I think I caught Walters Cousin

by Kevin Leitner
(Penticton bc Canada)

Fishing Okanagan Lake

Fishing the Okanagan Lake has been skeptical the last 6 years, From catching 6 to 10 fish (bows and kokanee) one day ,and the next day or even week no fish. I will not give, not me, a fisherman who has probably been in or on water most of my life , I dream of catching "walter" or someone of relation to him (or her).

My biggest fish I've seen caught in this lake(
one worth keeping, the karp in this lake are another awesome story) was a 5 pound rainbow caught by me the year earlier middle of summer outside of the Summerland Yacht Club the only day in august it was raining and calm all day, gold spoon 70 feet deep in 130 feet of water beautiful chrome rainbow. I've also seen quite a few pictures of 6 to 13 pound trout, well this fish me and my brother caught will get any avid die hard fisherman going.

I have 2 brothers that not often enough come up to see me from the coast ,the older of the 2, Jason, came up while injured from work for a guided 3 day fishing show down on Okanagan lake, luckily he came up during the week so there is no interference from the yahoos on the lake. The previous week, I had to scout out the area I was bound to fish over and over again, to nary any success apex worked well so I continued to run full apex gear all day everyday. I was out only to catch the odd straggler on top.

Jay came up and asked me "so hows the fishing Kev"? I reply, "awesome Jay there hitting almost anything". You are all probably thinking how can I lie to my bro? Its just how it is ok fishing lies are good. My bros heart is racing at this point. We will hit pyramid point and trout creek and the pen sign the next depending how it goes the first day.

We went out around 4 pm every evening (I had to work all day). To no avail the first two evenings fishing was poor because of strong wind. My 16 foot fiberglass can take a beating but wind just makes fishing a little stressful being in a lake where you can have 4 foot chop in seconds.

Well going home with just a buzz everynight really got Jay down . I know "Walter" is down there Jay we just have to put our time in. An old man I met years ago when I just moved here and he was in a car top rowing from Naramata to Shaughnessys cove one day and i talked to him for a bit. I was amazed he rowed first of all secondly in a car top?? wow!! Not saying much to him, I listening to every word, soaking all the info he had, peeking at his rods to see 30 year old plugs on his 40 year old rods. We talked alot about "walter and his family" laughing and he said in a pause of seriousness "I'll catch a good fish every 100 hours I put in on the lake". I almost shit my pants, I was like what!! I fish the Fraser River for an hour and I have a 6 foot 100 pound sturgeon on my 25 pound test, It did amaze me how elusive those big bows still are after 6 great years fishing this lake.

We headed out for the last evening for it to yet again blow right at our faces. As soon as we get out we make one pass and turn out in the middle coasting back trolling so fast the rigger cable is just humming like music to our ears. We were happy with what we caught and during the discussion I looked at the cable line (I see bites on the cable before I see bites on the rod tip, weird i know). The cable line jolted so hard both rods went "ping" off there supports like i just hooked on a massive log under water. I cut the engine immediately.

Turning around to the back of the boat I see a fish 150 feet behind the boat jumping like he's on fire. I reeled in the other lines and then the downrigger while Jay had a fish of his life. His only words were "its a good one its over 4 ". "Ok Jay lets do this" I say. His fish means more than a 1969 Mach 1 means to car lovers. Its my family's sanctuary to be on the water.

This rainbow came and went over 5 times screaming line for 15 to 30 second on 6 pound main. Finally getting him near the boat I saw him rolling out of 15 loops he wrapped himself in during his rampage. I got the net wet we knew he was ready and I scooped him up and in the boat and screamed for joy. 27 inches 7.4 pound female bow! on a med green apex off a gang trolled rigger cable 66 feet deep in 280 feet deep of water.

The only thing that I have to say now is "I need a bigger NET".