Can increased kokanee stocking be used to offset increasing lake trout predation?
No, this is not the answer. The number of kokanee stocked in Blue Mesa was increased several times since 1990 and each time predation increased to compensate. Unfortunately, lake trout predation demand has grown faster than the CDOW’s ability to make more kokanee. Now the Roaring Judy Hatchery, which stocks Blue Mesa, is running at maximum capacity and kokanee numbers in the reservoir are still falling. Increased stocking is rarely the answer to predation problems because adding more food simply grows more predators which means you need to add more food to satisfy them and that grows more predators which means you need to add more food… It’s a vicious cycle, and you can’t win.
