Indian Valley Reservoir

If I remember right 2009 was the year of the drawdown, so it makes sense that it was so low in that report.  As far as the kokes being altogether gone, Sailfish did report losing a big one in 2011.  Unless he was mistaken and had a rainbow on or something, there must be some in there still.  I guess the real question is whether or not there is still a planting operation up there.  If there is, they may not have had time to get real big again, but they should be in there.  How long do kokes live before spawning and dying?  3 to 4 years or so?

If I remember right 2009 was the year of the drawdown, so it makes sense that it was so low in that report.  As far as the kokes being altogether gone, Sailfish did report losing a big one in 2011.  Unless he was mistaken and had a rainbow on or something, there must be some in there still.  I guess the real question is whether or not there is still a planting operation up there.  If there is, they may not have had time to get real big again, but they should be in there.  How long do kokes live before spawning and dying?  3 to 4 years or so?

The typical kokanee in a California reservoir lives to be between 2 and 4 years old.  When we go to Indian Valley we will collect otoliths and scales from any kokanee we catch, and age them.  I'll let you guys know what we find. 

If I remember right 2009 was the year of the drawdown, so it makes sense that it was so low in that report.  As far as the kokes being altogether gone, Sailfish did report losing a big one in 2011.  Unless he was mistaken and had a rainbow on or something, there must be some in there still.  I guess the real question is whether or not there is still a planting operation up there.  If there is, they may not have had time to get real big again, but they should be in there.  How long do kokes live before spawning and dying?  3 to 4 years or so?

We are deciding whether or not to continue planting kokes in Indian valley.  The typical kokanee in a California reservoir lives to be between 2 and 4 years old.  When we go to Indian Valley we will collect otoliths and scales from any kokanee we catch, and age them.  I'll let you guys know what we find. 

Perhaps I should have picked up on this by now, but what exactly do you do for a living ATD?  You said you are deciding whether or not to continue, does that mean it has been going on up until now, but you may not continue, or that you haven't been planting, and are trying to decide whether or not to resume planting?  Next question, why is there any question?  Indian Valley was becoming a world class Koke fishery... why on earth stop?  Financing?  Water management issues?  Underused lake so why bother?  Not being accusatory, just wondering... thanks in advance.

PS... when you head up there, will it be with some sort of research boat like electroshocking and collecting? 

If I remember right 2009 was the year of the drawdown, so it makes sense that it was so low in that report.  As far as the kokes being altogether gone, Sailfish did report losing a big one in 2011.  Unless he was mistaken and had a rainbow on or something, there must be some in there still.  I guess the real question is whether or not there is still a planting operation up there.  If there is, they may not have had time to get real big again, but they should be in there.  How long do kokes live before spawning and dying?  3 to 4 years or so?

We are deciding whether or not to continue planting kokes in Indian valley.  The typical kokanee in a California reservoir lives to be between 2 and 4 years old.  When we go to Indian Valley we will collect otoliths and scales from any kokanee we catch, and age them.  I'll let you guys know what we find. 

Perhaps I should have picked up on this by now, but what exactly do you do for a living ATD?  You said you are deciding whether or not to continue, does that mean it has been going on up until now, but you may not continue, or that you haven't been planting, and are trying to decide whether or not to resume planting?  Next question, why is there any question?  Indian Valley was becoming a world class Koke fishery... why on earth stop?  Financing?  Water management issues?  Underused lake so why bother?  Not being accusatory, just wondering... thanks in advance.

PS... when you head up there, will it be with some sort of research boat like electroshocking and collecting?

I work for DFW in the reservoir program. We typically don't shock kokanee except when they are in shallow water during the spawn. I think the department would like to continue stocking the lake, but we haven't looked at it since the draw down (Reservoir program was seriously understaffed until this year). I suspect DFW will continue to stock the lake if it looks like a viable kokanee water.

Well, thats great news... please remember me when you get some results. 

Well, thats great news... please remember me when you get some results.

Absolutely.  If you get up there before I do and are able to catch a kokanee, it would be a huge favor if you could send me the kokanee heads with length measurements.

Well, thats great news... please remember me when you get some results.

Absolutely.  If you get up there before I do and are able to catch a kokanee, it would be a huge favor if you could send me the kokanee heads with length measurements.

Got it, and will do.