What kind of fish are in the lake? 

Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Carp, coarse or non-game fish, Goldfish, Kokanee Salmon, Lake Whitefish, Largemouth Bass, Largescale Sucker, Mountain Whitefish, Northern Pikeminnow (formerly N. Squawfish), Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Sockeye Salmon, Steelhead, Yellow Perch.

Because fish, and particularly salmon, are in the middle of the wildlife food chain they are important indicators of the health of any lake or river.

What problems are they facing?

• Loss of the natural shoreline (riparian habitat) where they lay their eggs and feed. 
• Increases in water temperature caused by loss of shade due to depletion of shoreline vegetation.
• Man-made changes in water flow caused by motorboats and docks.
• Gasoline and oil leaked into the water from boats (one drop of oil can contaminate 100 litres of water: one litre of fuel can contaminate one million litres of water!).
• Introduced species of fish such as bass, whitefish and trout competing with the indiginous species for food.
• Pollution of the water from various sources, eg agricultural runoff (fertilisers, pesticides etc), stormwater runoff, geese droppings, faulty septic tanks, human waste (swimmers etc).
• Pollution from communities further north, flowing into Osoyoos Lake from the Okanagan River. Nutrients, sediment and potentially toxic chemicals accumulate in the lake and are prevented from being flushed downstream by the Zosel dam in Oroville.
• Depletion of creak and stream levels by upstream draw-off.
  
  
  
  

SPORTS FISHING IN OSOYOOS LAKE

Can I fish in Osoyoos Lake?

Yes, it is open to fishing year-round.  Sport fishing in the Okanagan is administered by the government of British Columbia. All persons age 16 and over are required to have a fishing license. Anglers must also be aware of fishing guidelines, closures, quotas, possession limits and gear restrictions. Fishing regulations/licences can be obtained from Osoyoos Shell Station, situated in west Osoyoos at the junction of Hwy 3 & Hwy 97, or you can go online at the Ministry of Environment website.

Where’s the best place to fish?

Near the mouth of Solana Bay on the south side of Motel Row; and at the bridge on Highway 3.  Spring and fall are the best times to catch rainbow trout and salmon, but the bass fishery peaks in the summer.

Can you keep what you catch?

Yes, but regular fishing limits apply according to species.There is a growing trend towards ‘catch and release’, which means there is no limit to the amount of fish you reel in.

Are the fish okay to eat?

Yes, though we recommend you don’t eat large quantities. Not enough is known about the extent to which Osoyoos fish are affected by pollutants in the water.  Some fish from Osoyoos Lake were tested several years ago and found to contain trace amounts of mercury. Similar trace amounts have been found in fish throughout N. America, indicating this is an international problem. The mercury may come from several sources, eg: automobiles dumped in the lake, industrial waste etc.