Post By: Hawaiian Punch Posted: 10/18/2024 1:23:11 PMPoints: 11624
From Ewert, Yesterday at Wolford there were 1,271 Koks in the trap after three nights. 800 were females, but only 104 were ripe-the other 696 were all green. So our egg take was just 77,256 eggs from 104 ripe females. We had 170 fish to give away and 33 people who showed up for fish.
I will keep posting the info as I get notices from Ewert. The number of fish being given away should increase each time they empty the trap.
Yesterday . .199 ripe feamals . . .351 to give away and 19 people to give fish to.Jon is looking for experienced spawner help . . .tomorrow . .here is your chance to get your foot in the door. THat means everyone went home with at least 18 Koks, more if you spend the time fishing for Koks with a jig and sweet corn while you are waiting for the folks to return from the trap.
Shoe2 . . .it doesn't work that way . . .if you don't get there early, you go to the end of the line.When the egg collection crew takes off to go out to the trap there is already a line started and someone has already started a list on a clipboard . . . .when the crew comes back from the trap a line forms from the list and the fish are passed out to the folks on the list first . . . .when the crew comes back can change by the amount of fish to be stripped. The crew can also return to the trap for more stripping and then return for a second fish give away . . .once again it is by the list. If I were you, I would get there early (sunrise) and spend my time catching Koks on sweet corn. Your limit of fish you caught has nothing to do with the fish you get from the egg collection crew . . .I see guys catching a bunch of Koks on a jig and sweet corn and when the crew comes back with fish from the trap,they get in line according to the list and collect their fish from the crew . . You show up in the middle of the morning, you will be at the end of the line and folks that have been there since before sun up are not going to let you get ahead of them. Sorry to be so blunt, but that's how it works.
B.T.W. next years spawners come hang out at the boat ramp area and can be caught early in the morning on a small lead head jig, baited with sweet white corn (get it at Kings,Safeway,ect) fished under a small floater. Come equipped with a spinning rod,small lead head jigs and small floaters . . .you can learn how to use it from the guys that have been there before . . .its a great way to pass the time while the egg crew goes out to the trap and the koks you catch are all green as they will not be spawners till the next year. Once again, you can catch a limit of koks at the boat ramp and still collect however many fish the egg collection crew gives you. Can you say "a long day cleaning fish"
Cool Hawaiian. I have been there for pike when they are netting those but haven't been for Kokes. Might have to try your method for Kokes while time is right. I'm not local so, will let locals get the give aways. Thanks again for explaining how it works.
Shoe 2 . . .you got a CO fishing license . . .you got the right to the fish giveaway. B.T.W. they empty the trap on Mondays,Wednesdays and Fridays. Anyone wanting to get the info first hand get in touch with Jon Ewert Aquatic biologist Hot Sulphur Springs . . .ask to be put on his email list for Wolford . . .when your up there try to introduce yourself to Jon . .you may just get an invatation to help out at the trap . . .if you go out to the trap,you need to dress for it . . .rubber everything overalls,knee high boots,coat and dish washing gloves . . .IT GETS COLD and WET WORKING AT THE TRAP and if your not prepared you will be very uncomfortable . . .check out the guys who go out to the trap regularly . .they dress like the crews on Crabbing boats. Everyone . . .BRING A CURRENT Colorado fishing license . .no license . .no fish!!!!! jon.ewert@state.co.uscpw.state.co.us Emails are best for reaching Jon
good question . . .yes,but there's a long letter from Ewert with all that info . . right now it looks to be 584,981 eggs collected so far . . .If you are really interested, please contact Jon and get on his email list . . .Jon's info is in one of the above posts. HP Jon sends out an email after every days collection,but I'm pc challenged and I'm not going to try to move all that stuff from my email to here.
Yesterdays numbers . . .274,572 eggs from 380 females . . .557 fish to give away to 36 people . . .total eggs to date 859,553. Sounds like the spawning run has yet to peak. HP
TODAYS NUMBERS!!!!!! 452,682 eggs collected, from 620 Females . . . .956 fish to give away . . .everyone there got 40 fish . . .there were still at least 100 more in the trap. THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL TO 1,312,235 eggs for this year!!!!!!! Ewert needs experienced egg collectors Friday,next Monday,Wednesday and Friday and feels the spawn has yet to peak as there were lots of both reds and greens in the trap and it looks to be one of the best years on record . . . .friends,go get you some!!!!! You will never get Kokanee like this . . The females are all just turned red (so are the males) making for great smoking,canning or any other way you like to preserve them. If you are a snagger,this will change you forever!!!!!! How do you get 620 females and give away 956 fish? Don't forget the males! HP out!!!!
IceAngler . . . .you ain't a kidding . . . .egg numbers like this are the backbone of the Kokanee stocking program and Wolford does not have gill lice, so it's even better . . . .Call in sick! HP
A word of warning . . . .if you come home with 40 + Kokanees . . .be ready to clean 40 plus Koks . . . .After a pre dawn drive to Wolford and hanging out for the crew to return from the trap and the drive home . . . .cleaning 40 Koks will leave you wore out and begging for a big time break . . . .the year we had a blizzard up there, I was cleaning Koks for several days . . . .as soon as I got 12 cleaned into the brine they went . . my smoker ran non stop for what seamed like forever ,but boy howdy was it worth it. Salmon spread recipe . . . . 2 cups smoked salmon. Flacked 2 tablespoons Shallots chopped 1/2 of a Lemon juice 1 big package cream cheese . .room temperature . . .mix together, chill . . .serve with toasted French bread/crackers of your choice . . .don't let too many folks try it . . .my friends line up for this stuff.
I can't say for sure, but having worked the egg collection at C.C. for eye eggs the amount of eggs is done by how much space in a special measuring container that the biologists bring with them . . .there is also a counting tray that is used to set the amount first . . . .to get a real answer . . .talk to Jon Ewert (the biologist in charge of the egg collection) . . .I'd also go to YouTube and look around for a more accurate explanation. This question is outside my know how. I'll do some homework and see if I can find more info . . . .but no one sits and counts all the eggs . . . I went to YouTube and found many video's on how to count fish eggs . . .your answer is there. HP