Jason Cowley still remembers the thrill of catching his very first bass.
Growing up in Revelstoke, bass simply weren’t part of the fishing scene. “The only time we saw a bass was on TV,” he recalls. Then, after moving to Castlegar and hearing about Erie Lake from a friend, he decided to launch his kayak and give it a try. “My first trip out, I’m not exaggerating, I caught more than 20 bass,” he says. “It was incredible how hard they hit and how much they fought.”
More than a decade later, that first bass remains one of his favourite fishing memories, not because it was the biggest fish he’s ever landed, but because it opened the door to a whole new style of angling and introduced him to the incredible variety of fishing opportunities found around Castlegar.
Discovering Kayak Fishing
Jason has been fishing for as long as he can remember. “When I was a kid, my dad would take me out, and if it wasn’t my dad, it was my grandpa. The family has been hunting and fishing since I can remember,” he says.
His lifelong connection to the outdoors has taken him onto large lakes and rivers in pursuit of many different species. Today, he shares his adventures through his Kootenay Kayak Angler social media account and serves as a member of the Gibbs Fishing Pro Team, encouraging others to explore the outdoors and create their own memorable experiences on the water.
After moving to the Kootenays about 16 years ago, he sold his fishing boat while getting settled. Then a friend introduced him to kayak fishing. Curious, Jason spent nearly a year researching kayaks and watching online videos before buying his first one. That decision changed everything.
“It’s a totally different experience from a boat to a kayak,” he says. “When you can catch a fish, even a little three-pounder, it pulls you around in the kayak. In a boat, you pull the fish to you. But in the kayak, the fish pulls you!”
That unique connection between angler and fish is what keeps him coming back. “I just love catching a decent-sized fish, and having it take me for a sleigh ride until it gets tired.”
Just as importantly, kayaks open the door to waters that larger boats simply can’t reach.
“I use my kayak more than I do my big boat because it can get me into those spots where I can’t take a larger boat.”
Erie Lake: The Perfect Place to Discover Bass
Located just south of Castlegar near Salmo, Erie Lake is where Jason discovered bass fishing, and it’s still one of his favourite places to paddle. “The first time catching a new species is always amazing but the first time catching bass was simply incredible.
One memorable outing even produced a bass weighing just shy of five pounds. “I could see this big bass coming like a hundred miles an hour towards my bait,” he recalls. “It grabbed on and wow, what a fighter!”
For newcomers, Jason recommends learning a simple bass technique known as a wacky worm rig, which helped him enjoy immediate success.
Buckley Campground & the Pend d’Oreille River
Another of Jason’s favourite destinations is around Buckley Campground on the Pend d’Oreille River near Trail. He claims the diversity of fish makes this area unlike almost anywhere else in the region. “I’m not joking when I say there are at least 23 different species of fish there,” he says
Depending on the season, anglers can target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, rainbow trout, and several panfish species.
The kayak once again provides a major advantage because “in a larger boat, you just can’t get into those spots,” he says.
For Jason, that’s one of the greatest joys of kayak fishing around Castlegar. While bigger craft are limited to deeper water and boat launches, a kayak allows anglers to quietly explore sheltered bays and smaller lakes throughout the region without the need for trailers and ramps.
The Columbia River and Lower Arrow Lake
When it’s time to chase trout and kokanee, Jason heads to the Columbia River and the Lower Arrow Lake system.
His biggest rainbow trout tipped the scales at nearly seven pounds, but he says it’s the fight, not the size, that makes the experience unforgettable. In that particular instance the fish definitely took me on a sleigh ride until it calmed down,” he recalls.
Jason regularly catches two- to three-pound rainbow trout from his kayak and enjoys the challenge of trolling while sitting just inches above the water. “You can feel it in the kayak when they jump out of the water.”
One of his most unforgettable outings happened near Castlegar’s Lion’s Head area, where he landed several kokanee before spotting something even bigger. “I looked down and saw a sturgeon that was way larger than my kayak,” he says, admitting that the encounter was both exciting and unnerving. “At first it freaked me out. They are beautiful to see, but also scary at the same time because they’re so big.”
More Than Fishing
For Jason, kayak fishing isn’t just about catching fish. It’s about exploring, learning and helping others discover the sport. Whenever he sees young anglers casting from shore, he’s quick to lend advice or even hand out extra tackle.
His motivation is simple: “That’s our future fishermen,” he says.
He also encourages anyone interested in kayak fishing to take their time choosing the right equipment. “If you’re going to use it consistently, then you want to do the research to get yourself something that’s stable.”
As Jason has discovered over the past decade, sometimes the best fishing spots aren’t the ones you can reach with the biggest boat. Sometimes, all it takes is a kayak, a quiet shoreline and a willingness to explore the hidden gems waiting around every bend.
To learn more about fishing regulations, seasons, and licensing in British Columbia, visit the Province of British Columbia’s Freshwater Fishing Regulations website before heading out.
Need gear before your trip? Castlegar is home to local fishing and outdoor retailers where visitors can find rods, tackle, safety equipment and other essentials for a day on the water including All In Fishing Adventures, owned by fishing guide Lon Lechthaler.
To follow along with all of Jason’s fishing adventures, check out his Instagram channel: @kootenay.kayak.angler.