From left to right: Rod Stewart and fishing partner
On winning the monthly draw, Rod Stewart of Boswell said he's splitting the prize with his fishing partner, who owns the boat. The fishers plan to use the prize money on the boat and new fishing gear. Rod has been fishing his whole life and has seen a lot of changes in the size of the fish. He thinks the Kootenay Lake Angler Incentive Program is a good way to balance the stocks out and get more people fishing again.
Gordie Grunerud, President of the West Arm Outdoors Club, the club managing the program, says: "We are also excited to include a separate category this year for kids. The youth program is running for the summer and includes anglers aged 15 and younger."
There will be two youth program draws, one on August 1st and one on October 1st. Kids need to get their rainbow or bull trout heads in before those dates to win one of multiple prizes. So far there are 30+ age-appropriate kids' prizes like kayaks, fishing rods and zipline adventure packets to be divided between the two kids' prize draws.
The Kootenay Lake Angler Incentive Program inspires anglers of all ages to get out fishing and enjoy the outdoors. Anglers are encouraged to harvest rainbow and bull trout in the main body of Kootenay Lake and then turn in the heads to local depots to enter a monthly draw for a prize worth $1,000, a final grand prize draw, or one of many youth prizes.
As well as a possible monthly win like Rod's, each head returned also gives fishers a chance to win one of three grand prizes.
The grand prizes for this year's program include a Marlon boat package Jones Boys Boats, a Polaris Sportsman Quad from Main Jet Motorsports, and a 3-night saltwater fishing package for two at Coastal Springs Float Lodge.
Gordie Grunerud, President of the West Arm Outdoors Club, says: "The Kootenay Lake Incentive Program has been extended for a second year because of the success of the program in helping Kokanee salmon recover. The program encourages resident anglers to get outdoors and to participate in a fisheries Kokanee conservation program aimed at re-establishing the predator-prey balance in the main body of Kootenay Lake by reducing the predators – rainbow and bull trout. Together with the Kokanee closure, it is hoped the prey species will recover to historic levels while supporting anglers, outdoor sports, and local business."
The Kootenay Lake Angler Incentive Program is managed by the local West Arm Outdoors Club with support from B.C. Wildlife Federation, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNORD), Jones Boys Boats of Woodbury Creek and several local merchants from around Kootenay Lake.
Click here for more information on the Kootenay Lake Angler Incentive Program.