im 27 and im already thinking about retiring

as one of the 5% of your viewers from BC, i appreciate that you have recognized us and even come up here to fish a bunch of the lakes! Vancouver Island just got 2 new kokanee lakes as well.

I'm one of your 5% of Canadian followers. I'm retired so many of the factors that you addressed are very familiar to me. I don't dispute that Kamloops is in the center of some good kokanee fishing. But.... I have a couple of alternatives that will give you access to the best of the Caribou lakes and a much cheaper lifestyle. 100 Mile House is right in the midst of more fishable lakes within an 1.5 hour drive than you can possibly fish in a year. There is a smaller hospital there, but if they can't handle whatever you have goin on, you have good access to the specialty medicine in a larger center like Kamloops or Williams Lake. Another alternative that fits your criteria is Clearwater. Its a smaller municipality but has a good hospital and other facilities. It also has the advantage of having one of the main Kokanee/trout hatcheries right in town. We also have a nice lake just across the highway from the hatchery with decent kokanee and trout fishing. You are less than the 1.5 hour drive to many of the Caribou lakes. Another advantage to Clearwater is that it is at the bottom of the North Thompson River valley where the weather is less extreme than it is in the Caribou. We do have enough cold weather that most of the lakes in the area except the really big ones (Adams, Shuswap, Kamloops) do freeze up and let us have a great time ice fishing the same lakes we fish for Kokanee in the summer.... Just putting that out there... Tight Lines to all regardless of where you choose to base your fishing adventures from.

One thing about Kokanee fishing in BC, when the lakes freeze the guys just go ice fishing for them. Lots of guys jig them through the ice and are very successful. You can fish them all year round. The larger lakes like Arrow or Okanagan don't freeze maybe once in 50 years so you can fish them for kokanee all year. In BC we don't pay for medical and seniors get pharmacare so most drugs are covered as well.

That's another great post, Tyler! Since I live semi-retired in a semi-rural area between La Pine and Sunriver Oregon, I appreciated your choice for #1 and can attest to some great fishing for kokanee and much more right here. Alas, right after my best May ever (especially good since Wickiup is back and Crane Prairie was smoking hot for kokanee), and just before my annual shift to Paulina and Odell, family considerations suddenly required us to to leave my dream fishing locale soon and head back to the Portland area. Our house here will be on the market in two weeks...but I'll be back often. On the bright side, I'll probably get to central Washington now to fish some of the other areas you highlighted.

Great info and interesting points. FYI, even in California they don’t tax Social Security, just the fed does. Also Heber City has terrific fly fishing and golf. Thanks for the tips. 😊

As a resident of northern BC I’m right where I want to be in terms of Kokanee fishing

When I retire I’m going to get in the RV and go to all these places!

hey hey, nice to see Heber on the list. it is definitely a great city, but you're right.... it is RODANKULOUSLY expensive. It's growing a lot too so Jordanelle, Strawberry, and Deer Creek get so crowded in summer when the lake lice come out to play.

That thumbnail got me very confused 🤣. Nice grey beard, seems like you'll age well!

Great video and timely. I'm nearing my retirement in a few months and will be headed to visit family in Washington. I grew up on both sides of the Cascades in Washington and will gravitate there in retirement. It seems no matter what you fish for, PNW has something for everone. Thanks for all of the great videos that remind me of the fishing I did decades ago.

Outstanding Tyler! What a great piece of information for retirees. I'm in your upper retirement block and currently live in Ellensburg. Originally from Spokane so I'm familiar with those opportunities. Most recently my wife and I traveled to the Tonasket area, and your absolutely right about the beauty and opportunities there. Got a trip next week to Wallowa and hopefully we can capitalize on some decent Kokanee fishing. I've been retired now for a couple of years and spend a lot of time hitting the circuit and your recommendations never fail to disappoint. Again great job on helping the retired guys and gals. Hope to run into you one of these days.

@dayinthelife4110

20 күн бұрын

Don’t go any farther north than Tonasket, not worth it! Lol!

Boise resident here...pretty much nailed it...lots of great and varied fishing opportunities, but the massive influx of Californians is frustrating.

Hey Tyler great info! Can't wait for Brewster I will be there mid July

Pinedale... great trout fishing. Trophies. Could never live in that town long term, it seems very bleak in the winter.

Not sure if you have been to the Okanagon valley in British Columbia, the Kelowna , Penticton , Vernon areas great Kokanee fishing with fairly large cities with all the Amenities

Side note… just saw a post that a 20 1/4 Kokanee was caught at Jordanelle today. Looks like a beast

@spiltmilt

20 күн бұрын

😳

Tyler-thanks for this video! Great info. Have you ever thought about doing one that discusses the best all-around places to live for anglers in general? I.e. places with access to the most diverse range of fisheries, quality and size of fish, ability to get away from the crowds, etc? I realize that’s a big topic but it would be fun to hear your thoughts on the best overall fishing meccas especially here in the Northwest.

Is there a Fontenelle trip on the agenda this summer? It's been a windy, cold spring so far. Just started to warm up this week. Thanks as always !

@spiltmilt

17 күн бұрын

No exploring new areas this year

I think all I got from this was I need to retire early 🤣

Tyler thx for the great information, I think I will stay in colville but would luv to spend some summers in bc

@spiltmilt

20 күн бұрын

Coville is a really nice town

You can figure the age of future Spilt Milt by counting its neck rings.

Kokanee fishing is fun, but walleyes are king with me. Wherever one fishes, bring doughnuts and hot coffee!!

I will likely retire to Manila or Dutch John Utah where I can be on flaming gorge every week, but I need to be near a golf course so maybe Vernal will be a better option.

@spiltmilt

20 күн бұрын

Vernal is an interesting town. A little hot for me and run down but well positioned for the outdoorsman

In the .3% let’s gooo. What lake is hot right now? I went to Merwin last Saturday and it was completely dead.

@spiltmilt

20 күн бұрын

Chelan is kicking out some amazing fish this year. Most of the Kokanee fisheries west of the Cascades are dead or dinks

@daltonstetz6809

20 күн бұрын

@@spiltmilt yeah we have a cabin up in Republic/Curlew area. Went up there during Memorial Day weekend and hit up Bonapart. Limited before 11 both days I fished, plus my first Tiger and PB Bow & Koke. Crazy fishing, went to Merwin and was the exact opposite. Gonna try Chelan in the next few weeks, would be my first time there! Any tips or areas would be great!! Thank you!

@spiltmilt

20 күн бұрын

They are in the lower basin around the red roofs. This video should help. kzread.info/dash/bejne/nHiks5iclqevoc4.html

@daltonstetz6809

20 күн бұрын

@@spiltmilt thank you so much! Watching now!!

Arrow lakes in British Columbia holds the record largest Kokanee at 12.1 pounds

@spiltmilt

2 күн бұрын

That was a one off fluke and it was even caught. It was scooped off the surface and eaten 😂

@squamishfish

2 күн бұрын

@@spiltmilt 🤭That’s ok ,, yes I saw some other videos of Arrow lake Kokanee fishing and more often than not they were much smaller

California is prime fishing. Politics and real estate are ridiculous.

@spiltmilt

20 күн бұрын

100% I’d live there if I could afford to

@TiredAmerican247

20 күн бұрын

@@spiltmilt you could always live around Redding. It’s not as expensive and you’re around the most prime lakes and rivers in California. Employment is the only issue.

@spiltmilt

20 күн бұрын

Yeah with only 1 viable Kokanee fishery nearby though its gives me pause.

@TiredAmerican247

20 күн бұрын

@@spiltmilt there’s Shasta for Kokanee. Land locked kings in Trinity (largest land locked kings), Shasta, Oroville, and Almanor. A little further is Berryessa, Stampede, Boca, French Meadows, Melones, Shaver, etc. You can focus on big browns at Mcloud, Shasta, Almanor, mostly any lake in the foothills or sierras that have Kokanee. All these lakes have rainbows or if you fish East sierras they stock them with Lohantan cutthroat now.

@TiredAmerican247

20 күн бұрын

@@spiltmilt tons of options. There’s a huge void for videos about fishing for trout/salmon species in California’s lakes.

Where’s the Spilt Milt Getting Old Sucks gear?!

@spiltmilt

20 күн бұрын

😂

All the licensing fees, vehicles, hunt and fishing ,getting out of hand in Washington

@spiltmilt

20 күн бұрын

To be honest Montana, Idaho, and Oregon aren’t any better

You mentioned a hatch that affects the kokanee around Boise. I couldn't understand what you called it. Where can I get some information on that?

@spiltmilt

20 күн бұрын

Bikini hatch 😂

@waynewithers5529

20 күн бұрын

@@spiltmilt 🤣I did see multiple full moons the other day.

I am curious how you handle so many states' or Canada's fishing license/regulations while you are going around places to chase Kokanee's. :D

@spiltmilt

20 күн бұрын

It’s not hard. I just read

No tax on groceries in Washington State. Idaho doesn’t tax SS, but they do tax pensions.

@spiltmilt

20 күн бұрын

Not true I have a receipt right in front of me. $2.31 on $31.77 in groceries

@davidholmer6099

20 күн бұрын

Washington differentiates between food that requires preparation and ready to eat items. Non food items like dish soap, paper towels are taxed. Pop and alcohol are taxed.

@dayinthelife4110

20 күн бұрын

@@spiltmilt Washington law exempts most grocery type food from retail sales tax. However, the law does not exempt “prepared food,” “soft drinks,” or “dietary supplements.” Businesses that sell these “foods” must collect sales tax. In addition, all alcoholic items are subject to retail sales tax.

BC sucks! Don't fish there! It's terrible and the cost of living is waaaaayyy too high. Tiny fish! Plus who wants to ice fish anyways?

@slacktide_angler

20 күн бұрын

BC stands for "Bring Cash"

@fishwhistle9666

19 күн бұрын

😂😂

@codygray7791

16 күн бұрын

Lol