So, I've been wanting to catch a Kokanee in full swawning colors since last year, but I just caught the run at the tail end, and was only able to find two fish, but unable to get them to bite. Yesterday, I finally got some, and they were bigger than I had hoped or expected. I headed down to Big Elk Creek and was pleased to find several holes and runs full of them. I was told they were hard to catch, but in an hour of fishing I landed nine and lost several others. They all bit on glo bugs. The biggest was 20 inches (my longest Kokanee ever) but the heaviest, I'm sure was the male in the pictures. He was at least 18.5 inches. It was a blast and they faught a lot better than I expected, I had to chase several of them down little rapids.
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That is awesome. I am going to have to get out and try that. There are tons of smaller ones coming right in at the Ririe boat ramp.
Windriver
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Looks like you had a good day. How long do you think that they are going to be spawning? Is it about over? If there are a few more days left I might run up and check it out.
Where is it that they run to in Ririe? Do they just go up WIllow creek? Or do they actually spawn in the lake there?
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I'm not sure how much longer they will be there, but I only found one dead one, and most of them were pretty solid, i.e. no fungus or squishy spots so I would guess they'll be there a little longer.
As far as Ririe goes, I'm not the best person to ask, but I know that to spawn most salmonids, including kokanee need running water to oxygenate their eggs. They can't actually spawn in the lakes successfully. So my guess would be Willow Creek.
I have a slight hunch judging by another post that they are running up out of IP Res. and they're bigger there though maybe a little tougher to catch.
Good luck
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I am sure some fish run up Willow but I think that the majority of them run straight back to the boat ramp. That is where they are planted so I would think thats where they go.
Maybe somebody else knows how much natural recruitment the ririe kokanee get, but I am guessing that their population stays high from planting. Not actual spawning. I could be totally wrong though.
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ok sounds great thanks guys
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