Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Noahs Arc on March 07, 2020, 10:29:53 AM

Title: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: Noahs Arc on March 07, 2020, 10:29:53 AM
Has anyone been out that way yet? Was out that way earlier last week fishing another area and forgot to have a look for ice on Kawkawa.
Any ice updates appreciated. I’m hoping to get the little guys out there soon they’re very jealous and too young for steelhead yet, and are eager to tie one on.
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: Rodney on March 07, 2020, 12:31:23 PM
There has been no ice on the lake this winter.

A couple of notes. The coho population appears to dominate the lake now and abundance of kokanee seems to be low. This shouldn't be a surprise when one species has a daily quota of four while retention remains closed for the other competitive species.

All coho salmon appear to be full of worms. According to locals, it isn't unusual to see worms in these coho early in the season and by June they usually all disappear, however it's a lot more worms this year.

(https://i.imgur.com/svTZWFM.jpg)
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: psd1179 on March 07, 2020, 01:02:09 PM
I am worrying the local residents health
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: firstlight on March 07, 2020, 04:08:33 PM
So thats where them Ramen noodles come from... :o
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: Noahs Arc on March 09, 2020, 09:33:27 AM
Thanks Rod. Just looking for some easy numbers for the little guys. Took the boat up to Weaver last weekend and it was closed. Ended up fishing around Kilby with no luck.
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: RalphH on March 09, 2020, 10:56:21 AM
I thought the coho were non-retention?
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: Robert_G on March 11, 2020, 03:04:51 PM
Strangely enough, in most systems Coho average a larger size than Sockeye, and yet in all my years fishing Kawkawa Lake, the landlocked Coho are averaging substantially smaller than the Kokanee.
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: JustPuttsin on March 22, 2020, 09:20:14 AM
Has anyone been to the lake this weekend? Just curious as to how busy it was.
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: psd1179 on March 22, 2020, 10:25:10 AM
Has anyone been to the lake this weekend? Just curious as to how busy it was.

I am curious if people have appetite for the Kawkawa kokanee after seeing the round worm picture. 
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: fisherforever on March 22, 2020, 10:38:33 AM
Nothing wrong with the Kokanee, Rods pic shows a COHO! These worms don't affect Kokanee.
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: psd1179 on March 22, 2020, 11:01:15 AM
Nothing wrong with the Kokanee, Rods pic shows a COHO! These worms don't affect Kokanee.

Worms have a life cycle, part inside the fish, part in the water and part in some aqua insects. I am not sure if worms don't affect kokanee, but I am sure  I don't want to touch that piece of water.


An example:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/_oCPo-g8e5GvsHTSppyXkaYUiiDMUkKQKTIWd2zHYRtePjp7MGNEq-g04pYarG1ByAoigNZWaWJ4SNTThjMu0Q)

Another one
(https://petcentral.chewy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/camallanus-worms.jpg)
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: clarki on March 22, 2020, 12:23:23 PM
Nothing wrong with the Kokanee, Rods pic shows a COHO! These worms don't affect Kokanee.
Are you suggesting that these these broad fish tapeworms don’t affect Kokanee, or they don’t appear to affect Kokanee in Kawkawa lake?

They affect Kokanee in other parts of the province
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/kootenay/fsh/main/pdf/Kootenay_Lake_Sport_Fishing_Update-March_2008-final.pdf
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: Dave on March 22, 2020, 02:13:55 PM
Those look like Philonema nematodes, and were very common in Cultus Lake sockeye.  But not to that degree.
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: clarki on March 22, 2020, 04:03:01 PM
Thanks Dave. Now to googles that 😀
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: spoiler on March 22, 2020, 07:07:03 PM
for some reason, a few years ago some of the hatchery Coho that were released ended up in Cultus Lake.
they grew to a decent size and people were catching them up to 2lbs.
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: Hike_and_fish on March 22, 2020, 07:46:02 PM
I caught a few in Kawkawa last week ( Kokanee ) while trolling. The three Kokanee we caught had zero worms. Although they did look pale. They  looked like they had been exposed to the sun and dried out. I did find them awfully grassy tasting. First year I've had that taste from Kawkawa Kokanee. Tasted like muddy Merritt trout. Yuck
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: Robert_G on March 22, 2020, 08:58:30 PM
I caught a few in Kawkawa last week ( Kokanee ) while trolling. The three Kokanee we caught had zero worms. Although they did look pale. They  looked like they had been exposed to the sun and dried out. I did find them awfully grassy tasting. First year I've had that taste from Kawkawa Kokanee. Tasted like muddy Merritt trout. Yuck

That is strange. I haven't eaten a kokanee of their for a few years, but before that, I bonked them all the time. Never had a fish that didn't taste like a nice sockeye.
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: Wiseguy on March 22, 2020, 10:42:30 PM
Mmmm. Tastes like muddy Merritt trout. My favourite. What u all catching those tasty Kokanee on?
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: obie1fish on March 23, 2020, 09:53:57 AM
I'm wondering if there is a lack of feed that contributes to the kokanee's flesh colour.
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: stsfisher on March 23, 2020, 01:07:56 PM
I caught a few in Kawkawa last week ( Kokanee ) while trolling. The three Kokanee we caught had zero worms. Although they did look pale. They  looked like they had been exposed to the sun and dried out. I did find them awfully grassy tasting. First year I've had that taste from Kawkawa Kokanee. Tasted like muddy Merritt trout. Yuck
That was my experience of them from last year. I had a couple of limits that ended up in the smoker instead. No more Kawkawa kokanee for me anymore.
Title: Re: Kawkawa lake 2020
Post by: Igotsnagged on March 23, 2020, 07:04:06 PM
Saw a post from Fred’s on Facebook, the boat launch is blocked off.