Guests often ask me if there are derbies on this lake. There are. As far as I can find, three fishing derbies are now held on Okanagan Lake where a big rainbow trout can win the top prize, and each one has its own feel: a spring charity derby, a June family day, and an October tournament for serious trout anglers.
Here is what each derby's own website says. Details change, so check the official site before you register.
Brewed in Canada Fishing Derby (April)
The Brewed in Canada Fishing Derby is organised by Team Brewed in Canada as a fundraiser for BC Children's Hospital. The team says its Okanagan and Shuswap derbies have raised more than $250,000 for the hospital over six years.
The 6th annual Okanagan Lake derby was held on 18 April 2026, and the organisers report 104 boats registered. The 7th annual Okanagan Lake derby is set for Saturday, 17 April 2027.
Entry: $100 per boat (per lake).
Hours: 6 am to 4 pm.
Check in: measuring boards are issued the Friday before, typically in Vernon, Kelowna, West Kelowna and Peachland (2027 locations to be announced).
Prizes: 1st, 2nd and 3rd for the longest rainbow trout, plus kids' prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
Rules: fish are measured for length on the official board and photographed for the derby director. Anglers must follow all fishing and boating rules and hold a valid BC freshwater fishing licence where it applies. The rules do not say whether fish must be released.
A Reel Fishing Derby, Rustic Reel Brewing (June)
A Reel Fishing Derby is hosted by Rustic Reel Brewing Company in Kelowna, for all ages and abilities. The 4th annual derby was held on Saturday, 20 June, with registration package pick-up at the brewery the Friday evening before. Watch the derby page for the next date.
Entry: $40 for adults, $20 for ages 13 to 18, and free for kids 12 and under.
Base: Rustic Reel Brewing, 760 Vaughan Avenue, Kelowna. Fishing is on Okanagan Lake only.
Prizes: a first place prize for the longest fish (over $3,500 in value), two prizes for the fish closest to two randomly drawn lengths (over $950 in value each), and a randomly drawn participation prize for registered kids 12 and under.
Rules: the latest posted rules (2025) say only trout and kokanee count, measured for length on the official ruler and submitted through the MyCatch app. All BC fishing regulations apply. The rules do not say whether fish must be released. The top prize is for the longest trout or kokanee, so a big rainbow can win it.
Kelowna Classic Fishing Tournament (October)
The Kelowna Classic Fishing Tournament is run by Rodney's REEL Outdoors, a guided fishing charter in West Kelowna. It is the most rainbow-focused of the three: the main placings are for rainbow trout only, judged on length, not weight.
The 4th Kelowna Classic was held in October 2026, and the organiser's results page lists a winning rainbow of 31 3/4 inches. The 5th Kelowna Classic is set for Saturday, 23 October 2027, from 7 am to 4:30 pm.
Entry: $70 per person; everyone on board needs a ticket. Official rulers are $30. Register online or at Trout Waters in Kelowna the Friday before.
Where: anywhere on Okanagan Lake, no tributaries.
Prizes: $2,000, $1,000, $500 and $300 for 1st to 4th, and two rods and reels (total value $1,200) for 5th, based on at least 90 entrants. Optional cash jackpots include longest rainbow and a youth (18 and under) rainbow category.
Cause: $5 from every entry ticket goes to the Payton and Dillon Budd Memorial Fund for Mental Health.
Rules: all BC fishing regulations apply. Fish are entered by photo on the official ruler with the tournament decal, plus a second photo showing your location on the lake. There is no weigh-in, and you may release or keep your fish once it is photographed. The organiser reported that over 75% of fish entered in 2026 were released.
Tips for derby day
Get your licence first. Anyone 16 or older who fishes needs a BC freshwater fishing licence. Here is how to get a BC freshwater fishing licence in a few minutes online.
Be safe. Derby mornings put a lot of boats on the water at first light. Wear your lifejacket, check the wind forecast, and give other boats room.
Handle big rainbows gently. If you plan to release, keep the fish in the water as much as you can, wet your hands before touching it, support its belly, and have your ruler and camera ready before you lift it. Take your photos quickly and let the fish recover facing into the water before you let go.
Fish Okanagan Lake with me
You do not need a derby to go after a big Okanagan Lake rainbow. If you want to learn the lake, practise your technique, or simply spend a day chasing kokanee and rainbow trout, I would love to have you aboard. Check open dates on our availability page and come fish Okanagan Lake with Desert Salmon Charters.
Nelson, BC-certified angling guide, Desert Salmon Charters