Nantahala Lake, North Carolina Kokanee Fishing

To learn anything and everything about kokanee fishing at Nantahala Lake, NC, we spoke to a few state officials and some avid North Carolina kokanee anglers about their experience at the lake, including the current and former NC kokanee salmon state record holders. We have done just about everything short of fishing the lake ourselves, and in the coming years we hope to be able to do that as well.

About Nantahala Lake

Nantahala Lake is located in Macon County, North Carolina. It was created in 1942 by the Nantahala Power Company when it built the Nantahala Dam across the Nantahala River. The controlled release of water from the dam creates a constant flow of water through the river and lake, providing excellent fishing conditions year round. The lake also has the most south-eastern kokanee salmon population in the United States. Nantahala Lake’s kokanee fishing can provide some fast and fun fishing action for anglers looking for something unique in the state.

In addition to the kokanee salmon, anglers can catch trout, bass and crappie among other species. Two boat ramps provide access to the lake as does a fishing pier near the dam. Visitors can fish from their boats or along the shoreline at several locations around the lake. A state fishing license is required and there is no charge to use any of the facilities at Nantahala Lake Park.

The lake covers more than 2,000 acres and offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation including boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and of course- fishing. At 3,009 feet, Nantahala Lake is also among the highest elevation reservoirs in North Carolina. There are also miles of hiking trails in nearby National Forests open to hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers.

About Kokanee Salmon

Kokanee salmon are landlocked, sockeye salmon. They primarily feed on Zoo plankton, krill, and other very small organisms, and are generally found in larger lakes that can maintain a cool temperature and food source, or have enough depth to maintain a cool temperature somewhere in the water column. 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 are also found in Japan and Russia. Kokanee salmon are not, however, native to North Carolina.

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, of course, North Carolina in the east. Kokanee have also been introduced to lakes in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada. Kokanee are a popular fish to introduce because they don’t eat other fish, they’re good fighters and fun to catch, and because they’re absolutely delicious.

Nantahala Lake Kokanee History

The lake was created in 1942 with the creation of the Nantahala Dam. This was a hydroelectric dam that brought power to the area, but was specifically needed at that time for the war efforts for World War 2. After its creation, the power was used in an aluminum plant, and was also used in the creation of military equipment, such as planes.

Before that, the area had a more tragic history. Camp Scott, now mostly submerged in water from the lake, was the starting point for the trail of tears. Camp Scott was the gathering point where the Cherokee people were rounded up to before the forced march to Oklahoma.

Kokanee Salmon were originally stocked in Lake Nantahala from 1959 to 1964 to provide forage for the resident Rainbow Trout population. Subsequent sampling failed to re-capture Kokanee Salmon; therefore, the stockings were considered unsuccessful and discontinued. The undetected salmon had survived though, and Nantahala Lake quietly developed a healthy kokanee population with few people realizing it.

Nantahala Lake kokanee fishing has grown in popularity through the years, but the state doesn’t have a very good handle on how many people are targeting them on the lake. It is most likely a small niche of anglers that like to target them. I would say most people are targeting either Smallmouth Bass or Largemouth Bass on Lake Nantahala.

Current Status of Kokanee in Nantahala Lake, NC

The state is in the middle of a Kokanee stocking project on Lake Nantahala. North Carolina doesn’t usually stock fish, so this is significant. Anglers began to voice concerns about a decline in the Kokanee Salmon population in Lake Nantahala in 2017. Then in spring 2017 the state collected Blueback Herring in Lake Nantahala for the first time. Blueback Herring are an anadromous shad species native to the Atlantic Coast that have shown up in several of the western North Carolina reservoirs over the last couple of decades. The impact of this new species on Kokanee Salmon is unknown, but both species are planktivores and may ultimately compete for food. Blueback Herring are often associated with reduced sportfish populations. One angler even reported seeing these herring harassing some kokanee salmon on the lake.

Unfortunately, as with when the state originally stocked the salmon, wildlife officials have a difficult time collecting Kokanee Salmon in their sampling gear, but that said, their gillnet surveys had lower catch rates in 2017 and 2018. So, the state decided to experimentally stock 30,000 Kokanee Salmon for 5 years (2020-2024). The intent for the stockings is to restore the historic self-sustaining population in Lake Nantahala. Wildlife officials will evaluate the stockings and make management recommendations at the end of the experiment. If unsuccessful, this could lead to the end of kokanee salmon in both Nantahala Lake, and in North Carolina as a whole.

What People are Catching Kokanee With at Nantahala Lake

I was able to talk with a few different kokanee anglers in the state, including a past 2 time state record holder, and the current NC state record holder for kokanee salmon. Unlike a lot of other fishing, when you target kokanee, you aren’t trying to imitate its food. Kokanee primarily eat zooplankton, and it’s awfully hard to stick one or two of those on a hook. Instead, kokanee gear is designed to make the fish angry, and to get them to strike out of aggression instead of out of hunger. In talking with these avid NC kokanee anglers, they reported having most success trolling with pink dodgers, and either hoochies or wedding ring type lures.

Where to Find Kokanee on Nantahala Lake

Depth:

The depth you’ll mark kokanee at varies by the time of year, as it does in most kokanee lakes. This can vary from 10′ in the early season to 60-80 feet in the late summer or early fall.  In the mornings, skimming the top of the water, where the pollen bands were. Skim the top for a couple seconds, then drop back down. Mid morning, 10-11 o’clock. Then they’d drop lower. May- surface to 20 feet. June/July 40-50 feet. After August, harder to catch.

Location:

Fishermen reported that they generally target the lower 2/3 of the lake, with particular success noted closer to the dam. When the bite is hot, as long as your in sufficiently deep water, there are kokanee everywhere. The state and local fishermen hope the lake is able to return to that level of success.

Where do Kokanee Spawn at Nantahala Lake

During the fall, mature kokanee salmon will head up rivers and streams to spawn, which is when they lay eggs. At this point their life cycle comes to an end. The population of kokanee salmon at Nantahala Lake spawn int e Nantahala river. Much of the river is private on both sides, but if you’ve got a boat, or know somebody, its a sight to see. Come the first full moon in September, they start their run according to one local fishing guide. The mature salmon turn from silver to a vibrant red color. Think of the classic salmon runs in Alaska, and that’s what you can see as far south as North Carolina with these kokanee.

Nantahala Lake Kokanee Fishing Regulations (North Carolina’s Relevant Regulations)

First and foremost, we urge anglers to check out current regulations directly from the source to make sure you have the most up to date information. If a regulation has changed, we’re not responsible. That said, in 2022 we reached out to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and Christian Waters, Chief of Inland Fisheries, told us: The regulation for Kokanee is 4 fish with no size limit. I also asked them about snagging kokanee salmon, which is allowed in some states.

Can You Snag Kokanee Salmon at Nantahala Lake?

Snagging kokanee salmon is illegal per 15A NCAC 10C .0213 SNAGGING FISH which reads “It is unlawful to take fish from any inland fishing waters by snagging. As used in this Rule, “snagging” means pulling or jerking a device equipped with one or more hooks through the water for the purpose of impaling fish thereon.”  This information can also be found in our regulations digest on page 26 under Manner of Taking (game fish) and page 41 under Manner of Taking Nongame Fish. Some people have illegally snagged kokanee from the Nantahala River during the spawn, but officers are on the watch for people illegally doing this. Furthermore, while a population is making a come back, we recommend that spawning kokanee be entirely left alone.

Kokanee Photo Gallery from Nantahala Lake