kokanee

[srupp]

Anyone have a tried and true fly pattern for kokanee?
Thank you.

Steven

[Jagermeister]

Years ago I used to supply Young's Tool and Hardware with a red version of a Doc Sprately for use on Skaha Lake. They sold a lot but I never heard how well they fished.
I would think that a brilliant red micro leech would work

[Lastcar]

I've heard guys will troll a red blood worm pattern on a floating line near the surface in the early spring on Kawkawa Lake in Hope.

Every year I say I am going fish them on that lake...but alas it comes and goes and I am still talking about it.

[srupp]

Hmm havnt targeted them for? 30 years? Caught 1 maybe 15 years ago on Mcleese lake..cant remember todays breakfast let alone a fly 15 years ago...lol
Steven

[Brambles]

Take a hook and tie some Teflon tape to it, leave it so it will flutter a bit, killer when the bait ban is on.

[Sofa King]

red always seems to work.
but I know lakes where they are finicky, and they want green/chartreuse one day then red the next.
some guys do well with pink.

personally, I find I can never be bothered targeting them.
I'd rather pursue the larger fish in a lake.

[pin_head]

I've done well with small red wooly buggers and with pumpkin heads as well.

Brad

[Sunzuki]

The biggest Kokanee I ever caught was on the Shuswap.
Buddy netted it, unhooked it and tossed it back so quick I nearly fainted.
WTF?
Salmon, he says.
Yer a tard........says I.

Cost him beer all day.

Friends...........huh?

[REMINGTON JIM]

The biggest Kokanee I ever caught was on the Shuswap.
Buddy netted it, unhooked it and tossed it back so quick I nearly fainted.
WTF?
Salmon, he says.
Yer a tard........says I.

Cost him beer all day.

Friends...........huh?

Kokanee in Shuswap Lake - yea there called Sockeye :shock: lol RJ

[Jagermeister]

I target them. There is nothing finer than smoked kokanee. If I get too many in the freezer, then a little canning will do too.
I don't fly fish them. I troll with a small flasher and a small red spoon of sorts about 12-14" trailing. Lead core line with 3 to 5 colors out and 35' leader or thereabouts. Could fish them on a downrigger too. Depth varies depending on the time of day and the amount of light hitting the water. Brighter days makes for deeper fish. The larger ones are usually deeper than the smaller ones. If you're hitting 10-12" fish or smaller, try going deeper.
Tyee Lake was one preferred choice. Was never keen on McLeese.
With triploid kokanee, it is quite common now to catch close to 2 lbs with a length of 16-18".

[Sofa King]

why the F would they make "triploid" kokanee?
they are feeder fish.

[Sofa King]

Kokanee in Shuswap Lake - yea there called Sockeye :shock: lol RJ
if you are implying because they are not landlocked, that is true.
but there are resident kokanee in the lake.
they need to change the classification of the fish, because most lakes they are in are not landlocked.

[butcher]

They may not be technically landlocked but they are certainly not anadromous.

[REMINGTON JIM]

NON ! of the Shuswap fish are Landlocked :) RJ

[Dannybuoy]

why the F would they make "triploid" kokanee?
they are feeder fish.

Not in the lakes that they are stocked into .... unless you mean feeding fisherman ... eg Monty lake

[butcher]

NON ! of the Shuswap fish are Landlocked :) RJAgain, not landlocked but not anadromous. They do not leave their systems. The kokanee and sockeye are two separate populations.

[butcher]

why the F would they make "triploid" kokanee?
they are feeder fish.

because they are immensely popular sport fish that are exclusively targeted by many anglers especially during winter fisheries.

[Sunzuki]

Tranquille Lake has Kokanee and it's not land locked either.

Yes, it was a Kokanee and they are in the Shwapp...........jeeeesh.

[goatdancer]

why the F would they make "triploid" kokanee?
they are feeder fish.

I think the Americans made them years ago and introduced them into the Columbia. Back in the late 70's we were catching some big kokanee in the Columbia at Castlegar.

[Foxtail]

Itiedt these with paracord and a lighter... I want to try the Red ones on Kokanee. They all work killer on cutties.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg162/foxtail-offroad/archery%202015/20150403_223421_zpshgluw8me.jpg (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/foxtail-offroad/media/archery%202015/20150403_223421_zpshgluw8me.jpg.html)

[srupp]

Hmmm thank you gents..have some place to start..will make a few of a couple patterns for some local lakes
Steven

[Jagermeister]

True, they are a feeder fish. Gerrard rainbows snack on kokanee. Kokanee are distinct, they do not migrate to the ocean and return to spawn as do sockeye. But they do spawn in like manner to their ocean going cousins, even to the point of turning crimson and expiring at the end of the cycle.
Kokanee may spawn in streams but some are shoreline spawners as well. A spawning kokanee are called kickininee, both are first nation words.
Kokanee existed in the Columbia River system for eons. When the Duncan Dam was being constructed, kokanee spawning channels were being constructed on Meadow Creek to help with the loss of spawning habitat on the Duncan River system.
There was a severe kokanee population decline when the Duncan River started impoundment as nutrient was no longer entering the lake to feed the plankton that the kokanee relied on. This is why BC Hydro did the fertilizer program.

[Sofa King]

Itiedt these with paracord and a lighter... I want to try the Red ones on Kokanee. They all work killer on cutties.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg162/foxtail-offroad/archery%202015/20150403_223421_zpshgluw8me.jpg (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/foxtail-offroad/media/archery%202015/20150403_223421_zpshgluw8me.jpg.html)

wicked idea, fox.
those look great.

[Sofa King]

because they are immensely popular sport fish that are exclusively targeted by many anglers especially during winter fisheries.

well sure, but they are also the staple diet of any of the larger fish in the lakes as well.
why make them triploid so they can't spawn?
seems like a waste of stocking $$ really.

[speycaster]

Probably because some lakes have no spawning areas. Triploids grow like weeds.

[Fisher-Dude]

The lakes with triploids are generally not lakes with Gerrards. Thus, there's not an issue with food source-sized kokanee for the big trout.

[ruger#1]

NON ! of the Shuswap fish are Landlocked :) RJ Neither is Osoyoos lake. Kokanee were dying there a couple of years ago. They also have a nice sockeye run. Lots in there last year.

[REMINGTON JIM]

Our LAKE Trout Love eating our Koks ! :wink: RJ

[Ourea]

Srupp

Pink Carey Special.
Money.

[butcher]

well sure, but they are also the staple diet of any of the larger fish in the lakes as well.
why make them triploid so they can't spawn?
seems like a waste of stocking $$ really.

First off yes, lakers love them. Have a look at the lake trout and bull trout in Williston lake since Kokanee were introduced. I could dig up a study I have somewhere but who really reads those?

Secondly, exactly right. Triploids so they don't spawn. They put no energy into reproduction and therefore grow larger and live longer, making them an ideal sport fish. Not a waste of stocking $, an excellent final product for the anglers of BC.

There are those who disagree of course, I won't name names.

[Beaves84]

I like a hot pink wolly bugger with lots of flash.

Usually with type 6, or when I can off a downrigger around 20'

[scoutlt1]

Itiedt these with paracord and a lighter... I want to try the Red ones on Kokanee. They all work killer on cutties.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg162/foxtail-offroad/archery%202015/20150403_223421_zpshgluw8me.jpg (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/foxtail-offroad/media/archery%202015/20150403_223421_zpshgluw8me.jpg.html)


Those are the ticket. (love the thought that went into making those!!!)
Bright colors (red especially), and lots of flash work great for those tasty little fish!! :)

[Jagermeister]

True, they are a feeder fish. Gerrard rainbows snack on kokanee. Kokanee are distinct, they do not migrate to the ocean and return to spawn as do sockeye. But they do spawn in like manner to their ocean going cousins, even to the point of turning crimson and expiring at the end of the cycle.
Kokanee may spawn in streams but some are shoreline spawners as well. A spawning kokanee are called kickininee, both are first nation words.
Kokanee existed in the Columbia River system for eons. When the Duncan Dam was being constructed, kokanee spawning channels were being constructed on Meadow Creek to help with the loss of spawning habitat on the Duncan River system.
There was a severe kokanee population decline when the Duncan River started impoundment as nutrient was no longer entering the lake to feed the plankton that the kokanee relied on. This is why BC Hydro did the fertilizer program.
Just a heads up on the Kootenay situation and if you happen to be in the area. Get it first hand and bring it back to us.

NELSON - Kootenay anglers are encouraged to learn more about management plans for the recovery of the Kootenay Lake fishery at a public meeting co-hosted by the Province and the Balfour and District Business & Historic Association:
Date: Monday, June 15, 2015
Time: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location:
Balfour Community Hall
(Intersection of Busk Rd. and Charles St.)
Balfour
Significant declines of kokanee have been detected in Kootenay Lake. Kokanee are the primary prey of large rainbow trout (known as Gerrards) and these declines also negatively affect the Gerrard fishery.
The number of Kootenay Lake kokanee that survive to spawn naturally cycle up and down. Numbers have been in a downward cycle since 2012, and in fall 2014 they were the lowest they had been since annual monitoring began in 1964, at 150,000. While populations will eventually recover as part of the lake’s natural cycle, given the importance of Kootenay Lake to local anglers and businesses, efforts are being undertaken to speed the process. Kootenay Lake provides a world-renowned angling experience, responsible for 40,000 to 60,000 ‘angler days’ every year and $3-5 million in direct angler expenditures.
In response, the Province assembled an expert team of provincial fish biologists, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, the Ktunaxa First Nation and a BC Wildlife Federation technical expert to discuss all options to speed recovery of kokanee stocks.
The expert team has now completed their review, and the Province is using the advice gained to help speed the recovery of Kootenay Lake kokanee populations, and therefore also support a productive and sustainable Gerrard trout fishery. Major actions taken or planned in the next year include:


Regulation changes effective April 1, 2015 including:

Reducing the quota for kokanee from 15 to 0 fish per day, to allow kokanee populations to recover.
Increasing the quota for Gerrard trout from 2 to 4 fish per day, while maintaining the regulation to 1 Gerrard over 50 centimetres, reducing predation on kokanee while still encouraging the continued abundance of large Gerrards.


On May 21, 2015, the Province and the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC released 90,000 kokanee fry into Crawford Creek and 5,000 kokanee fry into Hendryx Creek, two tributaries of Kootenay Lake.
Reviewing bull trout catch rate and kokanee survival numbers in late June to determine if short term increases to the bull trout daily quota are appropriate.
Working with the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC to collect up to 5 million kokanee eggs elsewhere in B.C. this fall, to be hatched and released into a Kootenay Lake tributary, if kokanee escapement is below 2014 levels. In addition, the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC will raise up to 500,000 additional kokanee fry for release in spring 2016. This will increase kokanee numbers as prey in the lake in 2016, and supplement the next generation of kokanee spawners.
Extend the nutrient restoration season further into the fall, environmental conditions permitting, to improve kokanee over-winter survival.
Initiate review and data analysis to better understand predator/prey dynamics in the lake, and inform future management actions.

In addition to these extra measures, regular Kootenay Lake management work is continuing, including fishery and ecosystem monitoring, regulation reviews, nutrient restoration work, maintenance of key kokanee spawning channels and ongoing spawner estimates for both Gerrard rainbow trout and bull trout.
Learn More:
For more background on the Kootenay Lake fishery read the Kootenay Lake Sport Fishing Update released in May 2015: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/kootenay/fsh/main/docs/Kootenay%20Lake%20Sport%20Fishing%20Update%20May%2 02015.pdf
Media Contacts:
Greig Bethel
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261

[butcher]

Getting 5,000,000 eggs and 500,000 fry to stock the lake is going to be tough. Some would say not possible.