Yale Reservoir, in Washington State, sustains a robust, naturally reproducing population of kokanee. Creel checks and biological data studies, done in 1992 by WDFW biologists, determined that the Kokanee numbers in Yale were overpopulated, creating a biomass of small, substandard fish. In 1993, based on those biological studies, the WDFW established a Kokanee daily limit of 16 fish. This increase in the daily limit resulted in a sustainable population of larger and healthier Kokanee, and a very popular fishery.

In 2017, in an effort to simplify regulations in the WA State fishing pamphlet, WDFW created a committee to suggest regulation changes that would be easier to understand and more uniform statewide. With good intentions the daily limit of Kokanee in Yale reservoir was reduced to 10 fish, making it uniform with other Kokanee regulations statewide, unaware of the 1992 biological study.

We are asking WDFW to review their 2017 decision to reduce the daily limit of Kokanee in Yale and change the daily limit in Yale back to 16 fish. Reversing this decision and re-establishing the 16 fish limit will help to achieve the goal of a robust and healthy Kokanee population in Yale.