WDFW 2012 Stocking Plan - American Lake

[fishbone]

Hopefully, someone on this board can set me straight on this issue. I have attempted a number of times to contact WDFW with my inquiry with no response (I am not knocking WDFW - I know they are very busy this time of year and have suffered cutbacks, but I am hoping for a straight answer).

If you review the WDFW 2012 stocking plan for 2012 which is available on line, there are no notations for the stocking of kokanee in American Lake (or any lake in Region 6 for that matter). All other lakes in all other regions that normally receive kokanee fry have a notion showing the number of fry planted. And, if you review the 2011 stocking plan, you will see that kokanee are noted as being stocked in American.

So the question is . . . were there no kokanee stocked in American lake for catching in 2012? Or, were the stocking of kokanee for Region 6, including American Lake, inadvertently (or for some reason, purposefully) left out of the stocking plan document even though the typical Region 6 lakes were stocked?

If anyone has any first hand knowledge . . . or can direct me to someone who has it, that would be most appreciated.

 

[Kokanee Kid]

I see what you are looking at. Also see some of the other lakes I have fished for kokanee and they list "fry" stocking. But American does not. Makes me wonder as well.

 

[Stradic]

The kokanee we fish on for 2012 would have been stocked in 2009. The fry stocked this year will be may-jun 2012. These fish wont be fished on for a few years. Call Lakewood Fish Hatchery they are the guys that raise the fish for that lake. Better yet go down there and check out the production.

 

[fishbone]

Case closed . . . I received a response from Larry Phillips of WDFW (thank you Larry). He advised the following:

"Sometimes the kokanee plants aren’t included in the stocking plans on the internet…..not sure why . . . In 2010 we stocked 347,000 kokanee fry directly into American Lake and another 120,000 into the net pen in Murry Creek. Anecdotal reports so far this year are not good. This is surprising because the fishery was great last year. Hopefully fishing will improve as the water warms. Good fishing. LP."

Sorry for being an alarmist. I have been looking forward to this fishery for months. Take care all.

 

[TrollNFisher]

I'm kind of worried, think about it we didn't catch any small fish last year. But I could be wrong and I hope I am.

 

[Kokanee Kid]

I have seen a mix of fish from 11"-15", so who knows until we all start getting into them. I know I have a plan "B", "C", and "D".

 

[Kokanee-Toni]

I didn't catch a small fish but I saw some one who did. They wanted to know how I caught big ones. I told them to use larger lures.

 

[Winterun]

The kokanee we fish on for 2012 would have been stocked in 2009. The fry stocked this year will be may-jun 2012. These fish wont be fished on for a few years. Call Lakewood Fish Hatchery they are the guys that raise the fish for that lake. Better yet go down there and check out the production.

Stradic!
Good point! Alot of folks don't understand the species and think a trout would be the same as a salmon be it there land-locked salmon they have different life cycles. So it would be best to take a look at the "Archives" section of the kokanee plants on the WDFW site to see what year class koke's we are going to be fishing over this year.

Can you imagine fishing over 4.4 million fry planted in 2012, on one NW Washington Lake in 2 years!!! Anyone could catch a koke then!!!

See you on the water, with your new boat!
Winterun