The NW Kokanee Zone

[MMDON]

Kokanee size seems to be a result of a combination of a few spring time factors rather then genetics. A long run off season adds increased nutrients to the biomass. Add to this a longer spring time of cooler temperatures so the Kokanee can stay up high enough in the water column to feed for a greater number of days before warm water sends them below the level at which light penetrates the water to create plankton. If you have this situation 2 to 3 years in a row your fish are large. Low water years with warmer spring time temps seem to break this cycle creating smaller fish.

 

[Medium D]

It would appear that some common theories follow Kokes in Idaho as well as here in Washington, when discussing size of fish. Size and numbers of fish do seem to go in cycles. I think everyone can agree that food source and temperature have a lot to do with this. If conditions are such that you have a high survivability percentage of your planter fry, you may find an abundance of fish available, although perhaps a little smaller than their average size, previous years. If you have an increase in predation, lots of feed and lots of large fish survivability, your koke numbers can be down. When all things are consistent, ie; winter precipitation, temperatures, water levels, etc. the normal cycle repeats itself. The conditions here on the west side of the State in Wa. are cold. Here we are in the middle of March and temps still down at freezing and only warming to 41 to 44 during the day. More of the normal spring temps are on the way, however, it will take a few weeks after that to see the lake temps begin to rise. This could be a positive in the nutrient levels and biomass growth suspending those fish where they will continue to feed in the upper columns, gain some size and be nice and fattened up as we roll into May. Bottom line is there is only so much feed available for the kokes to grow on. If a lot of them make it through the winter and are feeding late winter, early spring, there is less food to go around, which equals smaller fish. If we have the same amount of food available and less kokes feeding, the results can be nice fat fish… I’m hoping for a FAT season…

 

[eenakoK]

It would appear that some common theories follow Kokes in Idaho as well as here in Washington, when discussing size of fish. Size and numbers of fish do seem to go in cycles. I think everyone can agree that food source and temperature have a lot to do with this. If conditions are such that you have a high survivability percentage of your planter fry, you may find an abundance of fish available, although perhaps a little smaller than their average size, previous years. If you have an increase in predation, lots of feed and lots of large fish survivability, your koke numbers can be down. When all things are consistent, ie; winter precipitation, temperatures, water levels, etc. the normal cycle repeats itself. The conditions here on the west side of the State in Wa. are cold. Here we are in the middle of March and temps still down at freezing and only warming to 41 to 44 during the day. More of the normal spring temps are on the way, however, it will take a few weeks after that to see the lake temps begin to rise. This could be a positive in the nutrient levels and biomass growth suspending those fish where they will continue to feed in the upper columns, gain some size and be nice and fattened up as we roll into May. Bottom line is there is only so much feed available for the kokes to grow on. If a lot of them make it through the winter and are feeding late winter, early spring, there is less food to go around, which equals smaller fish. If we have the same amount of food available and less kokes feeding, the results can be nice fat fish… I’m hoping for a FAT season…

Duane -
Great post! I am hoping for the same... FAT fish!!