Kokanee Salmon fishing
Oncorhynchus nerka. Bright silvery body with no definitive spotting pattern, unlike rainbow, cutthroat, or brown trout.
Kokanee Salmon fishing uses a wedding ring spinner or a white shoepeg corn on 10 to 15 lb line, at dawn and at dusk. Utah stocks kokanee as small fingerlings rather than catchable-size fish, since the species performs well when released small and grows out in open water.
Published by Fishypedia · Sources last checked October 5, 2026
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
- Active times
- Dawn and Dusk
- Line
- 10–15 lb
- Hook sizes
- Size 8 to 12 hooks tipped with maggots, shoe-peg corn, or small pieces of worm
- Stocked in
- 6 states
- Peak in ID
- May
Identification
- Bright silvery body with no definitive spotting pattern, unlike rainbow, cutthroat, or brown trout.
- Dark blue back fading to silvery sides outside of the spawning season.
- Just before spawning, kokanee turn bright red (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife).
- Deeply forked tail, another trait separating it from rainbow, cutthroat, and brown trout.
Sources: wdfw.wa.gov, accessed October 5, 2026 , myodfw.com, accessed October 5, 2026 , wildlife.utah.gov, accessed September 18, 2026
Top lures
Trolled behind a string of blades or a dodger, tipped with a kernel of shoepeg corn for scent.
Trolled at slow speed at the depth where schools are marked on a fish finder.
Sources: wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , myodfw.com, accessed September 19, 2026
Top baits
Tipped on a small bare hook or added to a trolled spinner behind a dodger.
Sources: wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , myodfw.com, accessed September 19, 2026
Line & tackle
- Line
- 10–15 lb
- Rod power
- Hook sizes
- Size 8 to 12 hooks tipped with maggots, shoe-peg corn, or small pieces of worm
Sources: myodfw.com, accessed September 19, 2026 , wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Depth by season
Spring
Fish are often shallower before the lake stratifies for summer.
Summer
Kokanee school along the thermocline, which anglers must locate and follow as it shifts through the season.
Fall
Fish move shallower again heading into the spawning run.
Sources: wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Stocked behavior
Utah stocks kokanee as small fingerlings rather than catchable-size fish, since the species performs well when released small and grows out in open water.
Common mistakes
- Trolling too fast; kokanee have very soft mouths, so a slow steady retrieve with light gear will help you land more fish.
- Fishing bare hooks; tipping your lure's hooks with white shoepeg corn, shrimp or maggots is a must in kokanee fishing.
- Ignoring the thermocline in summer; kokanee can be targeted throughout the summer in deeper offshore areas near the thermocline.
Best time to fish Kokanee Salmon
Most commonly stocked in May in Idaho, based on 300 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in May in Montana, based on 440 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in January in New Mexico, based on 10 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in May in Utah, based on 331 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in May in Wyoming, based on 166 stocking events on record.
Where it's stocked
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Idaho
Montana
South Dakota
Utah
Wyoming
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 6.81 lbs | Will Arduino (angling) | Spinney Mountain Reservoir (Park County) | 1986 |
| Idaho | 6.59 lbs | Jerry Verge | Priest Lake | 1975 |
| Michigan | 1.94 lbs | – | Clinton River, Oakland County | 1978 |
| Montana | 7.85 lbs. | John Bomar | Hauser Lake | 2003 |
| Utah | 6 lbs. 5 oz. | George Sharman | Flaming Gorge Reservoir | 2015 |
| Washington | 6.25 lbs | Clarence F. Rief | Lake Roosevelt, Grant County | 2003 |
| Wisconsin | 2 lbs. 8.2 oz. | – | Upper Bass Lake, Menominee County | 2007 |
| Wyoming | 6.31 lbs. | George Sharman - Lyons, CO | Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Sweetwater County | 2015 |
Common questions
What lures work for Kokanee Salmon?
Wedding ring spinner, a spinner in pink, red, and chartreuse. Trolling fly, a fly in pink, glow white, and UV chartreuse: Trolled behind a string of blades or a dodger, tipped with a kernel of shoepeg corn for scent. Small trolling spoon, a spoon in pink, silver, and chartreuse: Trolled at slow speed at the depth where schools are marked on a fish finder.
What bait works for Kokanee Salmon?
White shoepeg corn. Maggots: Tipped on a small bare hook or added to a trolled spinner behind a dodger.
Where do Kokanee Salmon hold?
Spring: Fish are often shallower before the lake stratifies for summer. Summer: Kokanee school along the thermocline, which anglers must locate and follow as it shifts through the season. Fall: Fish move shallower again heading into the spawning run.
How big do Kokanee Salmon get?
The Colorado record is 6.81 lbs from Spinney Mountain Reservoir (Park County) in 1986. The Utah record is 6 lbs. 5 oz. from Flaming Gorge Reservoir in 2015. The Washington record is 6.25 lbs from Lake Roosevelt, Grant County in 2003. 5 more state records are on this page.