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[hawg hunter]

Just got back from three beautiful days of fishing in the Merritt area. First fished Courtney Lake on Friday, Corbett and Courtney on Saturday and then Harry's Dam at Douglas Lake Ranch on Sunday. Of the three, Courtney was the best lake fishing I have experienced in a very long time. I have heard there were large fish in this lake but have not known anyone personally who has had any success. The fish were pretty much all 20+ inches,  with the largest 25 inches. All fish were realeased back into the gene pool. Fish were caught on anything from Dragons, leaches, muddler minnows and California Blondes on the surface. The top water action was unreal.
The fishing at Corbett was a little tougher but some nice fish were caught as well. Flies of choice were blood worms, leaches dragons and waterboatman. Harry's dam was fishing well but the fish were sizeably smaller, only about a pound and a half to 2 pounds. Pictures to follow.

http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/hawghunter/garyfishpics_014.thumb.jpg
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/hawghunter/garyfishpics_017.thumb.jpg
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/hawghunter/garyfishpics_021.thumb.jpg
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/hawghunter/dscn0661.thumb.jpg
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/hawghunter/dscn0666.thumb.jpg

[bbronswyk2000]

I have also heard Courtney is a tough lake to fish. Glad to hear it is producing. Soon their wont be anymore lake fishing reports. I sure love my lake fishing, probably more than anything else.

[troutbreath]

Saw two boats out on Corbet on the way back from Kelowna on Saturday evening and wished I was out as the weather was nice. Theres always ice fishing.

[dereke]

 hey bb the ice fishing season will be up and running in no time 

[dan-o]

i was at corbett a few weeks ago, usually have great luck there. it was the annual father and son fly fish trip and i watched dad pull in five big ones before i even had a bite. finally i got a look at his fly, no help from him. he was fishing a black leech about a foot under the surface and couldn't keep them off. he had no problem reminding me that he took first, biggest, and most that day. luckily, we had a few days left for payback.

[bigguy]

Why do people pay to fish little Corbett when there are so many other producing lakes in the area.  I just don't get it?  Not being a jerk just wondering.   I feel uncomfortable paying to fish a lake.

[bigguy]

Courtney is a very "testy" lake but does have some nice fish.  It is tougher to get boaats in there now unless they have fixed it up recently.  Hope to get out there before the snow flies, or the ice.

[hawg hunter]

Hey bigguy, Corbett was just one of those lakes I wanted to fish at least once. The opportunity to catch trophy size fish was the draw. It was ok but as you said there are others in the area that can produce large fish. As for Courtney, very easy to get into for a car topper or float tube. Very nice launch area. You would be very hard pressed to be able to launch a boat off of a trailer though. After catching some very nice fish in Courtney, it was very difficult to go and pay at Corbett.

[mastercaster]

I have also heard Courtney is a tough lake to fish. Glad to hear it is producing.

After you learn how to fish this lake it can be AMAZING.....as long as the Natives don't over net it to decimate the population of those big lunkers.  For the most part... stay away from the shoals where the course fish are.

[bigguy]

  Wasn't aware that the natives were netting in Courtney Lake.  You talking near Merritt?    If you are I never realized that this was legal. 

[bigguy]

Hawg Hunter, havent been up to Courtney in awhile, I have a 12 foot aluminum and it is a hassel to drag it up and down and I dont have a 4 by 4.  So I need a smaller boat or a better truck, maybe both.

[Chrome Mykiss]

bigguy,
The launch at Courtney is really steep and rocky, its best done by carrying the boat with a couple of guys. Just becareful walking up and down it, my friend's wife broke her arm there when she slipped and fell.

Yes, its true about the natives and other people harvesting trout in Courtney lake during the winter. I know several people who have witnessed this activity. However, alot of the times they don't use a net, they often use set lines with multiple hooks and deli shrimp for bait.

The populations of the large trout have definitely been decimated. I know of several very good rods who fished the lake during prime chironomid times and gotten skunked. Plus, marked very few if any fish along the drop offs with their fish finders. So Hawg Hunter, consider yourself very lucky.

I hope the natives and other people who poach it in the winter will leave it alone this winter.