July 1, 2009
July 1, 2009
Cle Elum Lake kokanee maximum size limit of 14”
Action: Adopt a maximum size limit of 14 inches total length for retention of kokanee (landlocked sockeye salmon) in Cle Elum Lake.
Effective date: Immediately through Oct. 28, 2009
Species affected: Kokanee
Location: Cle Elum Lake (Reservoir) in Kittitas County
Reason for action: The Yakama Nation and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are beginning the reintroduction of anadromous sockeye salmon in the upper Cle Elum Basin with the transfer to Cle Elum Lake of 1,000 adult sockeye salmon trapped at Priest Rapids Dam on the Columbia River. A percentage of the fish will be released with radio-tags so they can be tracked in the lake to understand their pre-spawning behavior and later this fall when they migrate into the upper Cle Elum River to select spawning habitat. Few anadromous sockeye will be smaller than 16 inches, and few landlocked kokanee are greater than 12 inches; therefore a 14-inch size threshold will allow the kokanee fishery to proceed this summer without inadvertently harvesting valuable sockeye dedicated to the reintroduction effort.
Other information: The kokanee daily limit remains the same (16 kokanee, no min. size); see Page 87 in the 2009-10 sport fishing rules pamphlet.
Information contacts: Eric Anderson, District 8 Fish Biologist, (509) 457-9301 (Yakima) or John Easterbrooks, Regional Fish Program Manager, (509) 457-9330
Cle Elum Lake kokanee maximum size limit of 14”
Action: Adopt a maximum size limit of 14 inches total length for retention of kokanee (landlocked sockeye salmon) in Cle Elum Lake.
Effective date: Immediately through Oct. 28, 2009
Species affected: Kokanee
Location: Cle Elum Lake (Reservoir) in Kittitas County
Reason for action: The Yakama Nation and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are beginning the reintroduction of anadromous sockeye salmon in the upper Cle Elum Basin with the transfer to Cle Elum Lake of 1,000 adult sockeye salmon trapped at Priest Rapids Dam on the Columbia River. A percentage of the fish will be released with radio-tags so they can be tracked in the lake to understand their pre-spawning behavior and later this fall when they migrate into the upper Cle Elum River to select spawning habitat. Few anadromous sockeye will be smaller than 16 inches, and few landlocked kokanee are greater than 12 inches; therefore a 14-inch size threshold will allow the kokanee fishery to proceed this summer without inadvertently harvesting valuable sockeye dedicated to the reintroduction effort.
Other information: The kokanee daily limit remains the same (16 kokanee, no min. size); see Page 87 in the 2009-10 sport fishing rules pamphlet.
Information contacts: Eric Anderson, District 8 Fish Biologist, (509) 457-9301 (Yakima) or John Easterbrooks, Regional Fish Program Manager, (509) 457-9330