The famed West Kootenay rainbow strain — historically the largest on earth — and the trophy draw of kootenay lake. A kokanee-eating piscivore, so it's a trolling/charter target more than a fly-cast one. Note the size caveat below: recent fish run smaller.
Conflicting size info — flagged for review
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Historic/renowned: largest rainbows worldwide, to ~16 kg / 35 lb creston flyfishing web research 2026 06.
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Recent (2023, DNA-confirmed): Gerrards have shrunk to sizes typical of other BC lakes — predators outstripped their kokanee prey gofishbc articles 2026 06. Both kept per vault rules; treat ~35 lb as the historical ceiling, not today's average.
Key points
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Origin: native to the West Kootenay creston flyfishing web research 2026 06.
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Forage-driven: boom/bust tracks the kokanee base the Nutrient Restoration Program sustains bc government fish data sources 2026 06; current abundance has overshot kokanee supply gofishbc articles 2026 06.
Harvest push: the Kootenay Lake Angler Incentive Program rewards harvesting rainbow/bull trout (turn in heads → prize draw) to relieve predation on kokanee gofishbc articles 2026 06.
Fishing by region
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The Gerrard is a Kootenay Lake strain — regulations, seasons, and tactics for it live in Gerrard Rainbow Fishing on Kootenay Lake.