Fish Data

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Crater Lake was naturally barren of fish. Several salmonid species were introduced into the lake between 1888 and 1941. Kokanee salmon and rainbow trout were the only species of fish collected from the lake between 1986 and 1999. Kokanee salmon were cyclic in abundance. Rainbow trout appeared to be less cyclic in abundance than were kokanee salmon.

Kokanee salmon primarily live in the pelagic zone of the lake from the surface to a depth of about 100 m. They prey on small emerging benthic macroinvertebrate pupae and larvae and terrestrial insects landing on the lake surface. They also prey on Daphnia. Rainbow trout live in the nearshore area of the lake. They prey on large bodied terrestrial insects from the lake surface and benthic macroinvertebrates. Rainbow trout also prey on kokanee salmon.