Flaming Gorge Kokanee Salmon Fishing

Everything you need to know about fishing for kokanee on one of the world’s best kokanee fisheries, Flaming Gorge Reservoir. People come from across the globe for the HUGE kokanee salmon fishing opportunities at Flaming Gorge.

Kokanee Fishing on Flaming Gorge

Flaming Gorge reservoir is at 6,040 feet above sea level, and it gets cold at night and in the mornings. The reservoir is located on the border between Utah and Wyoming, and its an absolutely beautiful place to fish for kokanee salmon. It is one of the best kokanee salmon fishing destinations in either state, and arguably one of the best in the USA. Generally, the ice is off the reservoir in the middle of April, and boats hit the water, trolling for kokanee.

My dad grew up not too far from Flaming Gorge and took us back there as kids to fish. I’ve had some decent success there and have learned from the old man how to best catch ’em. I love fishing for kokanee at the Gorge.

In this article on kokanee salmon fishing on Flaming Gorge Reservoir, we look at the best locations on the lake, boat speed, depth, and what most people are having the most success with. We’ve pulled this data from multiple forums, tabulating averages and what most people are reporting success with, and then we put it to the test, and tried it out for ourselves. If you want to catch Kokanee at Flaming Gorge, Here’s what you need to know.

Most Popular Kokanee Salmon Rig for Fishing Flaming Gorge Reservoir

I combed through several forums and social media groups to figure out what most people were reporting having success with. We’ve also fished Flaming Gorge and so have some of our suggestions and confirmations as well to help you put together the best kokanee trolling setup for the Gorge.

Most Popular Lure or Hoochie at Flaming Gorge Reservoir

Squid hoochies are the most popular type of lure used on Flaming Gorge Reservoir, though some also use wedding ring lures and flutter bugs as well. Orange is by the most popular color that people have had success with according to the forums, followed by green and pink. The state record kokanee for both Utah and Wyoming was caught on green. I’ve done better with orange, but green and pink aren’t bad. Either way, I love the super squids from Rocky Mountain Tackle.

Rocky Mountain Tackle Super Squid

Most Popular Dodger at Flaming Gorge Reservoir

There were several popular kokanee dodger colors according to the forums. By the forums, the winner was the Rocky Mountain Tackle Watermelon Dodger. It was also notable to point out that, generally speaking, the other most popular colors were also split between orange, silver, and pink. I like running pinks, oranges, and greens. Those are really the main 3 colors I have in my tackle box. I can also confirm, the watermelon dodger does well.

Rocky Mountain Tackle Watermelon Dodger

Most Popular Bait for Kokanee At Flaming Gorge

The most popular bait to tip the hooks with at the end of your lure or hoochie is the gulp maggot. Gulp maggots are small enough that they don’t hinder the action of the lure, hoochie, or dodger. Shoe peg corn in a variety of scents and colors are also popular, but the majority of kokanee anglers use gulp maggots at Flaming Gorge it seems. I will run pink maggots if I’m running a pink lure, otherwise I go with the natural. Since I usually run orange lures at the Gorge, I usually have the best luck with natural.

Gulp Maggots

Most Popular Scent at Flaming Gorge

Kokanee are extremely sensitive to scents, so many anglers use a scent spray or gel to help both cover the human scent, and attract the kokanee. According to our analysis of the forums, the most popular scent is Bloody Tuna scent with Garlic and Anise smelly jelly also being very popular. You can put the scent gel on the dodger, line, and lure or hoochie.

Bloody Tuna Scent

Most Common Depth for Finding Kokanee on Flaming Gorge Reservoir

You can start trolling for Kokanee salmon once the ice comes off the lake. Flaming Gorge is usually one of the last in the state to thaw- usually some time in May. As it gets warmer, kokanee salmon go deeper. Depending on the water temperature, you can find Kokanee salmon from 10 feet to 75 feet deep. If you don’t have a fish finder, I would start around 30 feet, and then go up or down from there based on what success you have and the time of year, going deeper as the year goes on. Late summer for instance, most reports have the salmon at about 40 feet, in water that is 45-60 feet deep. Most troll at 1.5 mph on Flaming Gorge, which is pretty standard for kokanee fishing.

Areas of Flaming Gorge Reservoir You Can Find Kokanee Salmon

There are many areas around the reservoir that you can find kokanee. Common places include the area in front of Buckboard Marina. People also like Sheep Creek, Hideout, around Kingfisher Island, and Jarveis Bay. Another good location is the canyon area across from the Lucerne Marina.

Another simple and successful method for getting into the salmon is to follow the other boats. Flaming Gorge is probably the most popular Kokanee fishing destinations in the state of Utah, and it’s always busy. If you see a boat with all the bells and whistles having success, be considerate, but follow them. Try to match their speed and path and you can have some good success. If you’re not having success, just pick another boat to follow.

Video of KSL Outdoors Kokanee Fishing at Flaming Gorge Reservoir

Other fish you can catch trolling for kokanee at Flaming Gorge Reservoir

Lake Trout

Lake trout can grow to be enormous on Flaming Gorge. They’re found deeper than the Kokanee generally, and are a blast to catch, especially the monsters.

Rainbow Trout

You probably won’t catch a ton of these while trolling, but there are a ton of rainbows on Flaming Gorge , and there are no size limits. I’ve had a lot of success with Powerbait suspended about 2-3 feet from the bottom. I’ve had luck with chartreuse, rainbow, and pink, but I’ve had the best luck with plain trout Powerbait lately.

Flaming Gorge Reservoir Specific Regulations

Utah Flaming Gorge Reservoir Regulations

Starting in 2021, the daily limit for bass at Flaming Gorge Reservoir will be three fish (largemouth and smallmouth combined). The kokanee salmon limit is also changing. You may keep a daily limit of up to four trout and/or kokanee salmon (a combined total), excluding lake trout. These changes were made in coordination with Wyoming to ensure consistency across the reservoir. See page 30 for all of the rules specific to Flaming Gorge Reservoir.

• Anglers may NOT possess kokanee salmon at any waterbody statewide from Sept. 10 through Nov. 30
• Limit 4 trout or kokanee salmon (a combined total), excluding lake trout.
• Limit 12 lake trout/mackinaw, only 1 may exceed 28 inches.
• Linwood Bay, west of a line from the easternmost point of the south shore of Linwood Bay (mouth of canyon) to easternmost point of the north shore of Linwood Bay (Lucerne Point), CLOSED
  to nighttime angling (sunset to sunrise) from Oct. 15 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of December.
• Limit 6 catfish.
• Limit 3 smallmouth and largemouth bass (a combined total).
• No limit for burbot. Anglers must not release any burbot they catch. All burbot must be immediately killed.
• Anglers may use dead burbot as bait.
• When ice fishing, the hole size may not exceed 18 inches.
• A person may use up to six lines when fishing through the ice. If the angler is using more than one line, the angler’s name shall be attached to each line, pole or tip-up, and the angler shall check only their lines.

Wyoming Flaming Gorge Reservoir Regulations in Sweetwater County

• The creel limit on trout (excluding lake trout) shall be four (4) per day or in possession. No more than three (3) shall be kokanee salmon.
• The creel limit on lake trout shall be twelve (12) per day, twenty-four (24) in possession. No more than one (1) lake trout in possession shall exceed twenty-eight (28) inches.
• All kokanee salmon caught from September 10 through November 30 shall be released to the water immediately.
• All lake trout shall be kept whole (gills and entrails may be removed) until the angler is off the water or ice and done fishing for the day. Once off the water or ice and done fishing for the day, lake trout can be filleted for transportation and storage. A piece of skin large enough to allow species identification (at least one (1) inch square) shall remain on all fish fillets while in transit or in the field.
• All smallmouth bass shall be returned to the water immediately.
• The possession or use of gaffs for landing fish is prohibited.

Flaming Gorge Reservoir Reciprocal Stamp: Fishing Utah and Wyoming Waters

A person possessing a valid Utah resident fishing license and a valid Wyoming reciprocal fishing stamp, may fish in the Wyoming portions of Flaming Gorge Reservoir and may take creel and possession limits from Wyoming waters of the reservoir in compliance with Wyoming fishing regulations. The fee for a Wyoming reciprocal stamp shall be thirty dollars ($30). A person possessing a valid Wyoming resident fishing license and a valid Utah reciprocal fishing stamp, may fish in the Utah portions of Flaming Gorge Reservoir and may take creel and possession limits from Utah waters of the reservoir in compliance with Utah fishing regulations. The Utah stamp is $12 at the time we’re writing this, though is subject to change by the state.

Fishing regulations can change at any time, so we recommend that you check on the latest fishing regulations before you hit the lake.

Other Local Areas to Check Out

This area of the country has a lot of kokanee salmon fisheries. If you live in the area, or are planning a fishing trip, we also recommend that you check out the kokanee fishing at Strawberry Reservoir.

Where is Flaming Gorge Reservoir