Asked on one of the FB pages but didn’t get much response,
Curious if anyone has any inside scoop on what this season will hold for the derbies, last year most cut out Kokanee from them. Will they make a return this year?
Looking to make life slow down some and finally get back to the lake for some pup and koke fishing
I seen something on the Burbot bash, but I didn’t read it very close. I think it was the last weekend in January. Guess I looked to see when not to hit FG. Last time I was there on bash weekend I couldn’t believe how many people showed up for it. So I prefer to fish when crowds are down. Just me, I like to enjoy less crowded spots on my outdoor time. Later Jeff
(12-30-2024, 02:05 AM)SkunkedAgain Wrote: [ -> ]I seen something on the Burbot bash, but I didn’t read it very close. I think it was the last weekend in January. Guess I looked to see when not to hit FG. Last time I was there on bash weekend I couldn’t believe how many people showed up for it. So I prefer to fish when crowds are down. Just me, I like to enjoy less crowded spots on my outdoor time. Later Jeff
We are more “fair weather fishers” ? we only do the spring-fall fishing (usually between memorial and labor day) and only do the DU derby in June. But would like to spend a couple weekends up there this year, try to get on top the pups and bring a few silver bullets onto the boat as well.
We used to fish it hard and heavy a couple years ago, then got busy with life and noticed the koke fishing was struggling, just curious how it’s projected to look this season.
Hopefully Ryan (Ryno) will see your post and help out. He’s always good to share the current situation. Koke’s had been way down, but I heard they were a little better this year. Later J
With the low koke numbers and all the unhappy people, I dont see them putting a koke category in to any of the derbies. I would not be surprised to see them put in some sort of total height of pup lake trout which I don't agree with, But that's just my 2 cents.
(12-30-2024, 03:08 PM)nofish2 Wrote: [ -> ]With the low koke numbers and all the unhappy people, I dont see them putting a koke category in to any of the derbies. I would not be surprised to see them put in some sort of total height of pup lake trout which I don't agree with, But that's just my 2 cents.
They have had total weight of pups as a category for the last couple years.
Buckboard even does a “Mack attack” derby specifically aimed at the pups.
Curious as to your opinion on why it’s not a good idea?
(12-30-2024, 05:49 PM)TRUBBS Wrote: [ -> ] (12-30-2024, 03:08 PM)nofish2 Wrote: [ -> ]With the low koke numbers and all the unhappy people, I dont see them putting a koke category in to any of the derbies. I would not be surprised to see them put in some sort of total height of pup lake trout which I don't agree with, But that's just my 2 cents.
They have had total weight of pups as a category for the last couple years.
Buckboard even does a “Mack attack” derby specifically aimed at the pups.
Curious as to your opinion on why it’s not a good idea?
Being a lake trout addict you can't agree there are to many in the lake regardless of what they say. But I do agree the koke fishing has all but died off and I do my part and take a few of the pups home now and then in hopes it will help the lake out.
I do hope the harvest increase of the pups helps the lake out and we don't look back in ten years and say that wasn't such a good idea.
(12-31-2024, 12:42 AM)nofish2 Wrote: [ -> ] (12-30-2024, 05:49 PM)TRUBBS Wrote: [ -> ] (12-30-2024, 03:08 PM)nofish2 Wrote: [ -> ]With the low koke numbers and all the unhappy people, I dont see them putting a koke category in to any of the derbies. I would not be surprised to see them put in some sort of total height of pup lake trout which I don't agree with, But that's just my 2 cents.
They have had total weight of pups as a category for the last couple years.
Buckboard even does a “Mack attack” derby specifically aimed at the pups.
Curious as to your opinion on why it’s not a good idea?
Being a lake trout addict you can't agree there are to many in the lake regardless of what they say. But I do agree the koke fishing has all but died off and I do my part and take a few of the pups home now and then in hopes it will help the lake out.
I do hope the harvest increase of the pups helps the lake out and we don't look back in ten years and say that wasn't such a good idea.
I had a whole reply typed up, not sure how the quotes posted without it.
But I think reducing the smaller pup population will be good move
(12-30-2024, 02:41 AM)TRUBBS Wrote: [ -> ] (12-30-2024, 02:05 AM)SkunkedAgain Wrote: [ -> ]I seen something on the Burbot bash, but I didn’t read it very close. I think it was the last weekend in January. Guess I looked to see when not to hit FG. Last time I was there on bash weekend I couldn’t believe how many people showed up for it. So I prefer to fish when crowds are down. Just me, I like to enjoy less crowded spots on my outdoor time. Later Jeff
We are more “fair weather fishers” ? we only do the spring-fall fishing (usually between memorial and labor day) and only do the DU derby in June. But would like to spend a couple weekends up there this year, try to get on top the pups and bring a few silver bullets onto the boat as well.
We used to fish it hard and heavy a couple years ago, then got busy with life and noticed the koke fishing was struggling, just curious how it’s projected to look this season.
Kokanee fishing in the spring/summer was much better last year, compared to 2023. I noticed more smaller fish in my catch, even down to yearling kokanee, which hasn't been the case for many years. That was good to see. Survey data collected in late summer, showed the population still trending down, and slightly lower than 2023. More good news though, the run/spawn was better last fall, and the reservoir drop is supposed to be minimal this winter, which will hopefully equate to good kokanee recruitment in 2025. In addition, having liberalized the regulation on small lake trout, and tournament organizers taking advantage of the "unlimited small lake trout", will hopefully lead to some additional harvest on those predators and better survival of small kokanee. Not sure what they'll decide with the kokanee categories for the summer tournaments though, they usually start planning for those after the ice tournaments are over. Good luck!