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Kootenay Lake fishing regulations

Kootenay Lake is a lake in Region 4 (Kootenay), management units 4-19, 4-7. Here is what the 2025–2027 synopsis says about it, and the regional rules that apply on top.

Rules for Kootenay Lake

Kootenay Lake (main entry, management unit 4-19)

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

Synopsis page 37.

Part of Kootenay Lake in management unit 4-19 (map on synopsis page 34)

• 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

Synopsis page 37.

Part of Kootenay Lake in management unit 4-7 (map on synopsis page 34)

• 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

Synopsis page 37.

Part of Kootenay Lake in management unit 4-7 (map on synopsis page 34)

• 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

Synopsis page 37.

Tributaries of Kootenay Lake

• Bull trout catch and release
• Does not include the Kootenay River upstream from Kootenay Lake to the U.S. border near Creston

Synopsis page 37.

Region 4 quotas

Unless the rules above set a different quota for Kootenay Lake:

• Region 4 daily quotas: Trout/char: 5, but not more than 1 rainbow trout or cutthroat trout over 50 cm, 2 from streams, 1 bull trout (Dolly Varden) of any size.
• Bass: 0 quota, closed to fishing. Crayfish: 25. Kokanee: 15 (none from streams), no more than 5 over 30 cm. Northern pike, walleye, yellow perch: 0 quota, closed to fishing (see tables for exceptions). White sturgeon: closed to fishing (no exceptions). Whitefish: 15 (all species combined).

Know your fish

The rules here name these fish. Not sure what you caught?

From the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis 2025-2027, data of October 29, 2026. Province-wide rules (licences, one line, barbless hooks in streams, bait rules) also apply. This page is a guide; the official regulations govern.

More waters in the Kootenay

Kootenay River · Columbia River · Upper Arrow Lake · Lower Arrow Lake · Elk River · St. Mary River · St. Mary Lake · Moyie Lake