McCALL, Idaho — State fisheries managers have released an updated look at the ongoing Payette Lake Trout Recovery Plan. The long-term management strategy was designed to save a collapsing ecosystem. Recent history-making catches prove that the plan has successfully restored the lake into a premier destination for trophy-sized fish.

The intensive recovery plan was born out of a severe ecological crisis that peaked in the early 2000s. For decades, Payette Lake was famous for its deep-water lake trout. However, the lake’s ecosystem fell completely out of balance when the population of kokanee salmon collapsed.

Kokanee salmon serve as the primary food source for large lake trout. Without this vital prey, the predatory trout began to starve. Wildlife biologists tracking the species noted a severe decline in fish health. It became common for researchers to net 30-inch lake trout that were emaciated and shaped like thin snakes. The lake was no longer able to support healthy, trophy-sized sport fish.

To combat the decline, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) launched a bold, multi-pronged recovery project. The plan focused on two main goals: rebuilding the food supply and reducing competition among predators.

First, wildlife officials began https://bigfishmccall.com/ aggressively stocking millions of young kokanee salmon fries into Payette Lake. This move helped jumpstart the food chain from the bottom up. Second, biologists took steps to reduce the overcrowding of predators. Crews used specialized netting techniques to safely remove more than 3,000 smaller lake trout from the system. Cutting down the population meant that the remaining trout would have plenty of food to share.

The intensive management strategy has yielded highly positive results. With an abundant supply of salmon and less competition, the lake trout population began putting on weight at a rapid pace.

The true success of the program was highlighted by two major events. First, angler Aaron Goettsche set a new state catch-and-release record by landing a massive 42-inch lake trout. Second, state biologists conducting routine population surveys captured and released a monster 54-pound lake trout. This massive fish was just three pounds away from the all-time state weight record.

These historic fish provide definitive proof to wildlife managers that the Payette Lake Trout Recovery Plan has achieved its goals. The lake’s ecosystem is officially back in balance.