Anglers can catch sockeye salmon on Osoyoos Lake starting Friday

For the first time in two years, anglers will be able to engage in catching sockeye salmon on Osoyoos Lake.

The Town of Osoyoos issued a news release Thursday stating that there will be a minimum 10-day window where anglers can catch two sockeye salmon per day, starting Friday at one minute past midnight and continuing until sunset on Aug. 13 during daylight hours only.

At the end of the 10-day window on Aug. 13, review of in-season information on sockeye abundance, harvest and environmental conditions in Osoyoos Lake will be conducted to determine the duration of the fishery.

The commercial fishery for sockeye salmon on Osoyoos Lake was cancelled last summer due to wildfires and massive amounts of smoke that covered Osoyoos Lake, the Town of Osoyoos and the Okanagan Valley.

Anglers will be able to catch the sockeye salmon on the north portion of Osoyoos Lake, north of the Hwy, 3 bridge in Osoyoos.

On July 27, Department of Fisheries and Ocean staff met with the Okanagan Nation Alliance and the Mid Fraser Thompson Okanagan Sport Fish Advisory Committee to discuss fishery planning for Okanagan sockeye.

A collaborative fishing plan has been agreed too and implemented starting August 3, said the news release.

The aggregate daily limit for all species of Pacific Salmon - other than Kokanee - from tidal and non-tidal waters combined is four. Fishing for salmon is permitted during daylight hours only.

Single barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in non-tidal waters of British Columbia.

Sport anglers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery program by labeling and submitting heads from adipose fin-clipped Chinook and Coho salmon.

Recovery of coded-wire tags provides critical information for coast-wide stock assessment.

Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program toll free at (866) 483-9994 for further information.

If you’re going fishing for salmon in freshwaters, you need a Non-Tidal Angling Licence, issued by the Province of British Columbia.

Visit the provincial website to buy your licence. Licences are available to B.C. residents and non-residents. Fees may vary and are listed online at www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/fish/licences.

If you have witnessed suspicious fishing activity or a violation, please call the Fisheries and Ocean Canada 24-hour toll free Observe, Record, Report line at (800) 465-4336 or the British Columbia’s toll-free Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line at 1-877-952-RAPP (7277).

For the 24-hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at 1-866-431-FISH (3474). For more information, visit, www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca.