A Collapse

[RavenBlackbird]

What is your assessment of Flaming Gorge fishery? Not only is it happening there but at the popular Strawberry. I went to the Gorge 2wks ago, launched at Lucerne and headed north of the pipeline. I fish a lot of the Anvil area where I always had some success targeting kokanee. My fishfinder didn't show much with exception of an occasional loner. I ventured to Wildhorse where I found an abundant of fish throughout the water column out away from shoreline in shallow water, lots of trout, no love no takers. After I was done, Wyoming F&G was waiting at the top of the launch ramp taking a survey in Utah??? I agree partly of what is in link which is not very much explanation. However, not mentioning the illegal transfer of fish (Burbot) is a partial cause or the management of the fishery won't be a subject since doing wrong is not in their forte. Utah can be referred into this as well.

'A collapse in fishery': Annual Hell on Reels is canceled | Environment | wyomingnews.com

I watched Adam Eakle last night and they did a show about the problem at the Gorge is too many small lake trout that are decimating the kokanee population, they may have to go to netting the macs because the fisherman arent removing enough of the small macs.

I have been watching this thread like a hawk!  I haven't been out on the boat this year targeting Kokanee at FG, but I have been shore fishing for anything that would bite.  Fished near Buckboard, Holmes Crossing, and Sheep Creek.  Each time, I was either skunked or caught only one fish (15" Rainbow).  We were fishing with worms + marshmallows off the bottom and then I was throwing nearly every piece of hardware in my tackle box...  

When we get the boat out, I would be happy to target pups rather than kokanee.  Any advice on what to do differently or where to go?  We have a 17' Hewes craft with downriggers and all the fixins for Kokanee fishing... we generally fish around 30-60 feet in the 'combat fishing' zones near Buckboard.  Even with this setup, we would occasionally catch a pup (and keep it).    

P.S. Who catches 50+ Kokanee a day??  I want to talk to them   The last few years, we considered it a great day to catch 5 or 6 between the four of us...