Kokanee numbers for British Columbia’s main valley Okanagan lakes are increasing, according to a recent survey by British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.
In 2015, over 20,000 kokanee returned to spawn to Middle Vernon Creek, the main tributary of Wood Lake. This represents over a two-fold increase from previous years.
Given the high number of returning kokanee, the Ministry will continue to allow a fishery on Wood Lake from April 1 to Aug. 31 in 2016.
Okanagan Lakes Survey Highlights:
– Okanagan Lake kokanee spawners totalled 336,500, an increase from 80,500 last year. Stream-spawning kokanee totalled 31,500 and shore-spawning kokanee totalled 305,000 fish.
– Kalamalka Lake kokanee totalled 36,500, an above-average return.
Kokanee salmon are a land-locked form of sockeye salmon found in coldwater lakes of the Pacific Northwest.
source: Province of British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations