The BigFishSmallHook Blog

Welcome to BigFishSmallHook.com Freshwater Fishing Journal for fishing the "Best Lakes in BC." Taking a day to fish?... or planning a family fly fishing vacation at any of the trout filled lakes in BC? The BigFishSmallHook.com Vacation blog keeps you up-to-date on the conditions of the interior lakes, what to use and where to find them.

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We focus on fly fishing in the famous "Kamloops lakes" of the South Central Interior and Okanagan, where small lakes grow big fish just waiting for you.

In addition, we would like to keep you informed about fishing in all the other regions with contributions from fishermen like your through our 2010 Freshwater Fishing Journal (and enter the Tobiano - BFSH Journal Golf Draw).

Not only are your fishing stories welcome at the Fishing Journal, they will also show up here on the BBC-blog!

Thanks for visiting and come back often. Tight Lines!!

Ice flies work in open water too

Took a drive past Silentpool lake and Little Zippermouth to Big Zippermouth Lake. I caught some nice ones ice fishing this past winter and wanted to see

Does ice make fish stupid?

Cold weather certainly doesn't make me any brighter so I'm guessing that ice cover makes trout and char(brook trout) less wary and easier to catch.

Magnificent Mazatlan - Deep Sea Fishing

My fishing buddy Wayne sent me some pictures from Mazatlan where he and his brother-in-law took the opportunity to go deep sea fishing. By all accounts,

HALIBUT ON THE FLY???

Recently off the coast of Prince Rupert, B.C., Captain Gord with Water Witch Excursions had the opportunity to use a CUSTOM TIED 12 inch long SQUID TUBE

OCTOPUS ON THE FLY???

Part 2 of the HALIBUT TUBE story by WEBFLYZ B.C.! The SQUID TUBE FLY: THIS PATTERN IS WORKING ALL OVER NORTH AMERICAN WATERS FOR FRESH AND SALT WATER

elbow lake

I had to find a buddy to help me with the boat as I have a busted finger which sucks. Please Like our FaceBook Page... thanks We went out knowing

Amazing Giant Tarpon

Wow! Captain Billy from Florida posted this on his website. http://www.fishhound.com/photo/amazing

Red Lake - Afternoons Are Best

Oct 8, 2011 - I have managed to scoot up to Red Lake twice in the last couple of weeks. The lure of fall brook trout fishing is strong as these beauties

I'm lovin' Campbell Lake

We went fishing to a few lakes in Kamloops,BC in the summer of 2010 but we never had any catch instead of some bites and strikes. It was fun though but

Roche Lake - Sept 28 2011

I hadn't touched a rod for over a week so I was itching to get out for some early fall action. After my last visit to John Frank Lake with KJ, it was definitely

Pass Lake

I would like to thank you for your info on this lake. Please Like our FaceBook Page... thanks I am new to the area and fished a few of the local

John Frank Lake - Roche Lake Provincial Park

Ken and I went to John Frank Lake (near Roche) for an evening fish on Tues, Sept 21... the wind came up but the boatman were flying for a while in the

Hosli Lake Sept 7

My buddy Tom got a hold of me the other night and said that he and another friend Blaine were planning on hitting Hosli Lake for a day of fishing. I got

Leighton Lake "What a Glorious Day for Fishing"

As I dropped the anchor for the first time that day, a tiny voice from the front of my boat sighed ... What a glorious day for fishing My great niece,

August Bake Puts Brakes on Kamloops Fishing Lakes

It's been a warm and dry August (probably the driest on record) and the area fishing has been spotty in the Kamloops fishing lakes. I do believe that they

Tobiano Virgins No More!

It was a long time coming but well worth the wait. I was fortunate enough to be the winner of Mr Big Fish's second draw for a round for 2 at the spectacular

Summer Heat Six Mile Lake

I must say it's been a long time since my last post on here, and would like to say hi to Dave as we haven't spoken in a while. And also a thank you for

Kamloops Fishing - July 25 thru Aug2 2011

Kamloops fishing hit a series of ups and downs during the week of July 25 thru Aug 2 and again, the weather was the story. Summer seemed like it was here

Leighton Lake & a 9 year old

On Sunday, July 24th my 9 year old son and I went to Leighton Lake. It was a gorgeous day, finally Summer Temps and no WIND! Please Like our FaceBook

Kamloops Area Lakes - July 15-24

The weather has been the story this year in the Kamloops Area Lakes as cool, wet weather predominates the forecast. Finally, around July 23 we have gotten

it never fails

This is what happend the very first time Kaitlin and Grampa went fishing. Please Like our FaceBook Page... thanks I have been trying to get my daughter

In Praise of the Prime Pennask

Please Like our FaceBook Page... thanks I went fishing this morning, July 15, and was fortunate enough to catch a trophy rainbow. The fish was slightly

Pass Lake Poachers

Just about every time that I go to Pass Lake these days, I see people who are using illegal gear like lures, bait and trolling gear. If I see them, I cordially give them a heads up and people usually comply (at least until they get away from me at the boat launch).

On Saturday, I saw a dad, mom (foul mouthed as she was) and 2 boys trolling. I know that the mom and the kid had lures on and the dad was getting hit after hit on his sinking line (never saw him cast) while no one else was getting a thing... made me think). I also saw another couple and their kid going out at the launch with illegal gear.

My suggestion is that 2 things need to happen to protect this wonderful resource...

#1... we need more enforcement... the tattle-tale philosophy doesn't work well when you are recognizing the problem on the lake... (we can't be expected to follow them and wait until they leave the lake so we can get their vehicle license plate # ...can we?)

#2... law abiding fishermen need to tactfully mention to these people that they are fishing with gear that is against the regulations... This way, at least there is a feeling of accountability... usually, most people will comply... report those that don't.

In addition, I have never seen more dead (mishandled) fish on the bottom as I have seen this year... this is a good indication of use of illegal gear, including not pinching the barbs and lack of reviving the fish adequately prior to releasing them.

So, I ask my fellow fisherpersons to keep an eye out for illegai fishing and speak up. In turn, I suggest that some day, maybe, perhaps, the provincial gov't can start enforcing it's own laws and not have to rely on individuals playing the snitch role...

(ps... this post will show up on the BigFishSmallHook Facebook Page... feel free to visit it and comment... thanks)

Ego Booster at Campbell Lake July 5

BC Boating License from Boater Exam Although we have caught a moderate amount of fish recently, KJ and I thought that we would boost our egos by going

short day at baird lake

Please Like our FaceBook Page... thanks This was my first solo trip of the year so far. I decided that I was gonna try to unlock the secrets of Baird

Community Lake Caddis Fly July 2 2011

Please Like our FaceBook Page... thanks Saturday was supposed to be the nicest day of the Canada Day Long Weekend and KJ and I wanted to try a lake

yellow lake

Yellow Lake Purple Peace Beach Camp site lake off the rocks you can cast off shore or on shore in to the water or in to the beach lake water I caught

Kootenay Lake - June 17

Reel Adventures Fishing Report (June 17)(note: this article was passed on to us via email) One word, Unbelievable !!! What can I say. My favorite month

Roche Lake June 26

KJ and I decided to take advantage of an early major feed and we went to Roche Lake. I tend to avoid Roche on the weekends but we hadn't been there yet

Batstone Lake - June 14

It was that time of the year again that I migrate south of Merritt to celebrate my buddy Wayne's birthday with a fly fishing visit to Batstone Lake at

T'is the Season for...

If you are hitting the Kamloops Area lakes this next week there are 3 fly patterns that you definitely need...

1) Chironomids - #10's to #18's; black/grey/green or brown with red or silver rib
2) Mayfly: nymphs and emergers - no weighted heads, let them float in the breeze on your dry line and occasionally mend your line... just after you mend... watch for the hit.
3) Damsel Nymphs - the cooler weather has held back the emergence of these lovelies but the trout are now looking for them. I usually fish these on a dry line and long leader or on an intermediate sinking line if I am over a clear bottom. Hold on tight.

Watch for post on "Batstone Lake" next week as KJ, Wayne (Penticton) and I will be merging there for DU engineering inspection and a day of water studies.

Best-in-British-Columbia Fishing Vacations Blog

Roche Lake Area

BC Fishing Resorts Batstone Lake

BC Investment Property

Mountain View Acreages for Sale - Osoyoos, BC

the BC Fishing Regulations.

Scuitto Lake - May 29

KJ and I headed up to the Campbell range last Sunday for a stab at Scuitto Lake... and as usual, there was a herd of people there, mostly fishing in the

Pass Lake Porky - May 24

Jeff and I wound up our 3 days of fishing at Pass Lake. Please LIKE our Facebook Page... Thanks! It wasn't the nicest of days, the wind was swirling

Red Lake-May24

Since we (Jeff and I) were staying at Tobiano, we decided to take the Sabiston Lake Forestry Road from west of Kamloops Lake into Red Lake. It's quite

Six Mile Lake - 05.23.11

Fishing with Jeff My nephew Jeff, who lives in Regina, paid a visit last week. It seems he was forced to take some holidays so he figured that it was

Houseboat the Shuswap

Houseboat the Shuswap - Just west of the Rogers Pass along the Trans Canada Highway (one of the most scenic drives in

Micro Leech - Fly Fishing Technique

Drylining a Micro Leech is an interesting fly fishing technique to emerge in the Kamloops Lakes over recent years. Fish this trout fly pattern in shallow water with a strike indicator

Pass Lake and Red Lake Both Slow

I got out fishing twice in the last week... last Thursday at Pass Lake with my friend Army... it turned into an ugly day with rain and a strong east wind.

friday fishing adventure

This past Friday the 13th, me and my wife Christine decided to go fishing.I gave her several choices including Skimiken, Gardom, Joyce, Pillar, and Dale

Pass Lake - Chironomids Slow, Leeches So-So

KJ and I invaded Pass Lake on Friday, May 6, mid afternoon. The lake was ice free and there were a few more people fishing than earlier in the week.

Pass Lake 60% Ice Free - Fly Fishing Productive

I went back to Pass Lake yesterday expecting to see wide open water... I was sure disappointed when I showed up and it appear to be about 75% covered.

Pass Lake Still Ice Covered - Apr30

I made a quick trip up to Pass Lake on Saturday, April 30 and to no surprise, the lake was still 95% ice covered... that's a far cry from it's opening

Six-Mile-Lake-05.01.11

Sunday, May 1 was a beautiful day and it was my only opportunity to fly fish for rainbow trout this weekend. I arrived at the lake just after 11am

Six-Mile-Lake-04.24.11

The weather report said that it was going to be a so-so day weather wise. On Facebook? ... we thank you to click the Like button below KJ and I originally

Morgan Lake First Fish of the Season

I was struck with cabin fever like you wouldn't believe. Every time I went to work on my computer to get some real work done... I would end up tying a

Skunked at Deep Lake April 20, 2011

My wife and I strapped the baby on our back and hiked into Deep Lake to check it out. It was a beautiful walk in with buttercups blooming everywhere.

Spring Transition - Ice Fishing to Open Water Fishing

I have been on a bit of a Southern BC tour this past week which included a trip to the East Kootenays to do a little ice fishing at Whiteswan Lake.

2011.04.03 Waiting for ice to melt

It's been a long winter and so far the only small lakes near Kamloops to go ice free are Six Mile and Morgan. Not wanting to be part of a shore to shore

Blackwell Lake B.C

Not much of a story here. Just some real good fishing. Haven't caught a fish in awhile? The hike is worth it. I have never been skunked going to that