Kootenay Lake Angler Incentive Program

Adult kokanee populations in Kootenay Lake have collapsed in the past five years. Recent data show some improvements (e.g., 2019 spawner numbers doubled 2018, and are projected to rise even higher in fall 2020); however, survival estimates for the youngest kokanee in the lake remain low. Predator (i.e., rainbow trout and bull trout) consumption of kokanee still outstrips kokanee supply in Kootenay Lake. Now is a critical time to reinforce previous kokanee recovery actions, and angler harvest will have the biggest positive impact for kokanee recovery on Kootenay Lake.

The target of the program is to increase rainbow trout and bull trout harvest in the Main Body of Kootenay Lake from the 2015-2019 average harvest of 50% of fish that anglers land, to 90% harvest, and to increase fishing effort by 10%. This would yield increases of an additional ~1,400 bull trout and ~3,100 rainbow trout harvested in one year. These are notable increases from the ~4,000 rainbow trout and ~1,900 bull trout harvested annually in 2017-2019 in Kootenay Lake. This level of additional harvest will save ~6.5 tonnes of kokanee from being consumed and translate into faster recovery as more kokanee will survive to spawn, providing more kokanee eggs for the next generation.

No, the total exploitation rate (i.e., the % harvest of the total adult population) for both rainbow trout and bull trout is predicted to be 15% with the additional harvest from the program. Since these fish populations saturate their spawning habitat at substantially reduced abundances than their current abundance, we do not expect that this additional exploitation from the program will reduce the number of juveniles produced in the next generation.

Anyone can participate.

The regulations are as follows:

• Bull trout daily quota = 3 any size
• Rainbow trout daily quota = 5 (2 over 50 cm)
• Rainbow trout >50cm = annual quota of 10
• Bull and rainbow trout quotas are separate (combined daily quota = 8)

Barbed hooks are permitted.

Please note: You are required to purchase a Kootenay Lake Conservation Surcharge Stamp if you plan on harvesting any rainbow trout over 50 cm in length.

Fish that are caught in the West Arm do not qualify for the draw. Bull trout harvested from the Duncan River do qualify for the draw. Please ensure that the rainbow trout and bull trout that you submit into the draw were caught only in the Main Body of Kootenay Lake, or bull trout from the Duncan River. We will be collecting fish samples from all draw entries, and Ministry fish biologists will verify the eligibility of fish which draw winners submit, and may genetically test fish, to confirm eligibility.

The regulations are as follows:

• Rainbow trout release
• Bull trout daily quota = 2 any size
• Bull trout release November 1- March 31
• No fishing downstream of Duncan Dam to the confluence of the Duncan River and Lardeau River

After angling, return home and remove and place the fish heads that you wish to submit into the draw separately into bags. When you are ready, return the fish heads to any of the Angler Incentive Program depots (see locations below). Please bring the bagged heads into the depot and approach the depot attendant for further instruction.

You can submit fish heads anytime. Please note that you will only be eligible for the monthly draw during the month that you submit the fish head (i.e., if you submit the fish head in July 2020, you will be eligible for the July 2020 monthly draw). In addition, that draw card will also get entered into the grand prize draw.

You can submit fish heads to:

• Woodbury Resort and Marina (4112 B.C. Highway 31, Woodbury)
• Gill and Gift Balfour (450 Ferry Landing Road, Balfour)
• Crawford Bay Market (16050 B.C. Highway 3A, Crawford Bay)
• Wynndel Foods and Outdoors (5128 B.C. Highway 3A, Wynndel).

The program launches on June 1, 2020 and will end on June 1, 2021.

The BC Wildlife Federation’s website: bcwf.bc.ca/kootenay-lake-angler-incentive-program

We will award a monthly prize on the first of every month, starting July 1, 2020 until June 1, 2021. We will award the grand prize after June 1, 2021.

The monthly prizes are gift certificates and gifts valued at $1,000 each, and the grand prize an 18’ Kingfisher boat with a 115 hp Yamaha engine!

Yes, if you win a monthly prize, your ticket will go back into the draw for the grand prize.

1. Anyone 16+ can enter the draw with a freshwater fishing licence.
2. All provincial fishing regulations must be adhered to.
3. Sample cards must be included with sample. They must be filled out completely indicating angler number, Youth (if under 16) or First Nations, draw ticket number and signature.
4. Only fish caught in the main lake and lower Duncan River are eligible. (West Arm fish not eligible).
5. Fish captured while fishing for scientific purposes are not eligible for draw.
6. Each main lake harvested rainbow trout or bull trout head returned to a depot is eligible for a draw ticket which will be entered in the monthly draw valued at $1,000 at the first of every month starting July 1, 2020.
7. All monthly draw tickets will be collected and entered into the Grand Prize draw in June 2021
8. The draw winners will be required to answer a skill testing question.
9. The winner will be posted on BCWF website.
10. Unclaimed prizes after thirty days will result in a second draw.
11. The fish(s) caught by draw winners may be tested for DNA to confirm the fish was caught from the main part of Kootenay Lake.