Okanagan angler pulls massive trout from Kal Lake

An Okanagan man was skunked for days until he pulled a massive lake trout from Kalamalka Lake.

Jesse Kovash was on his ninth day on the Okanagan lake when he caught a 38 lb lake trout, measuring 41" long, last week.

"It was the best fight I've ever had," Kovash said. "Those fish are so incredibly powerful…. The lake trout are in a class of their own when it comes to strength."

He said he was jigging in shallow water when it bit, but it then rushed down deeper than 100 feet three times before he could pull it into the boat. It was a 20-minute fight and both Kovash and the fish were tired by the end.

"There was a smile on my face the whole time. It was quite the experience," he said.

He moved to Lake Country a year ago from the American Midwest, where he would typically fish for walleye and northern pike, or jackfish.

Tracking fish records in BC is nearly impossible in any formal way, but Kovash's trout is a rare catch for any angler, according to BC Wildlife Federation advocacy coordinator Steve Hamilton.

"I don't know any lake trout that size caught in Kal. That is an absolute anomaly for anywhere, I'd say," he said. "To catch one that size? It's a once in a lifetime fish."

It could be around 20 years old, which is an impressive age for a lake that has so much pressure from recreational boaters and anglers all summer, he said.

Kovash said he was sure to release it quickly and encouraged others to do so with big fish as they are a finite resource in most lakes. Hamilton said it's best to keep them in the water as much as possible and minimize its time outside if they are removed.

Kovash left Kalamalka feeling successful last weekend, but now he wonders if his brief time angling in BC has already peaked after such massive catch.

"It might all be downhill from here," Kovash said.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.