Vaseux Lake near Okanagan Falls is one of British Columbia’s most healthy Large and Small Mouth Bass fisheries. The Lake is a row/paddle lake only, no motors allowed. There are a few areas that this lake can be fished from shore if you don’t have access to a boat. The westside of the lake near the old rail road bed offers more shoreline access than the east highway side; but the westside is more difficult to reach by vehicle.
One really fun and affective way to fish this lake from shore is by using waders. Spring and early summer the bass start to come into the shallows for spawning and for cover from the hotter weather.
One day I couldn’t find a fishing partner for the day and I didn’t really feel like rowing around Vaseux Lake by myself. So I decided to pack the waders and approach the shorelines. I started on the north eastside of the lake just north of the campsite. The fun and challenging part of Bass fishing in waders is that you have to choose your lure-bait wisely. Unlike when you are fishing from a boat you don’t have access to numerous rods with lots of lure options. I brought along a backpack with a selection of soft plastics and chose a light 6’6 medium action spin cast rod. My preferred bait for the day was a Pumpkin Seed Green Senko 6 inch worm, Texas Rigged.
As I waded through the water I would scout out cover and structure. I fished under overhanging trees and weeded areas. The bass seemed to be scattered in depths from 3 to 12 feet of water. I quickly realized I would have been lost without my polarized sunglasses as they help cut the glare off the water allowing me to identify structure and weed beds.
The experience of catching these fish with water up to my waist was like no other! When I hooked into a scrappy small mouth it was a sight to see to say the least. The fish would jump eye level and within a few feet of me. Very entertaining!
The main hotspot that I found in my mid-July visit was just south of the campsite in about 6 feet of water. The rocky areas near the highway also provided good success for Small Mouth.
If you want to fish Vaseux Lake and you don’t have access to a boat; don’t be shy to pull out the waders and go for a walk. It is a fishing experience that I recommend to anyone! It gets you in touch with nature and provides a lot of fun action when fishing scrappy smallies!
Items that I highly recommend to bring along when wader fishing Vaseux Lake:
– Polarized Sunglasses
– Backpack that can get wet
– Soft plastics (Tubes, Senkos)
– Light Medium Action 6’6 Spin Casting Rod
– Waders
– Waterproof Camera
Have fun and Tight Lines!
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