Freak of Nature?

Caught this fish at Clear Lake in Pierce county on sunday april 26th. I think it's a kokanee that survived the spawning phase. Maybe did not spawn. Don't know, but I did contact a biologist from the sate and will let ya know what I find out. The fish is 17" and I kept it thinking the biologist may want to see it.

Wrong tail for a Koke? But your title is correct on any account.

Are there any Cutts in that lake?

Be sure to let us know what you find out!

How was the fishing at Clear Lake?

The skin and anal fin looks like it has the characteristics of a catfish. This is a strange one. Man, don't go swimming.

Now that defines UGLY.

Ok kids, look at the eye, also no spots or stripes like a trout. And no cutts in the lake. The fins were all worn down and the fish was a slimey bugger. I really think its a kokanee, just don't understand why it's alive.

wow thats a weird one for sure,, BUT i have seen hatchery rainbows without spots adn dis formed jaws,, its just a messed up genetically rainbow,,look at the fins,, def worn from concrete raceways def a hathcery mutant just like our palomono goldens here in pa let us know for sure though thanks kk

It looks like the gene pool needed a little chlorine. Thanks for keeping that one.
laugh hyst

but the color??? man it sure the heck looks like a female koke atleast the ones we get here in the fall some are more red and some like your fish in question a more charcoal gray,, i will try to post a picture of a female koke that has the same coloration as your fish that i got a last fall,the thing that makes it weird though is look at the color on the caudal penducle it has the typical yellowish orangish fade going on like in kokes,,man this is a great one to analyze wish i had it in my posession i would look at the gill rakers first,, kokes eat plankton therefore have more and are much finer than trout,, i still think it is a trout but the colors and the fact it is still alive in april makes me wonder about it being a koke maan this is a tough one gotta find the truth lol lol i am a mad fish scientist so this specimen really intrigues me lol

female koke i got last fall,,colors are close to your mystery fish

Definately a strange looking fish. I'll be very curious to here the final outcome on that one. Clear Lake? I'm trying to remember but I think I used to fish that lake when I was stationed at Mchord in the early 90's. What's the location in reference to the USAF base? Is it part of Fort Lewis? If it is the same lake I didn't know they had kokes, just rainbows.

Bob

It looks like the result of cross bred Kokanee and Trout... the tail of a trout and partial jaw characteristics of a Kokanee along with the spawnish female look. Great post and glad you were thinking of getting a biologists.