Kokanee Salmon Fast Facts
Kokanee salmon are a landlocked sockeye salmon. They are non-anadromous, which means they do not migrate to the ocean and live their entire life in freshwater. This usually leads these fish to be smaller than your typical sockeye salmon. Kokanee sizes can vary depending on the quality of the water body, availability of food, and population numbers. These salmon normally range from 10-20″ long, and can weigh from less than a pound to more than 6 pounds.
- Species: Landlocked Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)
- Also Known As: Little red fish, kokes, kokanee trout, silver trout, Kennerly’s salmon or trout, walla, kikanning, or “chrome”
- Diet: Zooplankton
Kokanee Range:
Kokanee salmon are sockeye salmon that are landlocked in fresh water. They are generally found in larger lakes that can maintain a cool temperature, or have enough depth to maintain a cool temperature. Kokanee are native to many lakes in the western United States and Canada including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho in the United States and British Columbia and Yukon in Canada. Populations of kokanee salmon are also found in Japan and Russia.
Additionally, kokanee have been introduced to many other lakes in the United States including in those states mentioned above as well as in Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico in the west, as well as in New England, New York and North Carolina in the east. Kokanee have also been introduced to lakes in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada.
Kokanee Spawning
In the fall, kokanee salmon turn red and return to their spawning grounds to reproduce and die. At this time, they look like a completely different fish. The male kokanee develop a humped back, and big aggressive teeth. The rest of the life cycle, it can be difficult to distinguish between the male and female landlocked salmon. These fish travel up streams, and along shorelines to spawn. These fish live the majority of their lives in deep water, so this can be one of the best opportunities to see these salmon from shore. Kokanee salmon have a salmon run like any other species of salmon. Because the fish are stocked in quite a few places, this gives many people an opportunity to see a salmon run without having to travel to a place like Alaska.
The Lifecycle of Kokanee Salmon
Kokanee salmon have a pretty straightforward but fascinating lifecycle. They hatch in freshwater streams or gravel shorelines. These little guys are called fingerlings or fry when they’re babies. As these salmon mature, they spend a couple years out in the lake fattening up on zooplankton, and trying to avoid predators like lake trout, walleye, and other trout species. Once they reach full maturity, they then return to where they were born to spawn and die. Most kokanee live about 3 to 4 years, and once they hit maturity, everything about them starts to change—literally. Their bodies turn a bright, fiery red, the males grow hooked jaws and humped backs, and they stop eating altogether. They’re entirely focused on spawning. It’s a short, intense finale, and after they spawn, that’s it—they’re done. One shot, and the next generation takes it from there.
Because of this lifecycle, kokanee populations in bodies of water can go through boom and bust cycles. Depending on spawn conditions, weather conditions, and predator levels, entire generations can be adversely affected, which can have a big impact on those breeders and their offspring every 3-4 years for decades to come. Government biologists do their best to monitor kokanee populations, and often supplement the naturally hatching kokanee with stocked fish from a hatchery.
Kokanee Salmon Diet
Kokanee salmon primarily eat zooplankton, though they’re also known to eat small plants, insects, and fresh water shrimp. Because of this diet, anglers do not mimic their food source when targeting kokanee. Instead, the dodger and lure are designed to cause the kokanee to strike out of aggression.
Recipes:
Kokanee salmon is one of the most delicious freshwater game fish that you can catch. The meat on these fish is some of the best table fare you can pull from fresh water. It’s definitely better than trout. It’s also extremely healthy, a great source of omega-3s, and extremely low in mercury, making it a great dietary option for almost everyone.
Kokanee Recipe Previews
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Kokanee Salmon Sushi
Want to enjoy sushi with your fresh-caught kokanee salmon—without the risks of freshwater raw fish? This recipe uses fried kokanee in a sushi roll inspired by shrimp…
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Deep Fried Kokanee Salmon Recipe
There’s something magical about fish that crackles when you bite into it. While smoked or baked kokanee has its place, sometimes you just want something crispy, salty,…
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Honey BBQ Kokanee Salmon Recipe
I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for some good barbeque. I love all of it, from charcoal, propane, pellets, or indirect wood smoke. It’s all amazing. This recipe…
How to Chase Kokanee:
The primary goal in targeting these fish is to get them to have an aggressive response. There are a few ways people fish for kokanee:
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Frequently Asked Questions about Kokanee Salmon
Kokanee are a landlocked version of sockeye salmon. There is some argument over whether they should technically be considered different species. Regardless of what the biologists decide on that front, kokanee are noticeably smaller than sockeye salmon. Their meat is also more soft and mild than sockeye. Additionally, because of their lifestyle and diet, kokanee tend to be leaner than sockeye salmon, leading to them being leaner, lower in calories, higher in protein, and slightly lower in omega-3s.
Yes, kokanee salmon are a great eating fish. They are very similar to, if a more healthy version, of the salmon you can buy at the store. In my opinion, I rank them right up there with walleye for some of the best freshwater fish available.
There are various opinions on where the best place is. Places that make it to the top of most lists include Lake Roosevelt, Flaming Gorge, Lake Chelan, Lake Tahoe, and Strawberry Reservoir.
The most commonly used lures to target kokanee are a wedding ring bead style lure, and a soft squid hoochie lure. There are many options though for targeting kokanee this way. Most also tend to pair this with a dodger as well.
Latest Kokanee Articles
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Rockport Reservoir is a beautiful place to fish. Nestled in northern Utah and surrounded by hills and quiet water, it’s a spot that often gets overlooked. But it was on my list for my kokanee tour of Utah, and I found myself wondering: What’s going on with the kokanee salmon here? I was out on… - Kokanee Salmon Sushi
Want to enjoy sushi with your fresh-caught kokanee salmon—without the risks of freshwater raw fish? This recipe uses fried kokanee in a sushi roll inspired by shrimp tempura, giving you big flavor with zero danger. Let me show you how to make it easy, safe, and delicious. I have been working on a kokanee salmon… - Deep Fried Kokanee Salmon Recipe
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Kokanee salmon – the landlocked cousins of sockeye salmon – are a favorite target for many freshwater anglers in the US and Canada. They’re tasty, they’re a fun fight on the hook, and there’s just something magical about them. These fish often school in deep lakes, making a quality fish finder almost a necessity if…
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