Kokanee and Rainbow on your favorite lake - Did you know?

[hewesfisher]

WDFW 2012/2013 regs pamphlet, page 17, Statewide Freshwater Species Rules, section for TROUT lists the following species, "Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Golden Trout, Tiger Trout, Grayling, Cutthroat Trout, Lake Trout, KOKANEE, Landlocked Atlantic, Chinook, and Coho Salmon." Adjacent to this species list you will also find the Additional Rules for them, in particular, "In lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: No minimum size. Daily Limit 5. When fishing with bait, all TROUT (except STEELHEAD) equal to or greater than the minimum size are counted as part of the daily limit whether kept or released."

Note Kokanee are included in the trout daily limit and are counted in the same manner as any other trout in the species list when fishing with bait.

It is important to check the regs for the body of water you are fishing as some EXCLUDE kokanee from the TROUT limit. HOWEVER, if the special rules for the lake you're fishing do not say kokanee are EXCLUDED, when fishing with bait, you must count incidental catch TROUT and kokanee TOGETHER as they count toward your legal daily limit whether kept or released.

I don't agree with this, but these are the rules as defined in the regs pamphlet. I've known this for some time because I take the time to read not only the regs, but species listed, all definitions, and special rules for any body of water I choose to fish.

A recent American Lake report "implied" an angler had caught, and released, a limit of rainbow trout in addition to retaining some kokanee while using bait. However, the special rules for American Lake do not EXCLUDE kokanee from the TROUT daily limit. I've read similar reports for other lakes where rainbow trout are released while fishing for kokanee with bait, yet kokanee were not not EXCLUDED in the regs and count toward the trout limit. In lakes where kokanee are not excluded in the TROUT limit, you cannot catch and release a limit of rainbows and continue to fish for kokanee, they all count toward the daily limit of TROUT.

I like to fish Lake Roosevelt and the special rules clearly state, "Kokanee not included in TROUT daily limit." Same applies to Loon Lake here in Eastern WA. Chapman lake in Spokane county excludes kokanee from TROUT daily limit. Lake Stevens excludes kokanee from the TROUT limit. Lake Washington kokanee are included in the TROUT limit. Clear Lake in Pierce or Thurston Counties do not exclude kokanee from the TROUT limit. These are but a few of the most common lakes I see in reports.

I haven't heard of WDFW wardens enforcing this rule, however, if you are fishing for TROUT with bait, and kokanee are included in the TROUT daily limit, and you catch or release 5 TROUT, by the book, you have caught a daily limit of TROUT and must not continue to fish.

Take a few minutes to read the rules for the body of water you plan to fish so you know what the rules are. If the special rules don't say kokanee are excluded, then every trout you catch while fishing with bait, kokanee included, counts toward a daily limit.

I hope this saves someone from learning an expensive lesson.

[Mike Carey]

thanks, fishing with bait for kokanee and having to include those pesky rainbows, that's a bummer, but it is the regs on many lakes.