Kootenay Lake

Lake Kootenay Rockies Crown Land (Free)

About this spot

Kootenay Lake is a lake located in the Kootenay Rockies area of British Columbia. This waterbody sits on British Columbia Crown land open to anglers holding a valid BC fishing licence. British Columbia's crown land lakes support a diverse range of species including rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, kokanee, and northern pike.

Location

Fish Species

No species reported for this spot yet.

Ice fishing on Kootenay Lake

Kootenay Lake is in fishing Region 4 (Kootenay). BC has no separate ice fishing season, so the regular rules apply through the ice: the 2025-2027 synopsis lists rules of its own for this water, shown below, on top of the regional quotas.

Kootenay Lake, All Parts (Main Body, Upper West Arm and Lower West Arm) (, ALL PARTS (Main Body, Upper West Arm and Lower West Arm) · MU 4-19

Burbot catch and release
Bass daily quota = unlimited; yellow perch daily quota = unlimited

Kootenay Lake - Main Body (for location see map on page 34) (- MAIN BODY (for location see map on page 34) · MU 4-19

A person in a boat may angle with an unlimited number of rods.
Kokanee daily quota = 0
Bull trout daily quota = 1; rainbow trout daily quota = 10 (any size)
Conservation Surcharge Stamp required to keep rainbow trout over 50 cm, annual quota = 20

Kootenay Lake - Upper West Arm (for location see map on page 34) (- UPPER WEST ARM (for location see map on page 34) · MU 4-7

Rainbow trout catch and release, Jan 1-May 31; trout/char daily quota = 2 (only 1 bull trout)
Kokanee catch and release, EXCEPT Apr 1-Apr 3 and July 1-July 2 only, when daily quota = 5; NOTE: The combined daily quota for kokanee from the Upper West Arm (when open to kokanee harvest) and the Lower West Arm (when open to kokanee harvest) cannot exceed 5

Kootenay Lake - Lower West Arm (for location see map on page 34) (- LOWER WEST ARM (for location see map on page 34) · MU 4-7

Trout/char daily quota = 2 (only 1 bull trout); kokanee daily quota = 5, but only on Saturday and Sunday of each week. Kokanee catch and release Monday through Friday of each week. NOTE: the combined daily quota for kokanee from the Upper West Arm (when open to kokanee harvest) and the Lower West Arm (when open to kokanee harvest) cannot exceed 5

Region 4 daily quotas

Trout/char: 5, but not more than 1 rainbow or cutthroat trout over 50 cm, 2 from streams and 1 bull trout (Dolly Varden) of any size.
Bass: 0 quota, closed to fishing (see tables for exceptions)
Burbot: 2
Crayfish: 25

All Region 4 quotas, closed and aerated lakes →

On the ice anywhere in BC

Ice fish with one line and one lure, artificial fly or other terminal attractor.
You are legally responsible for warning other people of your ice hole.
Remove your ice hut before ice breakup.

Nearest snow station: Redfish Creek (2,100 m, 15 km away), 0 cm on November 5.

Source: BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis 2025-2027, matched to this water by name and management unit. Check in-season changes on the same page. No regulation makes ice safe: test it yourself. Ice fishing in BC guide.