predict a 30lb rainbow in 2012. What are we basing this on you ask? Well over the last year we have seen some big fish come in 24, 26, 27, lbers. The lake supports a healthy population of Kokanee and we have had a few unsubstantiated reports of fish close to that 30lb range. Since last fall Splitshot Charters alone has landed 10 rainbows over 20 lbs. which puts him ahead of last year’s pace of 18 over 20.

With the water temp being around 40 degrees the big rainbows are slowing down and depending on the day could be anywhere in that top 40 feet.  That being said the fish finders are showing all kinds of fish in that 100 foot area as well. We are finding that the flies are doing the damage one day and then Billies the next and when neither one is working the Lymans nor the flasher/hoochie combos on the downrigger may be the ticket. So fly wise the 215, Nov spec., Russ’s favorite, and bleeding gill. Billies have been the Black splat (salt & pepper) Rainbow Trout, black/chrome, purple/chrome and some Tennessee shad in the chrome or white body. With the Lymans the old favorite #16, 160 in the old color and 160 in the new.  The new 160 has a black back rather than the maroon.  Speed on the flies below 3mph, Lymans 2-2.5mph, the Billies and the  flasher/ hoochies 1.8mph

On New Year’s Day we have a fun derby were all participants throw $20 into the pot and the longest Dolly and the longest Rainbow split the prize. This year’s derby saw 3 fish being measured the winning Dolly was caught by Oz Faires at 29 1/2inches and the longest Rainbow by Robert D’Pietro measuring in at 29 3/4 inches.  So the fish stretcher award goes to Eugene Tompkins at 29 ½ inches and there was no other Dolly measured in. We had 43 entrants this year and a fun time was had by all.

Keep your hats on guys this is going to be a great winter of fishing.

It is the 3rd week on January already... where does the time go?  Fall has finally left the area and the winter snow has set in... January 29th and the prediction is anywherre from 17 to 40 cm this week depending on what channel you are on.

Lots of fellas out fishing and the billies are running hot and heavy... Just got a big shipment in and we are in the midst of altering them so they are hangin all over the cournters. As long as we can keep them out of Margarets long hair we  will get  them into the packages this week.

Black splat and rainbows seem to be the most popular at the moment .

Meanwhile here is a local guide's view of a good fishing day in January.....

photo courtesy of Kerry Reed

for more photos click    

     Last Derby results..MAY 2011  

    Bill King Derby

CONGRATULATIONS to the Winner of the 16th annual Bill King Rainbow derby, Cody Brown with his 32 and 3-8'' long Gerrard Rainbow Tout.

and to our 2nd place  winner Jim Walz with his 32 inch Gerrard

and our final winner with 3rd place fish measuring 31.5 inches

THEN.......

There is a spot that deserves a little recognition and it is usually called honourable mention....but....at Gill and Gift and the Bill King Derby we call it the 1st Loser Award ... a coveted spot that puts anxiousness in its place and yeilds a modest but cheeringly distinctively unwanted spot .  The recipient of this award is a great sport and takes the brunt of the derby ribbing on his shoulders as he earns his very valuable spot in the 1st Losers Club along with celebrities such as "Hoagie the Great".  The  LUCKY FISHING SHIRT may help and the fish stretcher can't hurt.    These guys may have to have a special table at future events.  Near congratulations 'to Bainbridge the Bonker' and his special win and as Brownie puts it 'one devil of a fish'.

Special thanks to Nathan and the staff at the Balfour Beach Inn for letting us take over the pub for the afternoon

Our prize sponsors in no particular order are:

Seapro Distributors                                Shimano- Deep Blue Sales

Tomic Lures                                            Woodbury Resort

Jimmy Zees                                             Epic Lures

Lyman Lures                                           G&H Outdoors                                  

Kootenay Fly Co.                                      Taylor Wilton

Lancer Marine                                          Kootenay Lake Ferry                              

Jones Boys                                            Split Shot Charters

Heritage House                                        Gill and Gift

Direct Plus Foods                                     RedL

Classy Imports                                                                              

 Juat a few more pictures that made it to the web page today:

Joanne Vale with the first fish in on Saturday Morning at 28 3/4 inches... a beautiful healthy bow

and the double header that took first winner and first loser awards caught in the Kootenay Fly Company Boat.

 & a thumbs up from the boys