Ep. 67 - Anderson Ranch Kokanee With Mike Peterson & Tucker Brauer

Welcome to Idaho Fish and Game’s Hook and Bulletin podcast—your weekly news roundup of hunting, fishing, trapping, and conservation stories from around the Gem State.

Host Connor Jay Liess sits down with Ben Bieri (Digital Content Specialist), Mike Peterson (Regional Fisheries Manager), and Tucker Brauer (Regional Fisheries Biologist) in Featherville, Idaho. If you’re a die-hard kokanee angler, chances are you’ve heard of Anderson Ranch Reservoir. In this episode, Mike and Tucker discuss how Idaho Fish and Game manages kokanee at Anderson Ranch, the history of kokanee in the state, and the best ways to fish for them.

Additional topics: Manhattan “kokanee water”, fishing superstitions, acronym soup; why ARR is famous for kokanee; defining a trophy kokanee; the life cycle of an Anderson Ranch kokanee; predators; is Mike adfluvial?; a 44 ½-inch Stanley Lake lake trout; Jeromers vs. Twin Fallers; what makes up a world-class kokanee fishery?; other Idaho kokanee fisheries; why there’s no “one size fits all” kokanee playbook; water management; finding the abundance sweet spot; stocking hatchery fish; how do you count a reservoir-worth of fish?; kokanee per hour; creel surveys; when the bite gets hot; what is a kokanee angler?; kokanee boat wraps; relying too much on fish finders; what the heck is shoepeg corn?; trawling vs. trolling; rubber snubbers and your basic kokanee rig; when to change colors; flesh quality; slabs and bluebacks; and more.

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