STRAWBERRY RESERVOIR — Every year, the old "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" story is being played out here to the bitter end through the life story of the kokanee salmon.
Come late August through early October, a seemingly passive, normal-looking silver fish with rounded features is suddenly transformed into a hump-backed, hook-jawed denizen of the deep with a bright red body and a single-minded objective — to spawn.
Its mission complete, the fish will then die. There is no cure, but none is really needed. This is, after all, the life cycle of the kokanee salmon.
Starting in late August, the kokanee salmon begin a spawning ritual that will be their first and last. By the end of October the spawners will be dead.
If it weren't so beautiful, it would be frightening.
The annual spawn of the kokanee salmon is on, and, according to Roger Wilson, project leader at the reservoir for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, this year's run is the third best in the most recent life of Strawberry Reservoir.
Thus far, 4,327 kokanee have passed through the various fish traps set around Strawberry Reservoir. The only years with better numbers were 1999 and 2000.
"We didn't expect this would be such a good run," he added, "but kokanee are unpredictable. We never know what they're going to do."
Early Tuesday, biologists met at the Strawberry raceways behind the visitors center to help the kokanee during their spawning ritual, albeit, most likely, not very much appreciated by the fish.
Fish from the traps are individually picked up by biologists and examined. Some of the fish are released to spawn naturally in the Strawberry River. Others are stripped of their eggs and sperm. The fertilized eggs will then be placed in a hatchery until they hatch. The fish will then be raised to what is called an "impressionable age," which is usually when they reach an inch or 2 long, and released.
The egg-taking program is a vital link in the attempt to establish a kokanee population in Strawberry, similar to the one in Flaming Gorge.
In fact, some of the eggs taken from Strawberry will be sent to Flaming Gorge this year.
"With the number of fish we're taking in the traps," continued Wilson, "it looks like we will have enough for other waters. Our first priority, of course, is Strawberry. We'll fill our quota first.
"There are rumors out there that we sell our eggs, which is why the kokanee population hasn't taken off at Strawberry, but that's not the case. We don't sell eggs.
"As I said, kokanee are just very unpredictable. (Flaming) Gorge has been good because it has been able to establish natural recruitment. The streams here at Strawberry are limited. But we are seeing between 50 and 60 percent of the fish we're checking are unmarked, suggesting they are natural recruitment, and that's encouraging."
Once the fish reach a size where they can be released, they are moved by barge to the headwaters of the reservoir's three main streams — Indian Creek, Trout Creek and Strawberry River.
What biologists hope to do is imprint on the young fish where they were released in hopes they will return there to spawn.
"Interestingly enough, it works," said Wilson. "When we used to release the kokanee by the boat ramps we used to get fish coming back there 2 1/2 years later looking for a place to spawn. When they finally did find their way to a river they were tired and listless. Now we release them in the rivers, and it's made a big difference.
"We have data to show they will actually come back to the very same riffle where they were released and won't go any higher."
To increase the chance of successful spawning, the biologists will strip the eggs and sperm from captured fish. When eggs are hatched under controlled conditions, the success rate is between 50 percent and 85 percent.
The spawning run started early this year, around the third week in August. It is expected to last until the end of September.
The recovery program at Strawberry started in 1991, following the latest treatment of the reservoir. During the early stages of the program, there were heated debates over the trapping of the fish.
"It took a few years to get going, and I think people wondered if the fish would ever take to the reservoir. Now we're seeing anglers catch kokanee," said Wilson.
In fact, the fish is starting to get quite a following, mostly because it is an extremely good-tasting fish.
The kokanee is also an aggressive fish when hooked. Some say it's more active than the rainbow trout.
After spending a lifetime, which is typically between 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 years, as a silver-colored fish with evenly rounded features, the kokanee undergo an incredible metamorphosis going into the spawn. The male's changes are the most pronounced.
Their skin turns bright red, except the head, which turns black. Their bodies actually compress and form a large hump on their backs. Their jaws elongate and hook.
Interested individuals have the opportunity to witness this change.
The DWR and U.S. Forest Service have built a viewing area along Strawberry River. Along with interpretive signs, there are boardwalks near the river to view spawning pairs of fish.
Also, on Friday and Saturday, the annual Strawberry Festival will be held at the visitor's center on the western corner of the reservoir and alongside Strawberry River.
There will be a number of activities, including fly-tying demonstrations and a kokanee viewing site with detailed information being delivered by DWR biologists.
Hours are noon to 6 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
All of this activity will, of course, go unnoticed by the fish. Their focus will be on starting and ending life.
E-mail: grass@desnews.com