Hey, That's Not a Kokanee - or is it?

VanDaddy · 08-12-2005, 07:59 PM

Took some friends from Germany fishing today at Merwin. It was their 13 year old boy�s first fishing trip ever. We caught a few Kokanee. The boy caught one that looked different than other Kokanee in Merwin, at least the ones I have caught.

Notice it has spots all along the back and on the tail. It was also missing its adipose fin. The regular Kokanee have their adipose fins in tack. Is this a Chinook? My impression was Kokanee are land locked Sockeye. Are their other salmon types that are referred to as Kokanee? What do they put in Merwin?

Anyone know?

Stratocaster · 08-12-2005, 08:15 PM

Chinook jack? How big? 14"?

KingFisher85 · 08-12-2005, 08:22 PM

Just a spring chinook smolt that got lose from speeliya fish hatchery. Looks like a two year old. Should see the four year olds :smile:

slowbuilder2005 · 08-13-2005, 10:39 AM

Probably a bit late for looking now, but Chinook have dark colored gums in their mouth while trout and Koke's have light colored gums. Hard to see in your picture, but it looks like the spotted fish has darker gums ...can't quite tell tho'

Brian

Kevin Newell · 08-13-2005, 10:49 AM

Chinook, I've caught a bunch of these out of Merwin.

Thumper · 08-13-2005, 01:17 PM

"Vegetarians, I love vegetarians, everything I eat is a vegetarian."

Now that's funny!!!

yankemnbankem · 08-14-2005, 03:19 PM

Same here, Ive caught a few of those. The ones I caught were around 17 inches and cut just as red as the Kokanee. I been thinking of cut plugging some anchovie for kicks to see if they will smack em.

gamoshot · 08-14-2005, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Probably a bit late for looking now, but Chinook have dark colored gums in their mouth while trout and Koke's have light colored gums. Hard to see in your picture, but it looks like the spotted fish has darker gums ...can't quite tell tho'

Brian

i agree the gums are pretty black looking

No Wishin Just Fishin · 08-14-2005, 04:43 PM

Soince Merwin is NF Lewis do you have to mark as a jack on your salmon tag??

CARTMAN · 08-15-2005, 08:28 AM

I would say small chinook. Someone correct me if I am wrong. I was told that they are starting to stock merwin with Chinooks. There is no passage from merwindam down river, so that would make them land locked? or is there something else going on? I know the hatchery at speelyia is producing them. Would be cool to be able to pick up a nook from time to time up there. Specially when using such lite gear for the kokes.

cartman