More topics

Columbia Lake and Columbia River proposed angling regulation

Last updated on December 13, 2024

The public is invited to comment on the proposed angling regulation described below until January 17, 2025. A BCeID basic account is required in order to post comments. Users with a business or personal BCeID account will not be able to access the feedback form without registering for a basic BCeiD account.

Summary: Columbia Lake and Columbia River legalizing bass harvest

Status: Proposed

Region: 4, Kootenay

Management unit (MU): 

  • Columbia Lake: 4-25
  • Columbia River: 4-8, 4-15, 4-26, 4-34 and 4-38

Regulation type: Quota

Species: Bass

Closing date: January 17, 2025

Decision statement: Pending

Current regulation:

Columbia Lake:

  • Burbot release
  • Speed restriction (10 km/h) near eastern shore and at south end, as buoyed and signed

Columbia River:

  • No Fishing from Revelstoke Dam downstream to Hwy 1 bridge in Revelstoke
  • No Fishing from a line between the old Robson Ferry landing and a sign on the south river bank, downstream approximately 950 m to the CPR Bridge from March 1 to June 30
  • Where permitted, angling is exempt from the regional November 1 to March 31 trout/char release and the regional April 1 to June 14 closure
  • Kokanee daily quota is 15 from Keenleyside Dam to a line between the old Robson Ferry landing and a sign on the south river bank
  • Walleye daily quota is 16 from Keenleyside Dam to the Washington state border
  • From Keenleyside Dam downstream to the Washington state border and connected reaches: the Kootenay River (Columbia River confluence to Brilliant Dam) and the Pend d’Oreille River (Columbia River confluence to Waneta Dam): Northern pike daily quota is unlimited and bass daily quota is unlimited
  • Burbot release
  • Speed restriction (10 km/h) from Mud Lake to Columbia Lake, no power boats in wetlands, no towing and engine power restriction - 15 kW (20 hp), in main channel from Fairmont to Donald
  • See Upper Arrow Lake for the portion of the Columbia River which may be found downstream of the Hwy 1 bridge in Revelstoke (depending on reservoir level)

Proposed regulation:

Columbia Lake:

  • Burbot release
  • Bass daily quota is unlimited
  • Speed restriction (10 km/h) near eastern shore and at south end, as buoyed and signed

Columbia River:

  • No Fishing from Revelstoke Dam downstream to Hwy 1 bridge in Revelstoke
  • No Fishing from a line between the old Robson Ferry landing and a sign on the south river bank, downstream approximately 950 m to the CPR Bridge from March 1 to June 30
  • Where permitted, angling is exempt from the regional November 1 to March 31 trout/char release and the regional April 1 to June 14 closure
  • Bass daily quota is unlimited
  • Kokanee daily quota is 15 from Keenleyside Dam to a line between the old Robson Ferry landing and a sign on the south river bank
  • Walleye daily quota is 16 from Keenleyside Dam to the Washington state border
  • From Keenleyside Dam downstream to the Washington state border and connected reaches: the Kootenay River (Columbia River confluence to Brilliant Dam) and the Pend d’Oreille River (Columbia River confluence to Waneta Dam): Northern pike daily quota is unlimited and bass daily quota is unlimited
  • Burbot release
  • Speed restriction (10 km/h) from Mud Lake to Columbia Lake, no power boats in wetlands, no towing and engine power restriction - 15 kW (20 hp), in main channel from Fairmont to Donald
  • See Upper Arrow Lake for the portion of the Columbia River which may be found downstream of the Hwy 1 bridge in Revelstoke (depending on reservoir level)

Rationale:

The objective of this proposal is to harvest bass to reduce their impact on native species, while providing recreational angling opportunity as eradication is not an option due to the size and complexity of the waterbody. It is likely that bass migrated naturally from Windermere Lake, where bass angling is permitted. Although currently prohibited on Columbia Lake and Columbia River, anglers are targeting bass in these fisheries and the fisheries management section does not believe there is any risk associated with legalizing this activity.

Provide feedback