Kokanee Fishing in New York

Kokanee fishing has been growing in popularity in the USA, and that led the state of New York to try its hand at introducing Kokanee Salmon into more waters in the state. From 1996 to 2003, the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) introduced some limited numbers of kokanee to a dozen bodies of water from (list below.)  State officials reported that the kokanee stocking program was short-lived due to lack of brood stock rearing capacity in the hatchery system and the difficulty of obtaining stock each year for a small program. The last stocking took place in Clear Pond, Franklin County in 2003, and the program has been discontinued.

That doesn’t mean its impossible to catch kokanee in New York though. Some natural reproduction has occurred in Clear Pond, Bug Lake, and West Pine Pond, but I doubt it. Those bodies of water may still have some Kokanee, but there has not been a Kokanee survey since 2015 and DEC cannot provide information on average size, or confirm the current existence of kokanee in these waters. Additionally, kokanee fishing isn’t as popular, and there haven’t been anglers reporting catching any kokanee since 2005. That’s not to say they aren’t there, but rather to say that its just not as popular there.

I have chased and studied kokanee all over the country. I realized that I was a kokanee addict, so I decided I ought to just go for it and try to make a career out of it. I’ve been researching the biology, history, conservation, and of course the tactics for fishing for kokanee salmon. They are, in my opinion, the most fun fresh water fish to target.

About Kokanee Salmon

Kokanee salmon are sockeye salmon that are landlocked in fresh water. They primarily feed on Zoo plankton and 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 Management Plan in the Adirondacks

I never fished for kokanee in New York, but I’ve chased them around the country, and like to work with state wildlife officials to plan, manage, and support kokanee fisheries. I reached out to the biologists and wildlife management officials in New York to learn about their plans for kokanee in the area. The DEC’s management in the Adirondacks focuses on native fish species. There are no plans to resume active management of Kokanee. I was disappointed by this news. This is a function of both hatchery capacity and the unfavorable views towards spreading non-native game fish in inland waters on the part of New York anglers and the broader public. 

Bug Lake

Bug Lake has one of the last remaining kokanee populations in the state. The kokanee here have been able to be self sustaining since the state has ended their stocking efforts. The average kokanee you can expect to catch will range from 6-8 inches long. If you get one over 1 lb, you’ve got yourself a good Bug Lake kokanee. Bug Lake is located in Hamilton County. The DEC stocked kokanee in Bug Lake 4 times between 1997 and 2001. There were also efforts to stock the lake with kokanee in the 1950’s and 60’s that also saw some good results. This is likely the best option for being able to sustain a kokanee fishery in New York.

Glass Lake

Located in Averill Lake, there were kokanee reported in this lake, but the latest report was from 2005. They’re hard to catch, but they do grow a bit larger than Bug Lake. Reports of people catching 16″ salmon were coming in regularly at that time.

Boy Scout Clear Pond, NY

Some websites and forums still claim that Boy Scout Clear Pond has kokanee, but the DEC is unable to confirm that. Boy Scout Clear Pond is the location where the state record was caught though, so at least at one point, Boy Scout could produce some quality kokanee.

Kokanee Salmon Fishing in Lake Ontario, New York

There are currently healthy populations of Coho and Chinook salmon in Lake Ontario that are landlocked, and are thriving. These salmon are also stocked in the lake as well. The first kokanee were stocked into Lake Ontario in 1950 by the New York DEC. There was concern that some of the other fish stocked would compete with the native fish. Kokanee were planted primarily as feeder fish. About 19 million kokanee salmon were stocked in the Great Lakes between 1950 and 1970, with the bulk of those going into Lake Ontario and Lake Huron.

Kokanee populations in Lake Ontario did not have much success. There was only limited spawning in only a few streams. By 1970, the only reports of kokanee being caught were from a few commercial fishermen.

Other Places that May Have Kokanee in New York

• Lake Colby
• Connery Pond
• Little Hill Pond
• Deer Pond
• East Pine Pond
• Lake Placid
• Polliwog Pond
• Long Pond
• Mitchell pond
• Taylor Pond: Taylor Pond was last stocked with kokanee in 2001. People don’t believe there are any more that have survived from that time.

New York Kokanee Salmon State Record

The state record kokanee salmon weighed in at 3 lbs, 6 oz. caught by Kenneth Shear, on 6/14/2002. It was caught on a wobbler and a worm in Boy Scout Clear Pond.

Kokanee Stocking in New York

The number of fingerlings stocked is displayed in column under “Expr3.” Please note that public fishing access is not currently available on all of these waters. We don’t condone trespassing.

FixedName	year	Expr1	FixedCounty	Expr2	Expr3	Expr4	LENGTH
Boy Scout Clear Pond	1996	5	Franklin	KOK	11080	Regular	1.8
Boy Scout Clear Pond	1997	5	Franklin	KOK	8200	Regular	2.7
Boy Scout Clear Pond	1997	5	Franklin	KOK	5000	Surplus	2.7
Boy Scout Clear Pond	1999	5	Franklin	KOK	16300	Regular	2.00
Boy Scout Clear Pond	2000	5	Franklin	KOK	16300	Regular	1.8
Boy Scout Clear Pond	2003	5	Franklin	KOK	1970	Surplus	3
Bug Lake	1997	5	Hamilton	KOK	5000	Regular	2.1
Bug Lake	1999	5	Hamilton	KOK	10000	Regular	2.00
Bug Lake	2000	5	Hamilton	KOK	10000	Regular	1.9
Bug Lake	2001	5	Hamilton	KOK	9000	Regular	2.2
Connery Pond	2001	5	Essex	KOK	13000	Regular	2.2
Connery Pond	2002	5	Essex	KOK	10540	Regular	2.9
Glass Lake	1996	4	Rensselaer	KOK	19960	Regular	2.1
Glass Lake	1997	4	Rensselaer	KOK	15000	Regular	2.4
Glass Lake	1999	4	Rensselaer	KOK	15200	Regular	1.90
Glass Lake	2000	4	Rensselaer	KOK	15200	Regular	1.8
Glass Lake	2001	4	Rensselaer	KOK	15200	Regular	1.9
Glass Lake	2002	4	Rensselaer	KOK	10000	Regular	1.9
Greens Lake	1999	4	Greene	KOK	4800	Regular	2.10
Greens Lake	2000	4	Greene	KOK	4800	Regular	2.1
Greens Lake	2001	4	Greene	KOK	4800	Regular	2.4
Kushaqua Lake	1996	5	Franklin	KOK	44200	Regular	1.8
Kushaqua Lake	1997	5	Franklin	KOK	27000	Other	2.7
Kushaqua Lake	1997	5	Franklin	KOK	10000	Surplus	2.7
Kushaqua Lake	2000	5	Franklin	KOK	37500	Regular	2.3
Long Pond	1996	6	Lewis	KOK	14750	Regular	2.1
Long Pond	1996	5	Franklin	KOK	6800	Regular	1.8
Long Pond	1997	6	Lewis	KOK	10000	Regular	2.5
Long Pond	1999	6	Lewis	KOK	15000	Regular	2.00
Long Pond	2000	5	Franklin	KOK	10000	Regular	1.8
Long Pond	2000	6	Lewis	KOK	15000	Regular	2.3
Long Pond	2001	5	Franklin	KOK	9000	Regular	2.2
Long Pond	2001	6	Lewis	KOK	4820	Regular	2.9
Lower Mitchell Pond	1996	5	Hamilton	KOK	5890	Regular	1.8
Lower Mitchell Pond	1997	5	Hamilton	KOK	2500	Regular	2.1
Lower Mitchell Pond	1999	5	Hamilton	KOK	5000	Regular	2.00
Lower Mitchell Pond	2000	5	Hamilton	KOK	5000	Regular	1.9
Lower Mitchell Pond	2001	5	Hamilton	KOK	5000	Regular	2.2
North Twin Lake	1999	6	St Lawrence	KOK	3000	Regular	2.00
North Twin Lake	2000	6	St Lawrence	KOK	5000	Regular	2.3
North Twin Lake	2001	6	St Lawrence	KOK	1500	Regular	2.9
Polliwog Pond	1996	5	Franklin	KOK	28290	Regular	1.8
Polliwog Pond	1997	5	Franklin	KOK	10000	Surplus	2.7
Polliwog Pond	1997	5	Franklin	KOK	20800	Regular	2.7
Polliwog Pond	1999	5	Franklin	KOK	23700	Regular	2.00
Polliwog Pond	2000	5	Franklin	KOK	41600	Regular	1.8
Polliwog Pond	2001	5	Franklin	KOK	38000	Regular	2.2
South Twin Lake	1999	6	St Lawrence	KOK	1500	Regular	2.00
South Twin Lake	2000	6	St Lawrence	KOK	2500	Regular	2.3
South Twin Lake	2001	6	St Lawrence	KOK	1500	Regular	2.9
Taylor Pond	2001	5	Clinton	KOK	100000	Regular	2.4
Twin Lake North	1997	6	St Lawrence	KOK	3000	Surplus	2.7
Twin Lake North	1997	6	St Lawrence	KOK	2000	Surplus	4.6
Twin Lake South	1997	6	St Lawrence	KOK	2000	Surplus	4.6
Twin Lake South	1997	6	St Lawrence	KOK	1500	Surplus	2.7