Dworshak fishery and the Nutrient enhancement project

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Dworshak

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Jun 12, 2013
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Hello, I am new to this forum, but not new to Kokaneee or Dworshak.
I am the Natural Resources Manager at Dworshak and have been involved heavily with the nutrient enhancement project of the reservoir.
This project is a partnership between Corps of Engineers and IDFG.
This project took a lot of heat over the last several years, but we are starting to see some of the benefits of balencing nutrients in the food chain.
If you are interested in the project, please pick up one of the handout information sheets posted at all the bulletin boards at every boat ramp.
Also, notice the fishing report cards, take the time to fill them out each trip and tell IDFG what your preferences are for Kokanee - these really will matter and will affect future decisions of the Dworshak Fishery.

Thanks All for coming out and playing on Dworshak.
If you have additional question about Dworshak or facilities, contact the Visitor Center at 208-476-1255,
our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/#!/dworshakdam (most of those fish pics are mine),
or our website http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/Locati...Reservoir.aspx
Better yet, stop in the visitor center at the dam and look me up.
 
Welcome, and thanks for doing what you do. I know you are working for a better quality, sustainable fishery, and I think that is what most of us want...
 
Thanks - it is a great project to work on.
I will be out camping and fishing all weekend doing research from the end of my poles and frying pan.
Good luck
 
Hi and welcome to the forum. Thanks for the info and all the work you guys have been doing at Dworshak. I've fished the lake for many years now and this year has had both great fishing and the size to the fish are definitely increasing. I have also noticed that the water clarity is improving. In past years the water has had such a greenish tint to it you couldn't see your lure much past a foot or so and this year it seems to be getting better.

Just my opinion, but I think it would also benefit the lake to increase or remove the catch limit of kokanee. Less fish & more food and we would see the average size of the fish greatly increase. But of course I'm no biologist or fisheries expert thats just my 2 cents.

Keep us posted on the program and thanks again. I will be stopping at the boat ramp and filling out the fishing report cards for sure. The kokanee are #1 in my book!
 
Yup Kokanee can eat themselves out of food and stunt growth.
Catch numbers affect number of fish, but I do not think catch alone can keep the population in balence. Predator fish do.
Have you ever caught bass or Bull trout while fishing Kokanee? I have - I know they are targeting Kokanee.
I suspect that when Bass reach a certain size they too chase the Kokanee, how much I do not know.
I have been trying to encourage IDFG to do some bass scale studies to see if there is a point at which the Bass have marked increase in growth, possibly indicating utlization of another food source, Kokanee.
We saw this with Walleyes in FT Peck reservoir in MT. Once the Walleyes reached a size big enough to chase cisco, (another open water feeder like Kokanee), their growth rate significantly increased.
Bass and Bull Trout, along with the occassional flush of fish through the dam, may be enough to control population numbers.

This is all just my speculation, I am not a fisheries biologist, but have worked with a lot of them over the years and on this nutrient project.
 
Is Dworshak planted or 100% self sustained? Every lake in CA with stunted, over populated kokanee are planted ever year in addition to the self reproduction that occurs in the lake. Step 1) STOP PLANTING! At least until populations are under control. 2) Increase limits to slow down self reproduction rate.
 
SuperD, Dworshak has been self sustaining. I dont think they have put any kokes in Dworshak sense about the 1980's or so. A guy could look at the Idaho F&G web site and it would say for sure but its been along time. I have fished kokes in there from the time I was very young I want to say about 12 or 13. Im now 50 and still enjoy it. The enhancement project seems to be putting more weight and a little length on the fish, and it dosnt hurt the fish when 300,000 go over the dam and into the river. Seems bad but helps the size also. Its a short window when you can catch these fish in large amounts, so Im with Kokekruiser with high limts or no limts it wouldnt hurt a thing, but would help size and health. It will never have big koke in it, as they are all early spawners and genetically dont get that big.

Dworshak-- I dont think that bass are as much an impact as some believe. I have fished bass in there from an early point in life and had very few with kokes in them. I have caught smalls in there up to a little over 7 pounds. These big fish put on a great fight and seem to spit there stomach contents up when you get them to the boat. The big ones always have crawdads and mostly mice in them. I remind you that this is just what ive seen personally. When I target fish hanging below a school of Kokes 90 percent of the time I will come up with a pike minnow and most the time they are big, as in 3 lbs. I have seem bulls take out a ton of kokes but mostly when the kokes are in the nortfork spawnning. But if the bulls a pigging out on kokes why dont we see some huge bulls get caught? Just food for thought.
 
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Fishslayer - good to know about the Bass you have been catching - it was just a theory I was dreaming of when the bite was slow.
I have caught Bulls as big as 8 lbs on my Kokanee gear -
I think young of year Kokanee on good spawn years feed a lot of other fish.

SuperD, not sure what you are referring to as far as egg harvest program.

Fishing was real good all over the lake this weekend, from Canyon Creek to Grandad in all the likely spots.
Dent Bridge was HOT on the sunny side of the shadow line, but got real crowded and not fun.
Lost one that was real big, pushing 15-17" I bet.
 
I don't think you will have much luck getting F&G to raise the limit from it's current 25. To many opportunities for wasted game. I know that there is no way people are gonna waste more than go over the damn dumps but just pointing out what I think F&G perspective would be. Honestly with a 25 fish limit, if you go out with 3-4 people daylight is more likely to limit your catch than the F&G limit.

Good luck with the nutrient program. If you can keep up a 13" average on the fish like I am hearing about this year with a few up to 15" that would be a real accomplishment. Right now people are swarming LP for basically the same thing with a 6 fish limit here down south.
 

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