Boulder Mountain Kokanee; Blind Lake: Utah’s Hidden Salmon Gem

If you’ve ever dreamed of catching kokanee salmon in a remote, high-alpine setting with almost no one around, Blind Lake should be on your radar. Tucked deep in the Boulder Mountains of southern Utah, Blind Lake is one of the newest kokanee fisheries in the state — and one that few anglers even know exists.

Thanks to ongoing efforts by Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) biologists, Blind Lake has seen kokanee stockings every year since 2022. The results so far? Promising, but still developing. That said, the kokanee should be mature enough now to make a trip up the Boulder Mountains worth it. If you’re up for a little adventure, this could be one of the most unique kokanee fishing experiences you’ll find anywhere in Utah.

What We Know About Blind Lake Kokanee

Back in 2022, the DWR stocked Blind Lake with 4,000 kokanee fry. Subsequent stockings followed: 2,500 in 2023 and 8,000 in 2024. 2024 was the first year the lake received its full requested quota, a promising sign for building a sustainable fishery, and a sign of optimism from the state.

Because Blind Lake requires a short (just over a mile) hike to access, field observations have been limited. Still, there have been two key events worth noting:

• Ice Fishing, December 2023: One DWR employee caught 10 kokanee while jigging through the ice, using gear intended for splake. The fish measured 7-8 inches and showed early spawning colors. These were likely age-1+ fish from the 2022 stocking class. It’s typical for a small percentage of kokanee to mature early like this.
• Netting Survey, July 2024: Biologists caught two kokanee, both 8-9 inches long. Their body condition was a little below average but encouraging given the limited food base and young age of the fishery.
• Prospect This Year: I’m expecting that the first batch of kokanee the state stocked will be at the prime age and size for catching. I expect that they’ll be in the 10-12″ range, which might sound small to those of you who target kokanee at Strawberry or Flaming Gorge, but this size is actually pretty common in most lakes and reservoirs with kokanee.

Outside of these reports, there haven’t been many sightings or catches — which isn’t surprising given how few anglers venture to Blind Lake.

The DWR plans to continue stocking Blind annually while monitoring growth, condition, and survival. It’ll likely be a few more years before a full evaluation can be made, but so far, kokanee seem to be adapting well. This is especially exciting, given the recent failed experiments in Starvation and Upper Enterprise.

About Blind Lake: Setting, Access, and Fishing

Blind Lake sits at around 10,500 feet elevation in the Boulder Mountains, part of the greater Aquarius Plateau — the highest timbered plateau in North America. More people are familiar with the Uinta Mountains in Utah. It’s a similar terrain, elevation, and feel, but a little more south, so my experience is that its been a little warmer. The lake is fairly deep for its size, clear, and cold year-round — ideal conditions for kokanee.

Access: A well-maintained gravel road leads to the Blind Lake trailhead. Several dispersed camping areas along the way offer excellent spots for staging a weekend trip. From the trailhead, it’s a moderate 1.1-mile hike to the lake. Expect a gradual climb and typical high-elevation terrain: rocky patches, scattered pines, and stunning views. If you have horses, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to use them for the trip. In fact, that’s how the state stocks the kokanee in the lake. Kokanee aren’t hardy enough to be dropped in by plane.

Besides kokanee, Blind Lake is home to splake (a brook trout/lake trout hybrid), rainbow trout, Bonneville cutthroat trout, and grayling. It’s one of the few places in Utah where you can target kokanee and catch grayling on the same trip. Biologists have reported that the splake have been growing nice and big from the kokanee, which was one of their goals in stocking them, so that would be another good species to target.

Because of the hike-in nature and the lack of facilities, anglers need to come prepared. Think of it as a “mini backcountry” experience. It’s a BYOTP situation. (Bring your own toilet paper)

Why a Float Tube is a Game Changer at Blind Lake

Shore fishing is possible at Blind Lake, even for targeting kokanee. In fact, that was one of the state’s goals in establishing Blind Lake as a kokanee fishery. That said, if you want the best chance at kokanee, you’ll need to fish deeper, open water. That’s where a lightweight backpacking float tube comes in. One of the DWR biologists I talked to said this was probably the best option on Blind Lake.

A float tube allows you to:

• Vertical Jig: Kokanee often school over deeper water, even in smaller lakes. Jigging vertically with small spoons or soft plastics can be deadly. Jigging is also a great way to target the splake.
• Troll or Drift: With a pair of lightweight fins, you can slowly troll spinners or hoochies behind you.
• Stay Mobile: Move between deeper pockets, submerged structure, and temperature changes to find active fish.

I personally don’t have a float tube yet. I did some shopping and found one that’s sitting in my amazon cart right now. I haven’t tried it yet, but wanted to let you know what I’m looking at. Given the hike in, weight is a major consideration. You want something under 10 pounds total, ideally designed for backpacking. Pair it with a small hand pump and a backpackable set of fins, and you’re set.

High Sierra II Inflatable Fishing Float Tube

• Weight: Under 7 pounds
• Setup: Quick inflation with a small hand pump
• Highly Reviewed: This is the lightest float I found for under $200, but that also had good reviews from a decent number of people.

Picture this: You hike in at dawn, mist rising off the still lake. You quickly inflate your float tube at the water’s edge, slip in quietly, and within minutes you’re jigging in 30 feet of crystal-clear water, schools of salmon flashing beneath you. It’s a fishing experience that few anglers will ever have — and one you’ll remember for a lifetime.

Gear List for Float Tube Kokanee Fishing

Besides the float tube itself, you’ll want a few key items:

• Lightweight backpack or frame: To haul your tube, pump, fins, and rods
• Compact life vest: Safety first, especially in cold, high-elevation water, where there’s a good chance you’ll be the only one there.
• Jigging rod and reel: Medium-light spinning setup with a sensitive tip
• Lures: Small jigs (white, pink, chartreuse), spoons, and spinners
• Sounder/Deeper Sonar (optional): Helps locate schools in deeper sections
• Insulated waders (optional): Not necessary in summer, but welcome in spring/fall
• Toilet Paper: Yes, I’ve mentioned it twice in this article. I’ve made the one sock walk out of the backwoods before. Don’t forget it!

Final Thoughts

Blind Lake is still very much an “emerging” kokanee fishery, but it holds incredible promise. For Utah anglers willing to put in a little effort — a short drive, a mile hike, and some float tube work — the rewards could be huge.

You’ll be fishing for salmon in an untouched, high-elevation setting surrounded by grayling, splake, and cutthroat — all while having the lake practically to yourself. Frankly, it sounds like a dream.

I was hesitant to publish this article, as I don’t want EVERYONE to go to the lake, especially before I got the chance to make a trip up there this summer. The flip side of the coin is that if these new kokanee waters don’t grow popular enough, state biologists might stop experimenting and just focus on the dozen established kokanee lakes in Utah.

If you’re looking for something fresh, challenging, and downright beautiful this summer, Blind Lake should be high on your list.

Bring a lightweight float tube. Pack your jigging gear. And get ready for a backcountry kokanee experience unlike any other in Utah.

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