The overall objective is to restore the kokanee fishery in Banks Lake. In 2002 we implemented an evaluation study to determine the success of hatchery releases of Kokanee into Banks Lake.  Evaluating the survival and harvest contribution rates of three different release strategies, spring fry, fall fingerling and yearling net pen releases indicated that fall fry survived the best followed closely by net pen yearlings.  Spring fry survival was poor.  Therefore, we will work to discontinue spring fry stocking and, if feasible, expand on the WDFW fall fry and net pen program. In addition, we will test night and day, open water stocking of fall fry and compare survival to the adult life stage. However, to legitimately evaluate these strategies we need to continue to sample the kokanee population over the next several years to quantify how many age 2 to 4 yr-old Kokanee are produced by each release option.  Adult kokanee will be collected during all fish surveys, creel, and during focused kokanee sampling (with boat electrofishing) to collect otoliths to determine stock specific survival.

Walleye predation on Kokanee was determined to be the primary top down limiting factor to Kokanee survival in Banks Lake. Piscivory by Smallmouth Bass occurs but what found to be less prevalent. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife liberalized the Walleye regulations in Banks Lake to remove more of the smaller walleye that have the highest consumption rates on Kokanee. Fall Walleye Index Netting (FWIN), along with boat electrofishing will be used to monitoring the walleye population over time. An annual creel survey will be used to monitor Walleye harvest and size of fish harvested.

Lake Whitefish are the primary competitors with kokanee for zooplankton prey. Lake Whitefish removal efforts will continue in the summer and winter months.  Reducing Lake Whitefish biomass will reduce their predatory impact on zooplankton. A summer hydroacoustic surveys (July) will be used to monitor abundance and distribution of limnetic fish species including Kokanee and Lake Whitefish (target verification with limnetic gill netting survey).

Water quality and zooplankton monitoring will continue to identify if sub-optimal conditions occur for kokanee during survival-based studies and monitor Daphnia density and body size.