Fishing the Thompson Okanagan by RV

Rules change. Seasons, closures and limits change often and can change mid-season. We link to the official pages rather than repeat them, so check them before every trip.

Licences and rules

• Fresh water: lakes and rivers are managed by the Province of BC. Licences are sold through the WILD system. The Thompson (Region 3) synopsis and the Okanagan (Region 8) synopsis lists the rules for these waters, and the provincial regulations page lists in-season changes.
• Salmon and steelhead: rivers with salmon or steelhead often have their own closures and licence conditions, so check the synopsis before you plan around one.
• Towing a boat: BC requires watercraft to be transported with the drain plug removed and water drained on dry land, and anglers are asked to clean, drain and dry boats and gear between waters to stop invasive species.

Choose your fishing area

• Okanagan Lake and Kalamalka Lake
• Osoyoos Lake and the South Okanagan
• Shuswap Lakes
• Kamloops, the Thompson River and the trout lakes
• Mabel, Sugar and Echo lakes
• Princeton, Merritt and the Similkameen
• Clearwater, Valemount and McBride

Fish named for this region: Trout, Bass, Yellow perch, Salmon. Read the species guide.

Okanagan Lake and Kalamalka Lake

• Central Okanagan
• Rainbow trout and kokanee (Okanagan and Kalamalka lakes); burbot and whitefish also named for Okanagan Lake

Sun Cruiser names rainbow trout and kokanee in Okanagan Lake and Kalamalka Lake, and Backroad Mapbooks adds burbot and whitefish for Okanagan Lake. Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton are the main RV bases.

We list 35 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Compare RV campgrounds near Kelowna; Compare RV campgrounds near Vernon; Compare RV campgrounds near Penticton.

Access and RV services at campgrounds in this area

Checked October 13, 2026 from the pages linked under each campground, which are park, operator or government pages. Not stated means the page we read does not say; it does not mean the campground has none. Parks with several campground loops are one entry, because launches and cleaning areas belong to the park. Ramp sizes, seasons and conditions change, so confirm with the campground before you tow.

Osoyoos Lake and the South Okanagan

• South Okanagan
• Rainbow trout, kokanee, bass, black crappie, perch and carp (named for Osoyoos Lake)

Backroad Mapbooks lists rainbow trout, kokanee, largemouth and smallmouth bass, black crappie, perch and carp in Osoyoos Lake, the warmest of the valley lakes. Osoyoos and Oliver are the nearest towns in our listings.

We list 14 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Compare RV campgrounds near Osoyoos.

Shuswap Lakes

• Shuswap
• Rainbow trout (named for the Shuswap lakes)

Sun Cruiser names rainbow trout in the Shuswap lakes. Salmon Arm has the hub page, and Sicamous, Scotch Creek, Blind Bay and Chase are the other RV bases around the water.

We list 20 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Compare RV campgrounds near Salmon Arm.

Fishing facts at parks in this area

Taken from the page linked in each row, usually the park's own page. Not stated means the page does not say; it does not mean the park has none. None listed means the page marks the facility not available. Counts are the numbers on the park's facilities list, for example "Boat Launch(es) (2)". A park's own description can group or count ramps differently, so ask the park before you tow.

Kamloops, the Thompson River and the trout lakes

• Thompson Valley
• Rainbow trout in the Kamloops lakes and on the Thompson River; steelhead in the fall (Thompson River)

Sun Peaks News names Lac Le Jeune, Heffley, Knouff, Tunkwa, Roche, Douglas and Corbett lakes and the Pennask strain of rainbow trout for Kamloops. Fishing With Rod describes rainbow trout in summer and steelhead in fall on the Thompson River below Kamloops Lake, with access at Ashcroft, Walhachin, Spences Bridge and Juniper Beach Provincial Park.

We list 50 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Compare RV campgrounds near Kamloops; Compare RV campgrounds near Kamloops West; Compare RV campgrounds near Ashcroft.

Mabel, Sugar and Echo lakes

• North Okanagan
• Rainbow trout, kokanee, lake trout, Dolly Varden, Chinook, whitefish and burbot (varies by lake)

Backroad Mapbooks lists rainbow trout, kokanee, lake trout, Dolly Varden and Chinook in Mabel Lake east of Enderby, Dolly Varden, Gerrard rainbow, whitefish, kokanee and burbot in Sugar Lake, and rainbow trout, lake trout and kokanee in Echo Lake outside Lumby.

We list 9 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Compare RV campgrounds near Enderby; Compare RV campgrounds near Lumby.

Princeton, Merritt and the Similkameen

• Similkameen and Nicola
• Pennask rainbow trout and kokanee (Allison and Thalia lakes); steelhead named for the region's rivers

Backroad Mapbooks names Pennask rainbow and kokanee in Allison Lake, north of Princeton on Hwy 5A, and Pennask rainbow in Thalia Lake. Sun Cruiser lists the Similkameen among the region's steelhead rivers.

We list 50 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Compare RV campgrounds near Princeton; Compare RV campgrounds near Merritt; Compare RV campgrounds near Manning Park.

Clearwater, Valemount and McBride

• North Thompson and Robson Valley
• Waters not yet matched to fish

The north end of the region, along the North Thompson and in the Robson Valley. We have not yet matched sourced fish to waters here.

We list 23 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Compare RV campgrounds near Valemount; Compare RV campgrounds near Mcbride.

Compare campgrounds for boat fishing

These campgrounds are on or near the water. The table shows what each park or operator says about launches, shore access and RV services. Source numbers link to the pages we read on October 13, 2026.

Not stated means the page we read does not say; it does not mean the park has none. Ramp sizes, fees and conditions change, so confirm with the park. This table does not cover seasons, limits or licences.

Gear for this water

• Shore fishing essentials. A compact rod and reel suited to your target fish. Search on Amazon
• Boat launch & marine supplies. Dock lines and fenders sized for your boat. Search on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. More fishing and boating gear.

Where the fish names come from

• Sun Cruiser: Fishing Thompson Okanagan Similkameen
• Backroad Mapbooks: Best Thompson Okanagan fishing lakes
• Sun Peaks News: Kamloops fly fishing
• Fishing With Rod: Thompson River, Kamloops Lake to Spences Bridge

Keep planning

• Fishing in British Columbia
• Fishing regulations and licences in Canada
• Thompson Okanagan campgrounds
• Best RV trips in British Columbia