Each fall, tens of thousands of kokanee salmon swim upstream during their spawning run from Blue Mesa Reservoir to Roaring Judy. Upon arrival, kokanee eggs are collected by CPW employees, ensuring viable stocks for the future. The Roaring Judy Hatchery collects an average of 7.2 million eggs per year! This is the largest kokanee spawn in Colorado. The kokanee spawn at Roaring Judy also provides about 60% of the eggs needed by other state hatcheries to stock 26 lakes and reservoirs.

Overall, kokanee production and fishing contribute an estimated $29 million annually to the Colorado economy. Roaring Judy employees carefully incubate and hatch the eggs every winter. After the kokanee grow to about two inches, they are released into the East River, where they immediately swim to Blue Mesa Reservoir. The kokanee will spend three to four years in the reservoir before completing their life cycle with the spawning run.

You can see adult kokanee salmon swim upstream near the fishing ponds in September and October. Male kokanee can be identified by their humped backs and large hooked jaws called kipe.