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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]THIS IS NOT A CONDEMNATION OF ANY ONE ANGLER OR GROUP OF ANGLERS.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]However, I would like to offer this up for your consideration and possible implementation if, and only if, you deem it appropriate for yourself and your fishing philosophy. I’m talking about catch & release of kokanee salmon and only kokanee salmon.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]There are studies available that indicate the mortality rate of caught & released kokanee salmon is higher than for almost any other species of fish. There is even a good article on this subject from our own DWR: [url "http://wildlife.utah.gov/blog/2015/kokanee-to-release-or-to-keep/"]Kokanee: to release or to keep?[/url][/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Regardless of release methods, some of these caught fish are going to die. For me, I stop targeting salmon when I have my water specific limit on ice and change lures to those more appropriate to other game fish such as lake trout, rainbows, or cutts. I did catch a kokanee in the Gorge last year in 70 feet of water on a j-plug in August and had to release it because I already had my 3-fish limit. Stuff happens and I regret having to do that knowing that that fish probably did not survive that encounter.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]I’m not calling anybody unethical for continuing to target kokanee after keeping their limit, but would ask that you consider not continuing to fish for them just to rack up high numbers of kokanee caught in a day or during a multi-day trip.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]If you’re not a fish eater, then give them to friends or neighbors who would love to have some fresh caught salmon; trust me, they will be very thankful for the gift.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]The kokanee resource is a finite one and limits are in place for a reason. And again, THIS IS NOT A CONDEMNATION OF ANY ONE. Thanks for listening and I’ll step down off the soap box now.[/#800000][/font]
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Bob Hicks, from Utah
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I think that the reason for the higher mortality rate has a lot to do with their soft mouths. When I catch them trolling they almost always have a mouth that is torn up my the time they get to the net, and if I get them in a bony spot, their mouths get torn up getting the hook out.
I've noticed also that I see less damage to the fish when I catch them vertically jigging whether from a boat or ice fishing for them. I don't know why, maybe it has something to do with fighting them from a boat going trolling speed.
I always switch to another species after I or those on my boat get our limit for this very reason. Like you said, I don't judge those for C&R on the kokes, but as for me, I can't in good conscience keep catching fish that I'm sure will see at least. 50% mortality rate after the release. For this reason, when i go target kokes I try to get a full boat of anglers together so we can fish a little longer for them (and no, I don't party fish, just make sure everyone gets to catch their own limit.).
I also fish for kokes with the intention of keeping a full limit if possible every time out. They are so good that a limit never lasts more than a few days at most so they are never wasted. They are a short lived fish and benefit from harvest, but not waste.
Mike
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I primarily troll for kokes at Strawberry nowadays, typically twice every week during the summer. Here's what I do, but I'm not suggesting that anyone else should do what I do. On a typical day I arrive at dawn and troll for a couple of hours and catch 2 or 3 or 4 kokes and keep whatever I catch, even if they're dinks. I nearly always fish solo, so I'm not harvesting a huge number of fish. I've never intentionally released one, but I never continue to target them after I've caught 4. If I want to continue fishing, I pull in the riggers, motate to a favorite spot and jig for cutts and bows, although it's very rare for me to keep any of those at all, especially big cutts. I'm there for the total fishing experience, not to take home a bunch of fish. But no, I don't C&R kokes.
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We catch a mix of kokes and macs and stop when we get our limit, if we eat some we go back for more. The small ones are tasty too!
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I agree with all that has been said to this point. I have not given it much thought, because I have yet to catch a limit of Kokanee, but if I do I will follow what has been said and start targeting other species.
I have never released a kokanee that has been caught in my boat, they are mighty fine dinnin', and I very seldom keep trout unless the person on the boat wants to take some home to eat, or some one I know request that I bring them some back for them to eat.
Brian
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I spend a lot of time on the Gorge and catch my share of Kokes but seldom release any. As soon as we get what we need we switch to vertical jigging for Macks. Like what has been said here it is very rare to catch a Koke unless you are targeting them. There is so much else to do when I am up there that I would rather get my fish and get off the water. The small ones are good eating. And Fresh's Fresh Blackened Fish Tacos w/Fresh made Pico De Gallo is the best. Here Fishy Fishy.
Kokanee Whisperer
Mike Fresh
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[quote dubob][font "Times New Roman"] [/font][font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]THIS IS NOT A CONDEMNATION OF ANY ONE ANGLER OR GROUP OF ANGLERS.[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000] [/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]However, I would like to offer this up for your consideration and possible implementation if, and only if, you deem it appropriate for yourself and your fishing philosophy. I’m talking about catch & release of kokanee salmon and only kokanee salmon.[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000] [/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]There are studies available that indicate the mortality rate of caught & released kokanee salmon is higher than for almost any other species of fish. There is even a good article on this subject from our own DWR: [url "http://wildlife.utah.gov/blog/2015/kokanee-to-release-or-to-keep/"]Kokanee: to release or to keep?[/url][/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000] [/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Regardless of release methods, some of these caught fish are going to die. For me, I stop targeting salmon when I have my water specific limit on ice and change lures to those more appropriate to other game fish such as lake trout, rainbows, or cutts. I did catch a kokanee in the Gorge last year in 70 feet of water on a j-plug in August and had to release it because I already had my 3-fish limit. Stuff happens and I regret having to do that knowing that that fish probably did not survive that encounter.[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000] [/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]I’m not calling anybody unethical for continuing to target kokanee after keeping their limit, but would ask that you consider not continuing to fish for them just to rack up high numbers of kokanee caught in a day or during a multi-day trip.[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000] [/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]If you’re not a fish eater, then give them to friends or neighbors who would love to have some fresh caught salmon; trust me, they will be very thankful for the gift.[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000] [/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]The kokanee resource is a finite one and limits are in place for a reason. And again, THIS IS NOT A CONDEMNATION OF ANY ONE. Thanks for listening and I’ll step down off the soap box now.[/#800000][/font]
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Can I please share this on the Kokanee Forum Flaming Gorge? It is very excellent.
Mike Fresh
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Good thoughts on ethics for a very high quality fish...I know there are good, better, and best ways to release kokanee, especially when compared to how some other fish are tossed back in...good info on the internet....But I don't agree with C&R on the kokes either after you've gotten a legal limit...otherwise we're feeding a lot of birds...
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[quote ducksfresh]Can I please share this on the Kokanee Forum Flaming Gorge? It is very excellent.[/quote][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Mike,[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]You certainly may, but its already on the KFF Utah forum - not the Gorge forum. If you think it needs to also go on the Gorge forum, you might just show a link to the Utah forum.[/#800000][/font]
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Bob Hicks, from Utah
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Catch and Release of Kokanee is a bad idea and in my opinion unethical. Honestly, I wish there was more information out there to discourage it in the heavily fished areas like Strawberry and Flaming gorge. They are soft and on the weaker side. I get my limit and move on to another fish.
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If studies are correct the Kokanee tournaments do a lot of harm. I've heard of people catching 75+ in search of the "big one" on a side note what a great weekend at the gorge for Kokanee
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My released Kokanee are usually LDR.
However I have released a few very small Kokanee at the Gorge once in a while.
Don't know anyone that targets Kokanee for catch and release.
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One recommendation I noticed last year on the Kokanee Flaming Gorge Forum was to increase the limit to 4 Kokanee and require all Kokanee must be kept.
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[quote ducksfresh]One recommendation I noticed last year on the Kokanee Flaming Gorge Forum was to increase the limit to 4 Kokanee and require all Kokanee must be kept.[/quote]
Only problem with this is, what happens when I have a limit of kokes, and have moved on to targeting other species, and I catch a koke that is bleeding badly,and i have to release a dead fish?
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do you have any links to these studies? I would be very interested in seeing these studies. to the best of my knowledge there has never been a study on the kokeanee mortality on the gorge.
the article that you linked too goes to Ryan's blog, and he is very knowledgeable on kokes. But his blog is just guide lines, no hard proof.
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Not a problem at all, just follow the Law.
Strawberry has the largest Pelicans anywhere from eating (bait) gut hooked cuts in the slot that require release by law abiding fishermen.
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[quote kokeking][quote ducksfresh]One recommendation I noticed last year on the Kokanee Flaming Gorge Forum was to increase the limit to 4 Kokanee and require all Kokanee must be kept.[/quote]
Only problem with this is, what happens when I have a limit of kokes, and have moved on to targeting other species, and I catch a koke that is bleeding badly,and i have to release a dead fish?[/quote] I have NEVER caught a koke unless I was targeting them.
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"I have NEVER caught a koke unless I was targeting them."
I almost agree. Yesterday on Strawberry I was targeting Kokes and catching some. Fishing had slowed, so we went to Haws Point to catch Cutts. I put out the pop gear on lead line with a squid tipped with night crawler, and promptly caught 3 cutts and a Kokanee. I actually caught one other kokanee on that rig while targeting trout on that rod. To be fair, I was still targeting kokanee on the downriggers at the same time, but I can see how a it is possible to catch a kokanee while not targeting them.
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[quote kokeking]Only problem with this is, what happens when I have a limit of kokes, and have moved on to targeting other species, and I catch a koke that is bleeding badly,and i have to release a dead fish?[/quote][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]What happens is this; you make a decision based on your ethics and conscience. You either release the fish as required by law or you keep the fish in violation of the law. Only you can decide that for you, wasting the fish is more egregious than violating a law.[/#800000][/font]
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Bob Hicks, from Utah
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[quote kokeking]do you have any links to these studies? I would be very interested in seeing these studies. to the best of my knowledge there has never been a study on the kokeanee mortality on the gorge.
the article that you linked too goes to Ryan's blog, and he is very knowledgeable on kokes. But his blog is just guide lines, no hard proof.[/quote][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]In preparation for writing this thread, I did some simple google searches and found several studies indicating the mortality for kokanee salmon is higher than most other freshwater fish species with one or two exceptions. I did not save any of those links, so no, I can't give them to you. And none were specific to the Gorge.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]You are correct in your statements about Ryan Mosley. Ryan is a fisheries biologist whose work focuses on both the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir. If there are any studies in this vein specific to the Gorge, I'm sure he would be aware of them and would be willing to share them with you. I've found all DWR employees willing to discuss anything job related every time I've called them or talked to them in person.[/#800000][/font]
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Bob Hicks, from Utah
I'm 82 years young and going as hard as I can for as long as I can.
"Free men do not ask permission to bear arms."
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