Koka-bow or Rain-ee? Just Curious

[jbhp]

[size 2]Have any of you guys ever heard of a Kokanee/Rainbow hybrid? [crazy][/size]

[size 2]I went fishing for a few hours at Sulpher Creek the other day with my brother again. (my husband started working in Evanston so we end up spending some time there once in a while besides most of my side of the family lives there)[/size]

[size 2]Anyway, we caught 3 fish, 1 definatly a bow and 2 that I just couldn't put my finger on. They looked like bows in color but they looked 'different'. [/size]

[size 2]I started examining them and noticed they had the 'hooked' bottom lip like a kokanee and they were a little bit taller along the tail area. When they were cleaned, I noticed the meat was also more orange in color then pink.[/size]

[size 2]I didn't have a camera w/me ([mad]) or I would put up some pics to show you guys.[/size]

[size 2]We talked to a guy in a sporting goods store and he said they were Kokanee/Rainbow hybrids that were planted in there. [/size]

[size 2]I dunno, I just thought it was odd so I thought I'd see what you guys knew.[/size]
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[aquaman]

might have been male bows i've caught male bows with hook jaws before
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[FlyFishingMoose]

That was what I was thinking also, is the hooked jaw due to the spawn?
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[utwalleye]

sounds like a spawn rainbow to me, I've noticed that the rainbows I catch in rivers at the spawn time have the lower hooked jaw, but the ones I catch in lakes don't have the hook jaw ???? don't know why, later chuck
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[Theekillerbee]

Not sure if a Koke/Rainbow hybrid is likely, but I guess it is possible. Since they are in the same genus they could potentially, but not naturally, cross breed. Since Kokanee are true salmons (Oncorhynchus nerka) and Rainbows are a salmonid (Oncorhynchus mykiss), they may or may not successfully mix. I do not know what the purpose would be to hybridize those two fish. It would be expensive, because the egg or sperm would have to be frozen and preserved until the other species spawned, and that really wouldn't be worth the effort. Perhaps it is an experiment to see if the offspring would be resistant to whirling disease. I've never heard of a Koke getting it. If you catch any more, snag a few pics. Thanks.
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[Mr_Loopy]

I thought the hooked jaw was a sign of age & spawning season???
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[aquaman]

i tkink the age of the fish going into the spawn might have a lot to do with it i've only caught 1 with a hook jaw and it was close to 18" hence a "older" fish not sure just a thought
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[Matador]

Did some of the scales seem to come off extra easy? If so it likely has some Kokanee genetics in it.

m
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[jbhp]

Sheesh! Tons of replies! [laugh]

OK, let's see... they could've been male spawning bows. The only thing that makes me wonder is how the whole mouth was shaped different not just the hook at the end. The mouth was longer and more slender than the average 'round' shape of all the bows I've caught before. The meat was also a little differently colored, Which also may indicate a spawning male? I didn't notice any loose scales but I did notice the gills were shaped a little different also. (wierd looking fish [])

I dunno, this is the 1st time in my life I've ever fished this late in the year so, I'm a newbie at it [] All the replies are great! Thanks so much for the help!

We're headed back up there today so I'll be sure to take a camera this time 'just in case' we do go up there again. My Mom doesn't have internet yet so, it'll be a few days before I check back but, if we catch any more, I'll post some pics this time! [laugh]


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[Hoobie]

Isn't That The one of the fun things about fishing you never know what you'll hook into. As for your question I imagine it could be a hybrid or a spawning rainbow but don't rainbow spawn in the spring?
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[Xman]

i guess the only problem with this thing is the rainbows in sulphur creek dont spawn this time of year. sometimes the browns in the lake are silverish color as well.
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[Shrimpboy]

My guess is a lake grown brown. Their meet also tends to be more orange than pink. I caught a 20 incher a couple of weeks ago that had the nice hooked jaw and kind of pale-hunter orange meat.

I will never take a brown during the spawn again, especially one with that ammount of size. I thought that just taking one big one would be good for feeding the whole family. It fed us all, but the meat left a lot to be desired.
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