01-08-2012, 01:21 AM
[quote cpierce]Don't they usually spawn in late August to October? Maybe he didn't get the memo in time!!![/quote]
That's an excellent question cpierce!. The particular fish you viewed is a kokanee indeed but a winter spawning strain. In Idaho there are two different strains of kokanee. The one strain most people know of is the fall spawning strain which we catch in Ririe or Palasaides or at Mackay Reservoirs. However, sometimes the Fish and Game Department plants the winter strain (spawns Dec thru February) in Devil Creek Reservoir and used to plant in Deep Creek Reservoir. I caught a female of this winter spawning strain years ago at Devil Creek Reservoir in January. It had a green head and yellowish-brown body and was a female. The one in the picture is a male with the green head and red body. And yes mine was terrible tasting!!!! Took one bite and YECK! When they are in their spawning stage the raging hormones that transforms their bodies into scary creatures with fangs ruins the flavor of the meat. Either have them mounted for the wall or turn them back, eating is out of the question. I told a fish and game officer I really preferred the fall spawning strain (spawns late September thru October). That way they are nice to catch in the summer and winter ice fishing. The adults who have spawned in the fall are gone and don't show up in the ice fishing catch like the one in the picture.
DeeCee
[signature]
That's an excellent question cpierce!. The particular fish you viewed is a kokanee indeed but a winter spawning strain. In Idaho there are two different strains of kokanee. The one strain most people know of is the fall spawning strain which we catch in Ririe or Palasaides or at Mackay Reservoirs. However, sometimes the Fish and Game Department plants the winter strain (spawns Dec thru February) in Devil Creek Reservoir and used to plant in Deep Creek Reservoir. I caught a female of this winter spawning strain years ago at Devil Creek Reservoir in January. It had a green head and yellowish-brown body and was a female. The one in the picture is a male with the green head and red body. And yes mine was terrible tasting!!!! Took one bite and YECK! When they are in their spawning stage the raging hormones that transforms their bodies into scary creatures with fangs ruins the flavor of the meat. Either have them mounted for the wall or turn them back, eating is out of the question. I told a fish and game officer I really preferred the fall spawning strain (spawns late September thru October). That way they are nice to catch in the summer and winter ice fishing. The adults who have spawned in the fall are gone and don't show up in the ice fishing catch like the one in the picture.
DeeCee
[signature]