RalphL
Well-known member
I have heard they will start stocking koke in Fish Lake next year.. Anyone else heard that How is the fishing there..
fish lake kokes??
- Thread starter RalphL
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Bduck
Flaming Gorge Forum MODERATOR
I haven't heard anything on this but that doesn't mean it can't or won't happen. With the current population of type fish in this lake, one has to wonder if koke survival can make it. 101smily101
http://wildlife.utah.gov/hotspots/detailed.php?id=3
http://wildlife.utah.gov/hotspots/detailed.php?id=3
RalphL
Well-known member
macks,splake, rainbow, possible tiger musky.. sounds like a rough start but the news came from a good source.. Make any sense as a food source for other species??
COKEANEE
Well-known member
Yep the lake trout will enjoy them but they should be able to provide for a great kokanee fishery as well. The DWR will be planting a lake spawning breed of kokanee, what ever they are, some time next year.
I don't know the topography of Fish Lake but a fish biologist I know says that lake structure or zones has everything to do with fish being able to co-exsist in the same body of water. In CA, we have a few lakes that DF&G plants 50,000 kokes a year and no one has ever caught one.
RalphL
Well-known member
a lake spawning species?? Ever been succesfull anywhere else??
Kokaholic
Well-known member
Many of the kokes that are in the gorge are lake spawners. They have done pretty well there.
COKEANEE
Well-known member
I'm all for it. We need more deep water kokanee lakes in Utah. Especially in central Utah.
COKEANEE
Well-known member
Ya SuperD I didn't type exactly what I meant with that last post. Fish Lake will be a nice addition for kokanee fishing, I am very happy with the DWR's decision. There is another deep lake that has had kokanee in it and after Oct. 17th I'll let you know how successful it is so far.
Bduck
Flaming Gorge Forum MODERATOR
With all of the mountain lakes here deep water is not rare. DNR from what I'm hearing has plans to add Kokanee to some lakes but they have their criteria. With current stock reports, more game fish are being added to areas that they are not native to. There is also the illegally dumping of certain species of fish in the lakes that's been taken into consideration.
https://dwrapps.utah.gov/fishstocking/Fish
https://dwrapps.utah.gov/fishstocking/Fish
Kokaholic
Well-known member
Dave, that still doesn't help. What depth do you consider deep water.
Bduck
Flaming Gorge Forum MODERATOR
Dave, Why am I being questioned when I fish in 120-150'+ in some of these smaller lakes. I'm not sure what you see when I take you out fishing but the surroundings I'm seeing is the Rocky Mountains. One thing I think we can all agree on is to build more reservoirs with the growing populations. If your going to refer to the Salt Lake Valley, you'll only find warm water species here with a depths of maybe 70' max. Let's face it the lakes in the western states are suffering due to the lack of water but is worse on the west coast. Most lakes here can drop 50' level and still have a deep canyon/s of water. You have seen deep water in Bear L, East Canyon, Jordenelle, Strawberry and then you have some that have lesser such as Rockport and Hyrum Res which these 2 lakes are obviously not good candidates. DNR is doing the studies which I can assure you they can give every reason in their book why or why not kokes will be stocked. E Canyon use to be stocked with kokes but stocking ended around the 1992 time frame. Porcupine Res is a self sustaining Kokanee lake which when water levels drop you would think this lake wouldn't hold kokes with its lesser depths. Maybe others will chime in here of other lakes south of our northern area. Don't forget that aquatic invasive species are in the mix now.
Kokaholic
Well-known member
I think you pretty much said it all roger.
Bduck
Flaming Gorge Forum MODERATOR
Strawberry is a high elevation lake. One side of it is Soldier Creek which is deep with good koke population. However on the other side of the fence, Strawberry side is a lot shallower with good kokanee population. Dave, both Causey & Porcupine are small lakes with sustainable koke populations. Moon Lake is another sustainable but I have never been there to say what its greatness is about. I also understand the harsh summer climate of the Sacramento Valley (been there, lived there) and there kokes could not live in a lake outside of deep water. It sounds like they can live in most situations depending on climate, lake size, and this case 2 very different parts of the country, sea level vs. mountain states. One other scenario, I use to fish Donner Lake, CA and it strikes me as a not very deep lake but elevation near 8000' and colder water sustain kokanee. Once again each states fish & game departments have their own criteria. Maybe our state guy here Ryno can give us an insight of what's on the table in the future and what criteria are they looking for. Its obvious that funding is the game changer.
mtncat1
Well-known member
I don't think depth is as important to kokanee production as temperature and food supply. straw berry is much shallower than soldier creek 75' v/s 130' . yet the kokanee fishing on the strawberry side is as good or better than soldier creek. I think fish lake would be an excellent lake to produce good size kokes not like the babies in most lakes.
SuperDaveMT
Well-known member
My primary koke fishing lake is a 500 acre regulating reservoir for the local irrigation district at an elevation of about 3800 feet. The deepest water in the lake is 50 feet at full pool with an 8 -10 foot swing in the water level from full pool to the lowest level. I catch lots of kokes in the 12 - 16 inch range, with a few occasionally pushing 20 inches. The surface temperature will get up in to the 60s during the summer. I catch most of my fish in the 12 - 18 foot range, so I think it is probably more a thermocline issue that a depth issue. We catch kokes all year, trolling or thru the ice. No natural production though. Any idea why triploid kokanee aren't more widely stocked in lakes with no natural production? I understand it costs more up front, but you wouldn't experience a die off of all the 3 year olds every year.
