Triploid Kokanee Ice Fishing Trip

[andrewk]

Made a trip out to Monte Lake, BC today and had some success.  The fish were being a bit picky but we managed to get our 5 fish each.  Fish averaged about 14 inches.  All Kokanee in Monte Lake are triploid (3N), not diploid (2N) like other fish.  This means they are sterile and can't reproduce and live longer.  Their growth rate is slightly slower than normal 2N fish but they can live for a couple additional years if they don't get caught, and get bigger. I didn't get any of the bigger size classes but a successful day none the less.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MAaAlUrVEU

[FishingPhotographer]

👍🍻

[Whopper Stopper]

Good job!

     WS

[Brandon]

I'm not sure about the slower growth rate.  3N or Triploid fish usually grow much faster than 2N fish plus they have the added bonus of growing to larger sizes.  There are supposedly some nice fish in that lake! How much ice was there?  Where should a guy start looking for them.  I moved to BC and might like to go try and do some ice fishing in the Okanogan area next week for a few days.  Have a great day!  Thanks for the info.

[keithire2]

Nice

[andrewk]

I'm not sure about the slower growth rate.  3N or Triploid fish usually grow much faster than 2N fish plus they have the added bonus of growing to larger sizes.

Most of the research on rainbows actually shows about a 20% reduction in growth weight for triploids. But they do have the advantage of growing for longer periods of time. Monte Lake had about 5 inches of ice when we were out.  The trick for kokanee is to just go out where everyone else is fishing.  All of the flashing spoons seems to really attract the fish in. Good luck if you get out!

[Brandon]

http://www.thefishsite.com/articles/869/sterile-salmon-a-sustainable-future  Maybe those were original studies but with optimization I've read about triploids out performing diploids.  Especially once diploids hit sexual maturity the triploids will far surpass them in growth rate due to lost energy going to developing spawn in 2N.

Thanks for the tips.  Will try to get out there to catch some kokes.

[reddog11]

Nice

[207 in the 406]

Very cool! Thanks!