Koocanusa Reservoir
MU 4-22, Kootenays
49.2178° N, 115.2456° W
- Surface area
- 6653.1ha
- Elevation
- 746m
Open Koocanusa Reservoir in the appThe 7-day forecast, max depth and wildfire smoke check, on the lake's own coordinate.
Trophy fish at Koocanusa Reservoir
Koocanusa Reservoir is known for trophy Bull trout to 15 lb.
- Bull trout to 15 lb
- Rainbow trout to 10 lb
- Burbot to 10 lb
Trophy sizes this lake is known for, not a typical catch. They are historical records from our own big fish list, with no date on file, not recent catches.
Koocanusa Reservoir at a glance
- Region
- Kootenays
- Management unit
- MU 4-22
- Species
- Bull Trout, Rainbow Trout, Burbot, Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Kokanee, Yellow Perch, Mountain Whitefish, Cutthroat/Rainbow cross, Brook Trout (last recorded 1984), Largemouth Bass (last recorded 1984), White Sturgeon (last recorded 1984), Northern Pikeminnow, Largescale Sucker, Peamouth Chub, Redside Shiner, Longnose Sucker, Slimy Sculpin, Longnose Dace, Sucker (General), Pumpkinseed, Torrent Sculpin (last recorded 1984)The newest of these fish records is from 2016.Species from the province's fish observation records.
- Lake size
- Large Water (> 500 ha)
- Ice fishing
- Open to ice fishing, confirmed
- Coordinates
- 49.2178, -115.2456
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Gear for bull trout
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Fish on record at Koocanusa Reservoir
| Species | First recorded | Last recorded | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bull Trout | 1984 | 2016 | 62 |
| Rainbow Trout | 1984 | 2016 | 47 |
| Burbot | 1984 | 2016 | 36 |
| Kokanee | 1990 | 2016 | 94 |
| Yellow Perch | 1984 | 2016 | 86 |
| Mountain Whitefish | 1984 | 2016 | 51 |
| Cutthroat/Rainbow cross | 2012 | 2014 | 2 |
| Brook Trout | 1984 | 1984 | 1 |
| Largemouth Bass | 1984 | 1984 | 1 |
| White Sturgeon | 1984 | 1984 | 1 |
| Northern Pikeminnow | 1984 | 2016 | 283 |
| Largescale Sucker | 1984 | 2016 | 218 |
| Peamouth Chub | 1984 | 2016 | 212 |
| Redside Shiner | 1984 | 2016 | 53 |
| Longnose Sucker | 1984 | 2016 | 20 |
| Slimy Sculpin | 1984 | 2016 | 3 |
| Longnose Dace | 1984 | 2015 | 6 |
| Sucker (General) | 2015 | 2015 | 6 |
| Pumpkinseed | 1987 | 2014 | 4 |
| Torrent Sculpin | 1984 | 1984 | 1 |
A year is when the Province last recorded the fish here, not a statement that it is caught today.
How to fish Koocanusa Reservoir
Best times of year at Koocanusa Reservoir
- May - June
- September - October
Koocanusa Reservoir fishing regulations
Bull trout catch and release Nov 1-Mar 31; no bull trout under 75 cm when open; bait ban Sept 15-June 30; burbot catch and release; see the synopsis - Fluctuating Reservoir Levels. Source: Province of British Columbia
Getting to Koocanusa Reservoir
Coordinates: 49.2178, -115.2456
Camping and rec sites at Koocanusa Reservoir
- Yaqakxaqlamki (Koocanusa Boat Launch)
No campsite count on file (BC Recreation Sites and Trails)
The ice year at Koocanusa Reservoir, modelled
Modelled from air temperature, not an ice report. It says nothing about whether ice will hold you.
The model treats Koocanusa Reservoir as too large and deep to freeze over, so it gives no freeze-up or ice-off dates. On air temperature alone it would have frozen in 65 of 65 winters since 1960.
Koocanusa Reservoir is open to ice fishing under the regulations on file.
Whether a lake is open to ice fishing says nothing about whether its ice will hold you. Ice conditions vary year to year and across a single lake. Check locally before going out, every time.
Koocanusa Reservoir climate, 1960 to 2025
Averaged over a year, the air above Koocanusa Reservoir is 0.9 C warmer than it was in the 1960s. That is 66 years of daily readings, not a forecast.
- +0.9 Csince the 1960s
- 7.1 Caverage year now
- 6.1 Caverage year then
- -12 daysbelow freezing, change
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
This week at Koocanusa Reservoir
The forecast on this lake's own coordinate, refreshed through the day. The app reads these seven days for fishing and scores each one.
| Day | Sky | High / low | Wind | Rain | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 20 Oct | Partly cloudy | 15° / -1° | 9 km/h, gusts 19 | dry | Steady |
| Wed 21 Oct | Overcast | 21° / 3° | 6 km/h, gusts 19 | dry | Falling (-3.9 hPa) |
| Thu 22 Oct | Moderate drizzle | 18° / 4° | 8 km/h | 1 mm | Falling (-5.0 hPa) |
| Fri 23 Oct | Slight rain | 13° / 8° | 7 km/h, gusts 13 | 4 mm | Rising (+2.4 hPa) |
| Sat 24 Oct | Overcast | 13° / 5° | 10 km/h | dry | Rising (+14.6 hPa) |
| Sun 25 Oct | Overcast | 9° / -1° | 8 km/h | dry | Rising (+5.6 hPa) |
| Mon 26 Oct | Clear sky | 8° / -3° | 4 km/h | dry | Rising (+1.2 hPa) |
Koocanusa Reservoir, in brief
What fish are in Koocanusa Reservoir?
Bull Trout, Rainbow Trout, Burbot, Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Kokanee, Yellow Perch, Mountain Whitefish, Cutthroat/Rainbow cross, Brook Trout (last recorded 1984), Largemouth Bass (last recorded 1984), White Sturgeon (last recorded 1984). Species from the province's fish observation records.
Which management unit is Koocanusa Reservoir in?
Koocanusa Reservoir is in MU 4-22, in the Kootenays. The BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis is organised by management unit; check it before you go.
Trout lakes near Koocanusa Reservoir
- Baynes Lake 2 km away
- Chain Lake 10 km away
- Suzanne Lake 11 km away
- North Star Lake 14 km away
- Loon Lake 15 km away
All 162 lakes in the Kootenays, with today's conditions on each.