http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/sports/fishing/float-tube-fishing-the-ultimate-bc-fly-fishing-experience.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/fishing/float-tube-fishing-the-ultimate-bc-fly-fishing-experience.html Sun, 06 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Belly boating or float tubing is a whole new experience. The best thing is how relaxing it can be especially when you have the opportunity to anchor or drift. If you are lucky (and most lakes in the Kamloops area are like this) you will get to witness eagles, ospreys and waterfowl at a closer range because they are less bothered by your intrusion. Wildlife like bear, deer, moose or coyotes often come to waters edge to relieve their thirst.

There are lots of lakes throughout BC that are accommodating to float tube fishing. To make the experience as enjoyable as possible there are a few considerations to review such as access. Access to the lake and on to the lake are probably most important factors when choosing your fishing body of water.

Here are some important factors when considering your belly boating fishing trip. It pays to be prepared when looking for float tube fishing locations. Please make sure to check the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations before you head out to any lake, stream or river.


1. Prospects - I first decide whether I want lots of fish or big fish. The two are occasionally synonomous however I have learned not to stretch my expectations. I'd rather be surprised.

Personally, I've caught lots of fish, so I relish in the prospects of catching big fish, even if it means going to catch and release only lakes. The Kamloops Area and Roche Lake Area in BC have many lakes that have limited bag limits (including catch and release only). Usually these lakes have trophy sized fish and are harder to catch. However, for the fisherman who likes to eat their catch, there are also many opportunities to catch many fish with some reasonable sized fish.

2. Access to the lake body - we are looking for a smooth, tapering launch. No sense in slogging through mud, rocks and sticks that result in getting stuck in the mud with your fins or damaging your waders or tube. Another consideration is access to the shore from different parts of the lake. Looking after 'personal business' requires getting to a landing quickly and peeling down the waders. When the water is cold, this event can spring up on you quickly.

3. Access to prime locations on the lake - the smaller the lake the better. Float tubes are not known for their speed (pontoon boats are quicker) so you want to get to the prime fishing spots (shoals, drop-offs, weed beds) as soon as possible.

4. Suscepibility to wind - Wind is the single most annoying factor while float tubing fishing. You don't have the advantage of sitting high in a boat and casting distances can be considerably shorter. It is important to me to be able to find some shelter from whatever direction the wind is blowing. Look for odd shaped lakes with sheltered bays. Waves created by wind can also be a challenge when trying to return to your vehicle, so keep this in mind when wandering a long way from your launch site.

5. Vehicle Access to the Lake - paved, gravel or 4x4. The nice thing about a float tube is that it can be easily deflated enough to fit in a car, car trunk or other two-wheel drive vehicle. Many of the lakes in the Interior are quite accessible by 2 wheel drive vehicles. On the other hand, there are no shortage of 4x4 or hike in lakes that are willing to reward the adventurous.

Visit here for a list of some of my favorite float tube fishing lakes in BC.

Enjoy the relaxation, tight lines and enjoy your BC fly fishing vacation whatever lake you are at.

BFSH Internet Marketing - Copyright 2007 - all rights reserved





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Best Fly Fishing Lakes in BC - Kamloops Area

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/science/environment/vaseaux-lake-wildlife-area-a-ducks-unlimited-canada-special-project.html http://www.articletrader.com/science/environment/vaseaux-lake-wildlife-area-a-ducks-unlimited-canada-special-project.html Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500
The nearby area also includes Vaseux Lake Provincial Park and Okanagan Falls Provincial park as well as the provincially protected area (non-park), California Big Horn Sheep Wildlife Viewing and Information Site. This area is host to the largest California Big Horn Sheep herd in Canada.

Building Vaseux Wetlands - Brief History Prior to the construction of the viaduct, the Okanagan River migrated through the valley, providing fresh water creating a natural ecological balance between wetland and lake. With the demand for a more efficient, agricultural water supply and the ability to re-claim riverside land for agricultural purposes, the viaduct was built. The river now by-passed the marsh and dumped directly into Vaseaux Lake. This action eliminated the fresh flow of water to the wetland and left it only to receive local seepage through naturally sandy soils or backflood from the lake during spring runoff. This created a stagnant wetland that encouraged excessive vegetation growth.

The wetland literally choked itself with vegetation leaving too much cover and not enough open water for nesting waterfowl. In addition, there was still a water level fluctuation problem that tended to overturn or flood nests during the critical nesting season resulting in less waterfowl egg survival.

Through the co-operation of local landowners and water licensee's, Ducks Unlimited took control of the marsh by installing a dam, water control structure and pumping system to stabilize the wetland during nesting periods. An added benefit would be that the higher water level creates more open water areas with immediate cover from predators.

After a few years a controlled burn was done in the winter to again eliminate the existing choking vegetation to enhance nesting opportunities for birds.

Vaseux Lake itself is a very good fishing lake famous for its big largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and good sized rainbow trout. See our Bass Fishing page for more on Vaseaux Lake. The Vaseaux Lake area also may contain one of the highest concentrations of rattlesnakes, especially at the north end of the lake where the Ducks Unlimited dam intersects with the Okanagan River dyke and viaduct.

When the Ducks Unlimited dam was constructed, a number of large boulders where place where it joined the dyke to prevent vehicle access. Every year as the heat increases and the vegetation grows thick the rattlesnakes move from the hot rock hillside and take shelter in the long cool grasses and convenient shelter created by the boulders.


NOTE: It is highly recommended that if one is to venture onto the dyke or dam (between May and Sept) they should be extremely cautious, wear protective clothing including hip waders and carry some sort of walking stick to ward off any snakes that may be too close for comfort. Do not kill the snakes, they are in a protected area.


Vaseux Wetlands is an environmentally sensitive area for many wildlife, flora and fauna species. It is worth a visit any time of the year but particularly in the spring during bird and waterfowl migration. You can access the wetland on foot at the north end of the wetland just off the Green Lake Road on the west side of the Okanagan River viaduct. A hike (going south) along the dyke will get you to the wetland.

Bring your binoculars!





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Dave Ouellette was an Engineering Tech for Ducks Unlimited Canada for 11 years where he got his start as a writer composing proposals, reports, contract specs and special provisions.
While constructing over 200 wetland segement in the Southern Interior of BC, Dave managed to fish almost as many lakes and streams in his travels.
As an avid fly fisherman, Dave spends most of his ice free seasons devoting intense research and development days to the rainbow trout lakes in the southern interior of British Columbia.
Today he owns and manages a couple of websites and blogs including the interior fly fishing vacation site at http://www.best-in-british-columbia.com.html

BFSH Internet Marketing - Copyright 2007 - all rights reserved


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>