Best Time to Fish Okanagan Lake — A Month-by-Month Guide

Published March 15, 2026 · 7 min read · Outdoor Adventures BC

Okanagan Lake fishes year-round, but every month has its own pattern. Here's how a charter captain who is on the water year-round thinks about the calendar.

January – February: fish prime time

Cold, quiet, and criminally under-rated. fish are high in the water column (40–80 ft) chasing kokanee schools. Jigging tubes and trolling flashers both work. You'll have the lake to yourself.

March: Transition

Water starts warming, lakers spread out. Kokanee begin suspending in classic summer patterns. Good month for multi-species days.

April – May: Kokanee kickoff

Kokanee bite turns on. Mornings are gold. This is when we start running daily charters again after winter.

June – July: Peak kokanee

Prime season. Kokanee are thick, fat, and happy to hit trolled hoochies behind dodgers. Book early — weekends fill up months ahead.

August: Hot and sharp

Kokanee still on, but they move deeper (60–100 ft). Early mornings and late evenings are the ticket. Afternoons are for swimming.

September: Shoulder season gem

Water cooling, fish moving. fish start coming up the water column again. Last call for easy kokanee. Shuswap chinook season.

October – November: late-season cruising

Kokanee wrapping up. Sightseeing season — calm water and golden light.

December: Winter specialty

Quieter month. Cold-weather fish trips still produce. Sightseeing tours wind down. Gift certificates start selling hard for Christmas.

My pick if you only come once

Early June. Fish are eating, weather is stable, and the lake isn't yet crowded. Book your charter by March for early-June dates.

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Ready to put this into practice? Book a Kelowna fishing charter with Outdoor Adventures BC — we'll rig it all for you.