Utah Increases Stateline Reservoir Kokanee Limit

The state of Utah is set to increase the kokanee limit at Stateline Reservoir. I reached out to Chris Penne, Northern Region Aquatics Program Manager, and was able to speak with him about why state biologists were looking to make the change, along with the process of how this change came about.

Stateline Reservoir had kokanee salmon introduced at the same time as Causey Reservoir, in 1992. For a while, it seemed like the kokanee at Stateline hadn’t taken hold. Then, without anyone really noticing, the population took off. The explosion of kokanee population has led to smaller fish sizes. When going to spawn, biologists are measuring the salmon at only 7-9 inches. Biologists are looking to reduce numbers and increase fish sizes, to make for a better fishing experience for anglers.

The state proposed the bonus limit of kokanee to work towards reducing those population numbers. The state has proposed a 4 fish bonus kokanee limit at Stateline Reservoir. With this limit, an anger could catch their regular state bag limit, which is a combination of 4 kokanee or trout, and then an additional 4 kokanee. With that, as examples, an angler could catch 8 kokanee, or 2 trout and 6 kokanee, or 4 trout and 4 kokanee.

Stateline isn’t the first place that the state of Utah has tried a bonus limit of kokanee. The state has had a bonus limit of kokanee at Porcupine Reservoir for some time now. Porcupine also has smaller fish and they’ve been trying to increase the size of the fish there as well.

The state has also introduced sterile lake trout to Stateline Reservoir as well as a predator to the kokanee. State officials are hoping that the lake trout, and potentially the greater fishing pressure will reduce numbers and allow for fish to grow bigger. Another proposed regulation change is to only allow anglers to keep one lake trout at Stateline Reservoir. Lake trout are a popular sport fish that anglers target because of their potential to grow quite large. The proposed change for lake trout is adding a stipulation that no more than one can be a lake trout over 22 inches. All lake trout 22 inches or smaller must be immediately released.

Kokanee salmon have been in the state of Utah for 100 years now, and management for kokanee has come a long way in that time. The state of Utah now has several incredible, world class kokanee fisheries in the state. Stateline is a long way from competing with Flaming Gorge or Strawberry Reservoir, but biologists are optimistic that these new changes will help move Stateline in the right direction.

This video reviews the proposed regulation. If you push play, I have it set to start with the proposed changes at Stateline Reservoir. You can watch the parts before and after if you’re interested in other changes happening in the state.

The process for this regulation change was as follows: state officials sent out an angler survey to get public feedback on proposed changes. The proposed change received a positive approval rate of about 85%. Then the changes went to the RAC and wildlife board for approval, and it passed.

Video of the RAC Meeting

The video below is the RAC Meeting, and I have it set to start with the discussion of the bonus limit of kokanee at Stateline Reservoir.

About Kokanee Salmon

Kokanee salmon are sockeye salmon that are landlocked in fresh water. They primarily feed on Zooplankton and are generally found in larger lakes that can maintain a cool temperature, or have enough depth to maintain a cool temperature and support both these microorganisms and the kokanee salmon. Kokanee, like those introduced at Stateline Reservoir, are not native to the state of Utah. Native populations can be found though in 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, 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.

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.