Cokanee
8/29/2018 8:04:26 PMDitto.. they haven't planted Ward lake in 2 year's. We really need some answers and truth on what they are doing and what we are paying for
Toni
8/29/2018 8:10:43 PMYes they have planted but they die. Same as Pierce County and Thurston county.
flyfisherguy
8/30/2018 8:07:10 AMLake Meridian has been a real disappointment for the past three years when it comes to Kokanee. I started fishing it about 5 years ago and it was very productive but then it started going downhill from there. Sure wish the state would put more effort into keeping this fishery going. Thanks for the report.
coyoteking
8/30/2018 8:47:54 AMAbout the time the Palmer Lake fishing went away, the fishing at Meridian, Clear, & American went down. Plus lots more. I don't think Fish&Wildlife is to blame but they could be a lot more upfront about what they think has happened. As well as what plans they have to fix this. If anyone has heard, please post!!
robert53a
8/30/2018 8:51:25 AMSurely the state fisheries could explain the kill off. I wonder if this is just a local problem or a bit more widespread. Thanks for the comments. It's good to know others are concerned.
fajitamondays
8/30/2018 10:26:12 AMThey still exist, somewhere. Several weeks ago, right off the WFDW launch -- https://imgur.com/a/o979B9m
They disappeared in a flash as the sun got higher. I gave up after donating a flasher/wedding ring to a snag, and dropshotted for perch later that morning.
Nearby Lake Sawyer gets a ton of koke fry plants (or used to?), but they probably get eaten up by the warmwater species. It's too bad that fishery never took hold.
They disappeared in a flash as the sun got higher. I gave up after donating a flasher/wedding ring to a snag, and dropshotted for perch later that morning.
Nearby Lake Sawyer gets a ton of koke fry plants (or used to?), but they probably get eaten up by the warmwater species. It's too bad that fishery never took hold.
Sideburns
8/31/2018 9:45:32 PMRecent years, every time I think im seeing kokanee schools (sonar) in meridian, I end up catching little cutthroat trout. Wdfw reports planting lots of fry in the lake every year though... The big heat wave in the summer of 2015 likely killed of most of the Kokanee, best case scenario, we'll be catching Kokes in the spring again next year. Worst case scenario is that hot summer marked a major change in the lake's ecosystem and the lake no longer supports Kokanee through adulthood. I have not gotten a clear answer from the wdfw on the subject. Unfortunately, 10 years ago something similar happened to sawyer and I have not heard of a single kokanee caught since. I havent been able to find a smoking gun yet, but im certainly no biologist.