Rockport Reservoir, Utah Kokanee Salmon Fishing

Rockport Reservoir

Rockport Reservoir is located in Summit County, Utah. The reservoir sits at 5,955 feet in elevation, making it one of the lower elevation kokanee lakes in the state of Utah. Because its lower elevation, Rockport reservoir is also extremely popular with kayakers, paddleboarders, boaters, and other water sports. The reservoir is fed by the Weber river, and is among the more recent places where kokanee have been added in the state. Kokanee are the latest addition to Rockport Reservoir and they’re a lot of fun.

If you want to go try kokanee at Rockport, we’d recommend hitting the reservoir early in the morning before all the kayakers and water sporters arrive. Fishing is usually better in the morning anyways. Try the deeper parts of the reservoir, especially by the dam.

Stocking Kokanee in Rockport

The state of Utah began stocking kokanee salmon in Rockport Reservoir in the spring of 2020. Fishermen shouldn’t expect to catch any salmon from the reservoir until about 2022, assuming they survive and take to the lake. By the stocking reports though, I’m optimistic. About 400% more kokanee were introduced to Rockport Reservoir in 2021 than were introduced in Upper Enterprise Reservoir in 2020, which leads me to believe that the DWR probably thinks that kokanee have pretty good odds of surviving in Rockport Reservoir. Additionally, in 2022, I started seeing reports of people catching kokanee. July of 2022 I saw one post of a guy that caught 3 fat kokanee along with a slew of rainbow trout. Since that time, reports have continued to come in. They’re thriving and ready for the catching.

What to Use for Catching Kokanee

The most successful setup for fishing kokanee is a basic trolling setup. This consists of a kokanee dodger with a lure or hoochie with an 8-18″ leader. Tip the back hook of the lure or hoochie with a gulp maggot or some flavored shoe peg corn. The dodger is a 3-4″ piece of metal that creates action in the water. There are several popular lures, including a squid hoochie or a wedding ring lure, but the secret is the dodger.

Macks Lure Dodger, Pink

About Kokanee Salmon

Kokanee salmon are landlocked sockeye salmon. They aren’t native to Utah, but they are native to Idaho, California, Washington, and parts of Canada. They’re extremely tasty, and a lot of fun to catch. They’ve got a soft jaw, so be sure to use a light or an ultralight action pole when fishing for them. The state of Utah attempted to stock other species of salmon in the state, but the kokanee is the only species to thrive in the state. If you’re looking for something new to fish for in the state, give kokanee salmon a try.

Utah Kokanee Fishing Regulations

• The state of Utah considers kokanee to be a part of the trout bag limit
• You Cannot have any kokanee salmon in your possession at any body of water from September 10 through November 30
• Bag Limit is a total of 4 kokanee salmon or trout, with additional kokanee bag limits at some specific bodies of water.

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

News Report of Kokanee First Being Stocked in Rockport Reservoir