IDFG considers increased kokanee harvest
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April 26, 2014 |
Continued improvement of North Idaho’s Lake Pend
Oreille kokanee population has the Idaho
Department of Fish and Game considering an
increase to the harvest limit.
As hoped, the kokanee population has responded
well to intensive efforts to reduce predators.
Lake trout have been dramatically reduced thanks
to angler harvest and lake trout netting
efforts, and as a result, survival of juvenile
kokanee has increased and the population has
significantly increased.
Jim Fredericks, fishery manager for the IDFG’s
Panhandle Region, said the agency is considering
an increase from the current limit of 6 to the
general regional limit of 15 per day. The
current fishing rules, which took effect in
January 2013 would be in effect through 2015
unless the IDFG Commission approves a mid-cycle
change.
"We shifted from to a two-year to a three-year
rule cycle in 2010, and we recognized there
would be times we wouldn't want to wait until a
new rule cycle to make a change." Fredericks
said. "When we opened the kokanee fishery in
2013, we took a very cautious approach with the
six-fish limit, anticipating if the population
continued to grow we could consider changing the
rules mid-cycle."
Last fall, an estimated 1.2 million mature
kokanee survived to spawn, which made it one of
the highest spawner returns seen in the past 40
years and was about a four-fold increase from
2012. All indications are that there should be
even more mature fish in 2014.
Kokanee, or landlocked sockeye salmon, are not
only a popular sportfish, but are the foundation
for the trophy rainbow fishery and the bull
trout population. For these reasons, maintaining
a healthy kokanee population is a top priority.
"We wouldn't propose an increase if we weren't
entirely certain the population could withstand
the additional harvest." Fredericks said. "The
kokanee population is back to being at or above
the level it was in the 1980s and 90s when the
kokanee limit was 25 per day, so we're very
comfortable with an increase to 15".
IDFG monitors the kokanee population by midwater
trawl netting and hydroacoustic surveys. The
population surveys, in combination with an
angler creel survey running throughout 2014 will
enable biologists to closely monitor the
population as well as angler harvest.
Though Fredericks doesn't expect to see any
downturn in the kokanee population, if something
unexpected did happen IDFG could use the same
process to implement a more conservative limit.
According to Fredericks, if approved by the
commission the increased limits would remain in
effect through December 2015.
Fredericks invites any anglers who have
questions or comments about the possible rule
change to contact him at (208) 769-1414 or send
an e-mail to
jim.fredericks@idfg.idaho.gov, before May
10th. If an increased limit is supported by
anglers, IDFG staff will present the idea to the
Commission at their May 14-16th meeting. If
approved, the rule would be effective
immediately. |
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