Game Fish

Native and hatchery rainbow trout, native and hatchery kokanee salmon, walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch, lake whitefish, mountain whitefish, brown trout, brook trout, burbot, sturgeon, cutthroat trout, bull trout, black crappie, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead, yellow bullhead, channel catfish.

Non-Game Fish

Native to the Upper Columbia include northern pike minnow, largescale sucker, longnose sucker, bridgelip sucker, redside shiner, longnose dace, chiselmouth, peamouth, speckled dace, sculpin species; non-natives include carp and tench.

Rainbow Trout

Since artificial production began rainbow trout harvest has grown exponentially. Currently 20,000 rainbow trout are floy tagged to monitor movements and growth (10,000 Spokane stock triploids and 10,000 redband trout). The majority of rainbow trout harvested are hatchery reared, usually distinguishable through worn pectoral fins and bent dorsal fin rays. Two stocks of rainbow trout are used in Lake Roosevelt; the Spokane stock (100% triploid) and the Phalon Lake stock, which are interior redband rainbow trout native to the Kettle River system. The primary reason for triploiding the rainbow trout is to reduce interactions with native trout. The non-native Spokane stock rainbows have the potential to breed with the native fish and reduce their genetic integrity. Tagging studies revealed the triploid trout released in Lake Roosevelt did not experience excessive growth rates, as seen in other waters, and were harvested at the same rates as non-sterile rainbow trout. Therefore to protect native fish, the program switched to 100% sterile Spokane stock rainbow trout in 2006.

Rainbow trout fishing is good throughout the reservoir during all times of the year. Water temperature dictates the depths rainbow trout will be found. They vary from the surface during cooler months to 100 feet during the summer months. Both bank and boat anglers are highly successful.

Kokanee Salmon

Artificial production of kokanee salmon has increased harvest numbers. The put-and-take fishery is best between July and September between Hunters and the Whitestone Rock area (primarily near the Seven Bays area). Two stocks are utilized: Lake Whatcom (Bellingham, WA) and Meadow Creek (British Columbia). Meadow Creek kokanee are preferred because they are native to the Upper Columbia system and lessen potential impacts with naturally occurring stocks in and downstream of Lake Roosevelt.

Wild kokanee fishing is generally good year around, with the exception of early August - September when adult kokanee tend to spawn. Native kokanee are usually harvested in the lower reservoir (from Whitestone Rock down to the dam).

All hatchery kokanee are adipose fin clipped to distinguish them from wild kokanee. Hatchery kokanee tend to average between 12 and 16 inches, and native kokanee average between 15 and 21 inches. The state record was captured out of Lake Roosevelt on June 16th, 2003 (25.4 inches and 5.9 lbs. or 605 mm and 2,687 grams).

Walleye

Illegally stocked in the 1950's, walleye populations grew rapidly preying on the large native prey source. Walleye are successful in Lake Roosevelt because they spawn in the spring when the reservoir is refilling. Concerns about a population crash in the late 1980's prompted the large spawning run on the Spokane River to be closed (May to June) to protect large spawning fish. The Spokane River is still closed to walleye fishing during the spawning time. Harvest estimates averaged 127,053 walleye per year since 1990. Walleye fishing is best during the spring and early summer months in the Spokane Arm and north to Northport. A heavy concentration of walleye migrate out of the Spokane River after spawning, north to the Colville River and near Singers Bay (near Kettle Falls boat launch) where they stay during the summer months. Walleye can make long migrations, British Columbia tagged fish have been collected in the Spokane River and vice versa. Walleye average 16 to 20 inches at harvest, walleye up to 18 pounds have been captured.

Smallmouth Bass

During the past few years, smallmouth bass fishing has increased dramatically. Summer months are the best smallmouth bass fishing, especially for 6 to 8 inch fish (great for the kids). Drop your line near any creek mouth in the Spokane River or below and you are sure to get a bite. The larger fish tend to be captured in the lower reservoir along the steep cliffs.

Sturgeon

Fishing for sturgeon in Lake Roosevelt is currently closed due to the low number of adults and the apparent lack of juvenile recruitment. The Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Initiative is a cooperative effort between Canada and the United States to protect and save this prehistoric fish.

Bull Trout

Rarely captured by anglers, but a few bull trout are present in the reservoir. These fish are presumably wash downs from the Pend Oreille or Canadian systems. Bull trout are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and must be released if captured.

Other Game Fish

Lesser fisheries exist for burbot, Chinook salmon, brown trout, brook trout, lake whitefish yellow perch, largemouth bass, yellow perch, black crappie, and pumpkinseed.

Burbot, native to the Columbia River system, are popular to fish for during the winter months near the Colville River. They are a prehistoric fish with a serpentine swimming style. They have a single soft barbel protruding from their chin which is used for sensing prey.

Chinook salmon are not stocked into Lake Roosevelt, but wash downs from Coeur d' Alene Lake have been collected in the reservoir. These fish are planted in Coeur d'Alene Lake as a management tool to control kokanee populations. Chinook as large as 20 pounds have been collected in Lake Roosevelt.

Brown trout and brook trout are usually captured near tributaries where smaller fish tend to hide from predators. Densities are low, but a few large fish can be captured.

Lake whitefish are an underutilized fishery in Lake Roosevelt, as well as in Banks Lake. Lake whitefish are non-native planktivores found in deeper waters. Their densities are high near the Hawk Creek area and south to the dam.

Largemouth bass are usually captured in the Colville River, some areas of the Spokane Arm, or San Poil River where more aquatic vegetation exists. Densities are low, but a few large fish have been captured.

Yellow perch, black crappie, and pumpkinseed are found in embayments among the limited shoreline habitat. Large numbers of juvenile fish exists with few large adults presumably due to the lack of suitable habitat.

• Baldwin, C.M. and M.C. Polacek. 2003. Evaluation of limiting factors for stocked kokanee and rainbow trout in Lake Roosevelt, Washington. In press. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, N. 8702 Division St, Spokane, WA 99218.
• Baldwin, C.M., M.C. Polacek, J.G. McLellan, and K. Underwood. 2003 In press. Predatory impact of walleye on specific hatchery releases of kokanee and rainbow trout in Lake Roosevelt, WA. North American Journal of Fisheries Management.
• Beak Consultants Incorporated. 1980. Technical report 10, Aquatic Biota. Prepared for the Mount Tolman Project No. 02694. Colville Confederated Tribes, Fish and Wildlife Department.
• Beckman, L.G., J.F. Novotny, W.R. Persons, and T.T. Terrell. 1985. Assessment of the fisheries and limnology in Lake Roosevelt 1980-1983. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Final Report to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Contract No. WPRS-0-07-10-X0216; FWS-14-06-009-904, May 1985.
• BioSonics. 2000. Fixed-location hydroacoustic evaluation of resident fish entrainment at Grand Coulee Dam 1999. Draft Report prepared by BioSonics, Inc. for the Colville Confederated Tribes, PO Box 150, Nespelem, Washington 99155.
• Bohm, F.C. and C.E. Holstine. 1983. The people’s history of Stevens County. The Stevens County Historical Society, Colville, Washington.
• Cichosz, T.A. J.P. Shields, K.D. Underwood. 1999 Lake Roosevelt Monitoring/Data Collection Program. 1997 Annual Report. Prepared for Bonneville Power Administration. Portland, OR.
• Cichosz, T.A. J.P. Shields, K.D. Underwood, M.B. Tilson, and A.T. Scholz. 1998 Lake Roosevelt Fisheries and Limnological Research, 1996 Annual Report. Prepared for Bonneville Power Administration. Portland, OR. Project No. 94-043.
• Combs, Mitch. 2001. Sherman Creek Hatchery Annual Report; January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Fish Program. Submitted to Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, PO Box 3621, Portland, OR, 97208-3621. Annual Report Number FPA01-06. 18 pp.
• Combs, M. 2002. Sherman Creek Hatchery Annual Report; January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Fish Program. Submitted to Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, PO Box 3621, Portland, OR, 97208-3621. Annual Report Number FPA02-03. 19 pp.
• Combs, M. 2003. Sherman Creek Hatchery Annual Report; January 1, 2002 - December 31, 2002. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Fish Program. Submitted to Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, PO Box 3621, Portland, OR, 97208-3621. Project # 91-047-00. 17 pp.
• Earnest, D.E., M.E. Spence, R.W. Kiser and W.D. Brunson. 1966. A survey of the fish populations, zooplankton, bottom fauna, and some physical characteristics of Roosevelt Lake. Rep. to Washington Department of Game. 46 p.
• Griffith, J.R. and A.T. Scholz. 1991. Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Monitoring Program. Annual Report 1990 prepared by Upper Columbia United Tribes Fisheries Research Center for Bonneville Power Administration. Portland, OR. 218 pp.
• LeCaire, Richard. 1999. Chief Joseph kokanee enhancement project, 1999 annual report and final report on entrainment at Grand Coulee Dam 1996-99. Colville Confederated Tribes Fish and Wildlife Department. Prepared for U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon.
• Harper, R.J., K.M. McMaster, L.G. Beckman. 1981. Assessment of fish stocks in Lake F.D. Roosevelt. Annual Report to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fishery Research Center, Seattle, WA. Internal report. 74pp.
• McLellan, H.J., C. Lee, B. Scofield, and D. Pavlik. 2003. Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Evaluation Program, 1999 Annual Report. Prepared by Department of Natural Resources, Spokane Tribe of Indians, Wellpinit, Washington, 99040 for Bonneville Power Administration, Division of Fish and Wildlife, P.O. Box 3621, Portland Oregon, 97208.
• McLellan, H.J., J.G. McLellan, A.T. Scholz, and M.B. Tilson. 2001. Lake Whatcom kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka kennerlyi) investigations in Lake Roosevelt, 1998-2000. 1999 Annual Report. Prepared by Eastern Washington University Fisheries Center for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland Oregon. Project Number BP96, Contract No. 96BP192246.
  McLellan, H.J. and A.T. Scholz. 2001. Meadow Creek vs. Lake Whatcom kokanee salmon investigations in Lake Roosevelt, 2000. Annual Report 2000. Prepared by Eastern Washington University Fisheries Center for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland Oregon. Project Number 00000118-00001, Contract No. 96BP192246.
• McLellan, H.J. and A.T. Scholz. 2002a. Meadow Creek vs. Lake Whatcom kokanee salmon investigations in Lake Roosevelt, 2001. Annual Report 2001. Prepared by Eastern Washington University Fisheries Center for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland Oregon.
• McLellan, H.J. and A.T. Scholz. 2002b. Movements and growth of marked walleye recaptured in Lake Roosevelt, 2000-01. Annual Report 2001. Prepared by Eastern Washington University Fisheries Center for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland Oregon. Project Number 00000118-00001, Contract No. 96BP192246. 41 pp.
• McLellan H.J. and A.T. Scholz. 2003. Meadow Creek vs. Lake Whatcom kokanee salmon investigations in Lake Roosevelt, Final Report. Prepared by Eastern Washington University Fisheries Center for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland Oregon. Project No. 1997-043-00, Contract No. 00005756. 48 pp.
• McLellan, J.G., H.J. McLellan, and A.T. Scholz. 2002. Assessment of the Lake Roosevelt Walleye Population: A compilation of data 1997-1999. Annual Report. Prepared by Eastern Washington University Fisheries Center Spokane Tribe to be delivered to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland Oregon. Project Number 88-63, Contract No. 94BI321486.
• Peone, T. 2003. “Spokane Tribal Hatchery”, Project No. 1991-04600, 20 electronic pages, (BPA Report DOE/BP-00004731-1).
• Peone, T.L., A.T., Scholz, J.R. Griffith, S. Graves, and M.G. Thatcher. 1991. Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Monitoring Program. Annual Report 1988-1989. Prepared by Upper Columbia United Tribes Fisheries Center for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland Oregon. DOE/BP-91819-1. 234 pp.
• Thatcher, M.G., A. McDowell, J. Griffith, and A.T. Scholz. 1993. Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Monitoring Program, annual report 1992. Prepared by Spokane Tribe Fish and Wildlife Center for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland Oregon. Project No. 88-63, Contract No. DE-8179-88D P91819. 179 pp.
• Scholz, A., K. O’Laughlin, D. Geist, D. Peone, J. Uehara, L. Fields, T. Kleist, I. Zozaya, T. Peone, and K. Teesatuskie. 1985. Compilation of information on salmon and steelhead total run size, catch and hydropower related losses in the Upper Columbia River Basin, above Grand Coulee Dam. Technical Fisheries Report No. 2. Upper Columbia United Tribes Fisheries Center, Eastern Washington University, Department of Biology, Cheney, Washington 99004.
• Scholz, A.T., J.K. Uehara, J. Hisata, and J. Marco. 1986. Feasibility report on restoration and enhancement of Lake Roosevelt Fisheries. In: Northwest Power Planning Council. Applications for Amendments. Volume 3A: 1375-1489.
• Shields, J.P. and K.D. Underwood. 1997. Measurement of Lake Roosevelt biota in relation to reservoir operations, 1996 Annual Report in K.D. Underwood and J.P. Shields. Lake Roosevelt Fisheries and Limnological Research, 1996 Annual Report. Bonneville Power Administration. Portland, OR. Project No. 88-63.
• Shields, J.P. and K.D. Underwood. 1996. Measurement of Lake Roosevelt biota in relation to reservoir operations, 1995 Annual Report in K.D. Underwood and J.P. Shields. Lake Roosevelt Fisheries and Limnological Research, 1995 Annual Report. Bonneville Power Administration. Portland, OR. Project No. 88-63.
• Snyder, G.R. 1967. Unpublished data of fish samplings in Lake Roosevelt. NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service. Seattle, Washington.
• Spotts, J., J. Shields, K. Underwood, and D. Pavlik. 2002. Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Evaluation Program, Fisheries creel survey and population status analysis, 1998 Annual Report. Submitted to Bonneville Power Administration. Portland, OR. Project No. 88-63.
• Stober, Q.J., R.W. Tyler, C.E. Petrosky, T.J. Carlson, C. Gaudet, and R.E. Nakatani. 1977. Survey of fisheries resources in the forebay of FDR Reservoir, 1967-1977. Fisheries Research Institute, University of Washington. Final Report to U.S. B.R> Contract 14-06-100-9001.
• Tilson, M.B. and A.T. Scholz. 1998. Kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka) coded wire tagging investigations in Lake Roosevelt, WA. Annual report 1997. Prepared by Eastern Washington University Fisheries Center for the Spokane Tribe of Indians Natural Resource Department for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon 97283.
• Tilson, M.B. and A.T. Scholz. 1997. Artificial imprinting of juvenile kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka): Implications for operating Lake Roosevelt kokanee salmon hatcheries. 1996 Annual Report. Prepared by Eastern Washington University Fisheries Center. In: Cichosz, T.A., J.P. Shields, K.D. Underwood, A.T. Scholz, and M.B. Tilson. 1997. Lake Roosevelt Fisheries and Limnological Research. Annual Report 1996. Prepared by Department of Natural Resources, Spokane Tribe of Indians for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. 331 pp.
• Tilson, M.B., A.T. Scholz and J.L. Miller. 1996. Artificial imprinting and smoltification in juvenile kokanee salmon: Implications for operating Lake Roosevelt kokanee salmon hatcheries. 1995 Annual Report. Prepared by Upper Columbia United Tribes Fisheries Research Center. In: Underwood, K., and J. Shields. 1997. Lake Roosevelt Fisheries and Limnological Research. Annual Report 1995. Prepared by Department of Natural Resources, Spokane Tribe of Indians for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. 340 pp. Report No. DOE/BP-91819-16. 340 pp.
• Tilson, M.B., A.T. Scholz, R.J. White and H. Galloway. 1994. Thyroid-induced chemical imprinting in early life stages and assessment of smoltification in kokanee salmon hatcheries. 1993 Annual Report. Prepared by Upper Columbia United Tribes Fisheries Research Center for Bonneville Power Administration. Portland Oregon. 156 pp.
• Tilson, M.B., A.T. Scholz, R.J. White and J.L. Hendrickson. 1995. Artificial imprinting and smoltification in juvenile kokanee salmon: Implications for operating Lake Roosevelt kokanee salmon hatcheries. 1994 Annual Report. Prepared by Upper Columbia United Tribes Fisheries Research Center for Bonneville Power Administration. Portland Oregon. 127 pp.
• WDFW 1994, Walleyes in Washington. Special Report FM 95-2. Olympia, Washington.

Trout Tournaments

The Two Rivers Casino Trout Derby, sponsored by the Two Rivers Casino and RV Park, typically occurs in mid August. See www.spokanetribe.com for more details.

Walleye Tournaments

There are two walleye tournaments scheduled for the 2009 season. One held by the Lake Roosevelt Walleye Club (Governors Cup June 27th and 28th) and one by the Spokane Walleye Club (July 25th and 26th).

Bass Tournaments

There are four bass tournaments scheduled for the 2009 season. Sponsors include: The Puyallup Hawg Hunters (April 13th and 14th), the Northwest Bass Club (May 2nd and 3rd), and Coastal Bassmasters (June 13th and 14th), and the Western Bass Club (July 18th and 19th).

Lake Roosevelt currently supports 32 species of fish – 20 game and 12 non game.

Rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, and walleye are the three primary fish harvested in the reservoir, with smallmouth bass increasing in popularity. White sturgeon and bull trout fishing are closed, and lesser fisheries exist for other species. See Washington Fishing Regulations for daily limits.

The popular fishery found at Lake Roosevelt brings in over 100,000 anglers a year, which translates to approximately $1.7 million into to the local economies (Pavlik et al. 2008). Three major fishing tournaments are held annually on Lake Roosevelt; Two Rivers Casino Trout Derby, Governor's Cup Walleye Tournament, and Washington State Qualifiers Series. A large number of fish have been floy tagged to monitor movements and harvest rates.

The monitoring and evaluation of the Lake Roosevelt fishery is accomplished through the Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Evaluation Program funded by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). The Spokane Tribe, the Colville Confederated Tribes and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are the co-managers of the Lake Roosevelt fishery. Eastern Washington University provides scientific advice and completes various research tasks as a subcontractor. Each agency focuses on specific questions to answer regarding the fishery. Current (2008-09) major projects on the reservoir include:

Spokane Tribe of Indians

1. Long-term monitoring and analysis of fisheries data including growth, diets and densities of specified fish.
2. Floy tag net pen rainbow trout to determine stock performance, movements throughout the reservoir, and the most appropriate release time and location to maximize harvest.
3. Collection of data on rainbow trout and kokanee harvested during the Two Rivers Trout Derby.
4. Completion of a creel survey on the reservoir to determine annual harvest estimates, angler pressure, and economic value of the fishery. The co-managers work cooperatively to collect data simultaneously throughout the reservoir. The Spokane Tribe facilitates the studies and collects data at the boat launches located in the middle of the reservoir, the Colville Confederated Tribes collects data at lower reservoir boat launches and the WDFW collects data at the upper reservoir boat launches.
5. Long-term monitoring of the Lake Roosevelt limnology, including water quality and primary (algae) and secondary (zooplankton) production.
6. Collection of water quality and flow data at adult kokanee collection sites (varies, but includes Onion, Big Sheep, and Hawk creeks).
7. Development of a reservoir ecology model for Lake Roosevelt based on the CE-QUAL-2 model. This highly advanced model was developed by Dr. Scott Wells of Portland State University and Dr. David Beauchamp of the University of Washington. The model will be used by fisheries managers to assess reservoir operation effects on water quality, primary and secondary food production, and potentially fish production within the reservoir.
8. Assist with and facilitate the reservoir wide Fall Walleye Index Netting (FWIN). WDFW currently completes this study on waters where walleye are found throughout Washington. This valuable tool that enables managers to compare the health of the walleye population to others in the state, as well as, determine year class strength. Year class strength can be used by managers to help predict potential fluctuations in annual harvest rates.
9. Assist EWU with wild kokanee collections for an acoustic tracking study (see below for details).
10. Participate in public outreach programs to inform the public about activities and research on Lake Roosevelt. In the fall, biologists work with BPA and tribal hatchery biologists and staff to educate kids about insects and fish in the rivers and streams in the Pacific Northwest through the Kids in the Creek Program. In the spring, tribal fisheries staff work with WDFW staff to educate kids about sturgeon in Lake Roosevelt during the Student Discovery Week sturgeon release event.
11. Other related projects on Lake Roosevelt include:
    1. White Sturgeon Recovery Project: additional information at www.uppercolumbiasturgeon.org/; www.spokanetribe.com/page.php?code=dnr_sturgeon_recovery.
    2. Spokane Tribe Water and Fish Program: additional information at www.spokanetribe.com/page.php?code=dnr_water
    3. Operation of the Spokane Tribal Hatchery.

Resources: All annual reports submitted to Bonneville Power Administration can be found on the BPA website under Environment, Fish and Wildlife or see resources on our Links page.

Colville Confederated Tribes

1. Complete angler creel surveys at the lower reservoir boat launches.
2. Trap and collect returning adult kokanee at Big Sheep Creek, Barnaby Creek and the SanPoil River.
3. Assist with Fall Walleye Index Netting (FWIN).
4. Other BPA related projects on Lake Roosevelt include:
   1. Chief Joseph Kokanee Enhancement Project: additional information at: http://www.efw.bpa.gov/searchpublications.
      1. Complete DNA genetics inventory and analysis of all kokanee stocks that potentially influence Lake Roosevelt.
      2. Develop a conceptual plan for artificial production of kokanee in the SanPoil River.
   2. Lake Roosevelt rainbow trout habitat/passage improvement project: additional information at: http://www.efw.bpa.gov/searchpublications.
   3. White Sturgeon Recovery Project: additional information at www.uppercolumbiasturgeon.org/.
   4. Lake Roosevelt Habitat Structures, new project as of 2009.

Resources: All annual reports submitted to Bonneville Power Administration can be found on the BPA website under Environment, Fish and Wildlife or see resources on our Links page.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

1. Determine limiting factors for kokanee and rainbow trout using hydro-acoustics and bioenergetics modeling. WDFW collects the fisheries data that is used in the CE-QUAL 2 model noted above.
2. Determine winter diets composition for wild kokanee.
3. Participate in the Fall Walleye Index Netting (FWIN) design and sampling.
4. Assist with wild kokanee collections for acoustic tracking study (see EWU below).
5. Run two large screw traps in the northern end of the reservoir to capture young downstream migrating kokanee.
6. Conduct northern reservoir angler creel surveys.
7. Other related projects on Lake Roosevelt include:
   1. White Sturgeon Recovery Project: additional information at www.uppercolumbiasturgeon.org/. All annual reports can be found on the BPA website.
   2. Operations of Sherman Creek, Colville and Ford hatcheries (see comments above).

Resources: All annual reports submitted to Bonneville Power Administration can be found on the BPA website under Environment, Fish and Wildlife or see resources on our Links page.

Eastern Washington University

1. Evaluate release strategies for hatchery kokanee salmon to maximize angler harvest and adult returns for egg collection. Including evaluation of Meadow Creek (British Columbia) stock and Lake Whatcom (Washington) stock performance in the reservoir.
2. Conduct acoustic tracking study of wild kokanee using depth and temperature sensitive tags.
3. Capture adult kokanee at key locations during the spawning run primarily in the Spokane River and Hawk Creek.
4. Compile and maintain rainbow trout tagging database and complete fish tag drawings bi-annually.
5. Evaluate hatchery redband trout performance in the reservoir through tagging studies.
6. Assist Sherman Creek Hatchery with redband trout run establishment.

Resources: All annual reports submitted to Bonneville Power Administration can be found on the BPA website under Environment, Fish and Wildlife or see resources on our Links page.

The Lake Roosevelt Hatcheries Coordination Team is responsible for directing hatchery and net pen operations. The artificial production program consists of four projects operated complementary of one another including the Spokane Tribal Hatchery, Sherman Creek Hatchery, Ford Trout Hatchery, and The Lake Roosevelt Volunteer Net Pen Program. Each program has its own production goals to collectively produce up to 500,000 kokanee yearlings, between 1 and 4 million kokanee fry/fingerlings, and 750,000 rainbow trout yearlings for annual stocking into Lake Roosevelt and Banks Lake. When funding and stocks are available, the WDFW Colville Hatchery and Colville Confederated Tribes provide additional fish for Lake Roosevelt.

The Spokane Tribal Hatchery, located on the Spokane Tribal Reservation along Chamokane Creek at Galbraith Springs, was built in 1991 and used as the primary rearing facility (Peone 2008). Spokane stock triploid rainbow trout and Lake Whatcom stock kokanee eggs are obtained annually through WDFW allotments. When available, Meadow Creek stock kokanee eggs (British Columbia) are obtained. Eggs are incubated and fish are raised to fingerling size. All hatchery rainbow trout and kokanee are adipose fin clipped to distinguish them from wild fish. Some of the primary objectives of the Spokane Tribal Hatchery are to:

1. Incubate and rear kokanee and rainbow trout eggs and fry.
2. Transfer a portion of the kokanee and rainbow trout production to Sherman Creek Hatchery for spring and summer rearing.
3. Load fingerling sized rainbow trout in the fall to 46 net pens located throughout the reservoir for winter and spring rearing (in conjunction with the Sherman Creek Hatchery). Sites include: Keller Ferry, Seven Bays, Lincoln, Two Rivers, Hall Creek, Hunters, and Kettle Falls. Net pen rainbow trout are released in May or June depending on reservoir conditions. Each hatchery supplies approximately half the total number transferred (up to 750,000 total rainbow trout).
4. Release yearling kokanee at the Fort Spokane boat launch and below Little Falls Dam in late May to promote put-and-take summer kokanee fisheries (typically between 350,000 and 500,000 yearlings depending on egg availability and study designs).
5. Release spring kokanee fry of both stocks at various locations determined by the Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Evaluation Team. These sites change, however the current research plan (2009) is to focus on sites in the middle reservoir area (between 1-4 million fry).
6. Release kokanee fry into Banks Lake in late May (up to 400,000 kokanee).
7. Additional information at:
   a. Spokane Tribe of Indians Hatchery web page
   b. See Resource: Spokane Tribal Hatchery Annual Reports

The Sherman Creek Hatchery, operated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), is located 3 miles west of Kettle Falls, Washington, on Lake Roosevelt. The hatchery was built in 1991 and currently serves as a rainbow trout and kokanee rearing facility as well as the principal white sturgeon spawning hatchery. Some of the primary objectives of the Sherman Creek Hatchery are to:

1. Obtain rainbow trout fingerlings from the Spokane Tribal Hatchery in June for summer rearing.
2. Load fingerling sized rainbow trout in the fall into 46 net pens located throughout the reservoir for winter and spring rearing (in conjunction with the Spokane Tribal Hatchery). Sites include: Keller Ferry, Seven Bays, Lincoln, Two Rivers, Hall Creek, Hunters, and Kettle Falls. Net pen rainbow trout are released in May or June depending on reservoir conditions. Each hatchery supplies approximately half the total number transferred (up to 750,000 total rainbow trout).
3. Maintain upper reservoir net pens throughout the winter and spring and coordinate with volunteers (maintenance and feeding).
4. Release upper reservoir net pens with hatchery rainbow trout in late May as yearlings (up to 375,000). Fish average 6 to 8 inches at release.
5. Assist with collection and spawning of redband trout.
6. Obtain a portion of the Phalon Lake stock rainbow trout (interior redband rainbow trout) from the WDFW Colville Hatchery in the spring for rearing and stocking into Lake Roosevelt.
7. Holding and spawning facility for adult white sturgeon during the spawning season (June - July).
8. Additional information:
   a. See Resource: Sherman Creek Hatchery Annual Reports

The Ford Trout Hatchery, maintained by WDFW and originally funded by Bureau of Reclamation, is located in Ford, Washington. The Ford Hatchery plays a key role is overall production for Lake Roosevelt. The purpose of this multi-agency program is to restore and enhance kokanee and rainbow trout populations in the impounded waters of Grand Coulee Dam (Lake Roosevelt and Banks lake) (Trump 2008). Some of the primary objectives of the WDFW Ford Hatchery, related to Lake Roosevelt, are to:

1. Produces up to 700,000 fall fry kokanee to be released into Banks Lake. A portion of the kokanee are released at the mouth of Northrup Creek and a portion go into the net pens at Electric City. The net pen reared fish are released in the spring as yearlings.
2. Use Meadow Creek stock kokanee for Banks Lake when available.
3. Produces up to 80,000 pounds of trout and kokanee. The bulk of the production provides the fish used to produce recreational fisheries in the Spokane and surrounding area lowland lakes.
4. Additional information:
   a. See Resource: Ford Trout Hatchery Annual Reports

The WDFW Colville Hatchery is located in Colville Washington. This hatchery serves multiple functions for WDFW, but directly assists Lake Roosevelt through the collection and rearing of redband rainbow trout. The Phalon Lake stock is utilized by the Lake Roosevelt managers to promote a resident trout strain native to the upper Columbia and therefore works toward the objective of sustaining native fisheries. Some of the objectives of the WDFW Colville Hatchery, related to Lake Roosevelt, are to:

1. Collect yearling redband rainbow trout from the Kettle River tributaries that have been tested to be redband rainbow trout through genetics sampling. These fish are released into a closed system lake (Phalon Lake) and left to mature (1-3 years). Additions to the lake are maintained at a level to ensure the genetic diversity of the brood population is maintained within the lake.
2. In the spring, mature red band trout are collected in a trap and spawned on site. Eggs are transferred to the WDFW Colville Hatchery for incubation and rearing.
3. Fingerling sized fish are transferred to the Kettle Falls net pens in the fall for winter and spring rearing.
4. These fish are held over the summer and into the following spring before release because tagging research indicated a significant increase in harvest levels for fish held over compared to those released prior to the spring draw down.
5. Additional information:
   a. See Resource: Sherman Creek Hatchery Annual Reports

The Lake Roosevelt Volunteer Net Pen Program was initiated in 1985 by Mr. Winn Self, owner of the Seven Bays Marina. He released 5,000 trout from one net pen that year. Prompted by the excellent harvest and growth rates of the net pen reared fish and limited space at the hatcheries, changes were incorporated at the hatcheries to rear 500,000 rainbow trout for Lake Roosevelt net pens. Today there are 46 net pens located throughout the reservoir that holds up to 750,000 rainbow trout. Net pens are usually filled in the fall, and the fish released the following May/June. Volunteers feed the fish daily, assist with the spring release after the reservoir begins to refill following the spring drawdown, and clean and maintain nets. Lake Roosevelt has one of the largest volunteer net pen projects in the country.

1985 to Present

In 1980, Congress passed the Northwest Power Act. One component of the act addresses the impact on fish and wildlife from hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River. Specifically, the act called for the creation of the Northwest Power Planning Council (now called the Northwest Power and Conservation Council) to recommend projects that mitigate the effects of the Columbia River hydropower system on fish and wildlife. These projects are recommended to the Bonneville Power Administration for funding through the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program.

In the Northwest Power Planning Council's 1987 Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program (NPPC 1987), the Council recommended that the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) support construction of two kokanee salmon hatcheries to enhance the Lake Roosevelt fishery. Although not initially mentioned, rainbow trout were added before completion of the hatcheries. Currently, the Lake Roosevelt Hatcheries Coordination Team facilitate the hatchery production programs on the reservoir. This group is a cooperative effort between the Spokane Tribe of Indians, Colville Confederated Tribes, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Eastern Washington University, and the Lake Roosevelt Development Association (now known as the Net Pen Program). The purpose of the Lake Roosevelt Hatcheries Coordination Team is to develop a collaborative multi-agency artificial production program as a mitigation measure to restore and enhance kokanee salmon and rainbow trout populations in Lake Roosevelt. Since 1987, annual funding from BPA's Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program (CBFWP) has been instrumental in developing a robust, harvestable fishery in Lake Roosevelt. Hatchery and other programs supported by BPA's CBFWP are described below.

Additionally, the Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Evaluation Program was formed to monitor the success and effects of the hatchery programs, as well as monitor and facilitate research of other fishes of importance found in the reservoir. This group is a cooperative effort between the Spokane Tribe of Indians, Colville Confederated Tribes, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Eastern Washington University. See below for additional information.

Historical Fisheries

Historically, large runs of anadromous salmon ascended from the Pacific Ocean to numerous spawning grounds in the Upper Columbia River, including the Spokane River and the Kettle Falls areas. The returning salmon provided a subsistence fishery for many local Indian tribes including the Spokane Tribe, the Colville Confederated Tribes (San Poil, Colville, Wenatchi, Sinkiuse, Peskwaus, Methow, and Nespelem tribes), the Kalispel Tribe, the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, and the Kootenai Tribe. Fish species harvested varied by season, but the majority of the harvest included Chinook salmon (spring and summer), steelhead (fall, late winter, and spring), Coho salmon (fall), and a silver salmon (either sockeye or whitefish) (Scholz et al. 1985). There was also a robust resident fishery which included rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, bull trout, whitefish and kokanee (a land-locked variety of sockeye salmon).

The Spokane River was an exceptional producer of both anadromous and resident fish. There were eleven primary and numerous other sites on the Spokane River where various Tribes congregated to harvest salmon. David Douglas, the noted botanist who explored the Columbia Basin camped on the Little Spokane River on August 3rd and 4th, 1826. Douglas noted:

the natives constructed a barrier across the Little Spokane, placing it at an oblique angle so that the current would not wash it away. After the traps filled with salmon, the Indians would spear them. Seventeen hundred salmon were taken this day, now two o'clock (cited in Scholz et al. 1985)

Major fishing sites on the Spokane River included: the confluence of the Spokane and Columbia Rivers, Blue Creek, Sandy Spit (15 miles upstream from the mouth), Little Falls, Chamokane Creek, Tum Tum, Confluence of the Little Spokane and Spokane rivers, mouth of Deep Creek, Bowl and Pitcher to Spokane Falls including Hangman Creek, and 10 miles up Hangman Creek. From the Spokesman Review, September 21, 1900:

A 50 pound and a 52 pound chinook were taken by hook and line at the mouth of the Little Spokane River" [in September, 1900] (Scholz et al 1985).

Kettle Falls was another major site for salmon harvest on the upper Columbia River. Bohm and Holstine (1983) provide a summary of the Kettle Falls site:

This important fishery appears to have been continuously occupied for almost 9,000 years. The oldest artifacts date back to 7000 B.C. During the period from 2400 to 1200 B.C. the site experienced a pronounced increase in human activity. This is reflected in a significantly greater number of artifacts such as fish [primary salmon] bones" (cited in Scholz et al. 1985).

Indian Agent Paige (1866) wrote in a letter to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs,

Kettle Falls, in the immediate vicinity of the old Fort Colville trading post, is one of the most productive salmon fisheries in the Territory, and is the resort of many hundred Indians during the fishing season." (cited in Scholz 1985).

Starting mid-summer, the salmon fisheries typically lasted for 60 days. It has been estimated that Kettle Falls supported a harvest of 1,000-2,000 salmon per day, Little Falls 1,000-1,400 per day, Little Spokane River 1,000 per day, Spokane Falls over 1,000, and the Sanpoil River 250 per day. The minimum annual catch was 150,000 salmon on the Spokane River and 90,000 at Kettle Falls, plus 60,000 at other sites for a total harvest of approximately 300,000 fish per year. This does not include the fall salmon fishery, the winter/early spring steelhead run, or other ancillary fisheries on resident fish such as whitefish and sturgeon (Scholz et al. 1985).

Post Dam Fisheries

The construction of Little Falls Dam on the Spokane River in 1911 blocked migrating steelhead, Coho, and kokanee from their spawning tributaries above the dam. Chinook, which spawned in the main channel both upstream and downstream of the dam, continued to return but in reduced numbers (Scholz et al. 1985). The construction of Grand Coulee Dam in 1939 permanently eradicated all anadromous fish (including salmon and lampreys-see photo) from the upper Columbia River.

After the impoundment and elimination of salmon, a fishery survey in 1963 found native fish such as peamouth, northern pikeminnow, suckers, shiners, kokanee, and rainbow trout dominated the fish community (Earnest et al. 1966; Scholz et al. 1986). A variety of non-native fish had also been introduced, many illegally, including carp, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, lake whitefish, brook trout, walleye and bullheads. By 1973, yellow perch and walleye comprised 32% of the catch suggesting a shift in dominance in the fish community to walleye (Harper et al. 1981).

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a comprehensive limnology and fisheries study on Lake Roosevelt between 1980 and 1982 (Beckman et al. 1985). They determined that the Lake Roosevelt recreational fishery primarily consisted of walleye with a limited rainbow trout fishery in the lower reaches.

Walleye are opportunistic piscivores (feed on fish), and have been known to feed on yellow -perch, rainbow trout and kokanee. Walleye were illegally stocked into Lake Roosevelt in the 1950's. Between 1980 and 1982, walleye harvest ranged between 108,000 and 128,000 fish per year (Beckman et al. 1985). A decline in yellow perch abundance initiated a concern that the walleye fishery could collapse. Additionally, the average size of walleye harvested by anglers decreased from 18.5 inches in 1973 to 14.1 inches from 1980 to 1983 (Beckman et al. 1985). A collapse in the fish population would shift the age and size structure of the spawning population to the point where it could not replace itself (WDFW 1994). In 1995 the Washington Department of Game (now Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife) initiated the closure of the walleye spawning areas between April and May in the Spokane Arm, below Little Falls Dam, Sanpoil River, and Kettle River. They also reduced the bag limit to 8 fish, and set a minimum size of 16 inches to allow all walleye to reproduce at least once before harvest.

The Washington Department of Game stocked nearly 7.5 million kokanee in Lake -Roosevelt from 1942 to 1945 (Scholz et al. 1985). A report by the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries indicated that "sizeable kokanee populations were present in the lake. In 1966, 35,000 kokanee were captured in Crescent Bay and transplanted below Chief Joseph Dam." (Snyder 1967; Stober et al. 1977; Scholz et al. 1985). This report indicated reservoir conditions were favorable for kokanee in the mid 1960's. In 1968, construction began on Grand Coulee Dam's third powerhouse. When complete, the third powerhouse substantially increased power production at Grand Coulee Dam, and thereby creating new hydro dynamics within the reservoir. Some fisheries biologists have been concerned that the increased water flows associated with the third powerhouse has increased entrainment of salmonids through the dam.

The rainbow trout fishery was noted as "mediocre" by Earnest et al. (1966). In the early 1980's, migrating adult rainbow trout averaging 16.2 inches were captured in the Sanpoil River (Beak Consultants 1980; Scholz et al 1985). A population of approximately 9,113 rainbow trout existed in Blue Creek, tributary to the Spokane River (Scholz et al. 1985). Historically, rainbow trout inhabited tributaries of the reservoir. Before the mid 1980s, little historical data has been documented for rainbow trout in Lake Roosevelt.

Fisheries investigations have concluded reservoir operations (large winter drawdown and short water retention times) negatively affected salmonid reproduction and limited juvenile rearing habitat. However, a large food base of zooplankton existed and was capable of supporting a substantial number of adult rainbow trout and kokanee salmon. Continued research in the early 1980's determined artificial production as a viable alternative to restore and enhance kokanee salmon and rainbow trout in Lake Roosevelt and Banks Lake (impounded waters by Grand Coulee Dam) (Scholz et al. 1986).