History of the Christina Lake Commercial Kokanee Fishery

Currently , Christina Lake is a popular recreation destination. One main recreational activity that visitors partake in is fishing. Rainbow Trout, Kokanee and bass are the most sought after species. Historically, Christina Lake has provided a moderate fishery.

Rainbow TroutKokanee

Largemouth Bass

The commercial fishery concentrated on shore spawning kokanee from the turn of the century until the 1960’s. It was believed that shore spawning kokanee were a superior tasting fish at spawning time (mid Nov.- mid Jan.). They were easier to catch in abundance at this time, and this developed the kokanee market. Unlike stream spawning Kokanee, shore spawners do not turn red during spawning.

The primary method of harvest was drag seine. This involved use of a weighted net that would be strung out in the water and then hauled in to the beach or to a boat.

Harvested Kokanee were boxed and shipped as far away as Calgary and Spokane. The biggest market was for the city of Trail.

Eventually the fishery became controlled by the Fish and Wildlife Branch through permitting. Commercial and sustenance permits were reduced and eventually eliminated.

Why did the fishery fail?There are three main factors that contributed to the decline of the commercial fishery:

1. declining fish size2. conflict with sport-fishing interests3. lake ice conditions coinciding with spawning

time.

YEAR POUNDS LITERARY SOURCE

1898 – 1899 28,000 Scott and Crossman (1973)

*1927 31,400 Stringer (1963)

1935 20,000 Mitchell and LaCroix (2003)

1944 1,2755,100 (4 fish to the pound/ 100 fish per box = 25 lbs/box = 51 boxes) Previous year 70 fish to a box which indicates the fish were larger the previous year

(Wolverton, 1954)

1945 150 (5 fish to a pound) (Wolverton, 1954)

1946 550 (Wolverton, 1954)

1947 Did not fish (Wolverton, 1954)

1948 2,520 (100 fish to a box at 40 lbs/box) (Wolverton, 1954)

1949 3,136 (100 fish to a box at 40 lbs/box) (Wolverton, 1954)

1950 140 (Wolverton, 1954)

1951 None for this season (Wolverton, 1954)

1952 200 (6 fish to a pound) (Wolverton, 1954)

1953 1,725 (Wolverton, 1954)

1954 2,000 Smith (1974) p 2

1955 90 Smith (1974) p 2

1956 15 Smith (1974) p 2

1962 360 Stringer (1963)

Christina Lake Commercial Kokanee Fishery Catch Estimates (Includes a summary of the diary notes of R.A. Wolverton and documented catches of Ole Johnson)

TOTAL IN METRIC TONS = 91,561 lbs ÷ 2,204.6 lbs/metric ton = 41.54 metric tonsNote: Only commercial harvest figures shown. Catch records may not reflect actual total as numerous kokanee commercial licenses were held at this time and documentation for all annual catch totals were not available.* No daily closures in 1927