Distribution the kokanee is found over most of the range of the sockeye salmon which extends in north america from the klamath river in california to point hope, alaska. Kokanee salmon starting in 2016, you cant keep any kokanee in utah from sept. Kokanee sockeye salmon oncorhynchus nerka utah fish. Where to catch kokanee salmon in utah outdoor troop. Must see nc state record broken 2 times in 24hrs duration. Record kokanee at wallowa lake comes with a down side. Utah fish are active, hungry in quality waters during june. Female kokanee turn a lighter red in color and retain a body shape similar to a trout, while the male develops a large hooked snout with many irregular teeth, a hump back and a musky green head. Flaming gorge which might be the best lake trout fishery in the west has lots of. See kokanee salmon at utahs sheep creek outdoornews. Kokanee salmon, a landlocked type of sockeye salmon. With kokanee, however, its less about the size of the fish in the fight than the size of the fight in the fish, particularly in the fall.
Conservation efforts the lake sammamish kokanee work group kwg was formed to advance conservation for the laterun lake sammamish kokanee. This closure will be in effect at all of the salmon waters in the state. Kokanee were first introduced into montana in flathead lake in 1914 and are currently fairly widespread in the western half of the state on both sides of the divide. Kokanee can achieve sizes of 3 to 5 pounds but 1pounders are most common. If you are searching for a fun family outdoor activity head on up to the strawberry visitors center and check out the beautiful red kokonee salmon as they migrate up the strawberry river. About fish and game directory employment fish and game commission. Massive lake trout smashes the catch and release record at. Kokanee salmon swim upstream from causey reservoir to spawn on thursday, sept. A complete guide to paddling utah s lakes, reservoirs. Unlike their oceandwelling cousins, kokanees will spend their entire lives in fresh water, trading the unattainable ocean swells for a more placid existence in.
We have great prices and selection, and if we dont have it we will get it. With kokanee fisheries scattered across the state, opportunities abound for anyone to experience these exciting and delicious game fish. Official utah state fishing records utah fishing info. Kokanee salmon are a landlocked variety of sockeye salmon. Immediately scott and terry taught me the importance of specialized gear when it comes to jigging for kokanee. Utah fishing records is extensive and changes multiple times. Pronunciation of kokanee salmon with 1 audio pronunciation, 11 translations and more for kokanee salmon.
Local man breaks second fishing record in as many years. The kokanee creek provincial park is one of the top spots to experience the spawning mayhem. Four months after landing a monster kokanee, ron campbell has landed in the world record book twice. For more utah outdoor activities please like us on. Catch and release fish records idaho fish and game. The utah division of wildlife resources serves the people of utah by managing and protecting the. Kokanee are landlocked relatives of the sockeye salmon of the pacific coast. Oct 09, 2017 we have kokanee salmon here in utah, brought from the far reaches of the pacific northwest.
Sometimes changing out hooks and adding a red hook to the lure will produce more hits. There is some debate as to whether the kokanee and its seagoing relative are. Kokanee are landlocked relatives of the sockeye salmon of the pacific coast, and they are just as exciting to catch as their saltwater kin. Kokanee and sockeye salmon british columbia travel. Manila you dont need binoculars or a spotting scope to see kokanee salmon in sheep creek the bright red fish are easy to see once they enter the stream. The kokanee evolved in inland lakes and never make it to the open ocean in their lifecycle.
How to catch kokanee salmon in strawberry reservoir utah. Species, year, weight, length, girth, angler, location, photo. The landscape is stunning in this part of alaska, and each year tens of thousands of americans and people from all over the world make the trek to alaska to enjoy a week or more if fortunate of catching amazing pacific salmon of all types. Each fall, wild kokanee salmon make their way up a few utah rivers to spawn. It is also a worldclass fishery for bear lake cutthroat trout and sterile rainbow trout. Kokanee landlocked sockeye salmon are the only salmon species found in utah, and are found in deep water reservoirs such as flaming gorge, strawberry. Kokanee is a word from the okanagan language referring to landlocked lake populations of sockeye salmon oncorhynchus nerka. Many fishing areas are still open during this ongoing covid19 situation, although we strongly encourage you to follow federal, state and county guidelines for social distancing and recreation if you choose to go outdoors. Mark moncriefjerry logosz, a former joseph resident who retired to arizona, caught a state record kokanee at wallowa lake on july 19.
Kokanee salmon spawning in kootenay lake region nelson. Stop by the new boardwalk near the lodge and see the feisty fish bite and jostle as. Kokanee is an okanagan word used to refer to landlocked populations of sockeye salmon. To prevent loss of weight, do not clean or freeze the fish. Growing up in montana allowed them the opportunity to fish idaho, washington, oregon and california. The state record kokanee salmon was also caught at strawberry in 1995, weighing in at 6 pounds. This years kokanee salmon day is september 15 in northeastern utah. After moving to utah, their fishing has expanded to include wyoming and colorado. Moon lake and strawberry reservoir, which currently boasts the state record. All of the rules in the guidebook go into effect on jan. These fish are right on par with flaming gorge kokanee salmon.
Oct 05, 2015 thefree guidebook, which contains all of the fishing rules for utah for 2016, should be available online by late november. Oct 07, 2008 a little over a week ago, i saw my first kokanee salmon run up little bear river just east of porcupine reservoir. Meadow creek spawning channels are also very active and produce between 1015 million fry annually with mean eggtofry survival rate of 45%. Utah division of wildlife resources kokanee salmon. Bill brush of nevada city was fishing on lake tahoe july 20 when he reeled in a 5 pound, 2 ounce kokanee salmon a fish that has the potential to shatter a 40yearold state record by 5 ounces. Utah s strawberry reservoir, in the uinta national forest east of provo, was planted with kokanee. The pendleton angler, who took a 9pound 10ounce kokanee salmon at.
Kokanees have been a part of utah s fishery management program for many years now. Check the list of record fish to see if your fish might be a contender. Teaching fishing tips and techniques for kokanee, trout, and just information on how to be a better kokanee angler in this addictive fishery we all love. The water is often so clear that the fish look like they are suspended in air. Sep 30, 2016 a big kokanee generally measures about 18 inches, although state recordholder lee cox managed to snag a 7pound, 5ounce kokanee measuring 27 inches at blue mesa in 2002. State record fish wyoming game and fish department.
You can view the complete list of utahs catchandrelease records here. Kokanee creek provincial park, british columbia, canada. Massive lake trout smashes the catch and release record at flaming. It took five minutes to reel in his second record breaking kokanee salmon, but he said it felt like 30. In shallow water with rocks the kokanee is the landlocked version of the sockeye salmon.
Utah fishing guidebook utah division of wildlife utah. Kokanee salmon fish in porcupine reservoir utah youtube. By martin koenig, idaho department of fish and game the warm weather may finally be here to stay, and for many anglers across the state, warm spring weather means kokanee fishing. The management at strawberry reservoir also stocks the kokanee salmon annually to help keep their numbers growing. Location angler date arctic grayling 14 rough lake lanson stavast 07162018 arctic grayling. Government biologists recently confirmed dna testing that shows the 5. Kokanee salmon causey reservoir utah video dailymotion. A little over a week ago, i saw my first kokanee salmon run up little bear river just east of porcupine reservoir. The utah record trout was caught at strawberry in 1930 and weighed 26. Weight record game fish most recent entry is highlighted in this color.
Once grown, the fish should provide more deep water fishing opportunities for anglers. The kokanee in fish lake twin creeks tributary are now spawning. The old record was set may 31, 1986, by an angler named adolph aragon who landed a 5pound 11ounce kokanee at spinney mountain reservoir in colorado. Let our expert guides take you out and help you catch the big one. Kokanee salmon is simply the name for a pacific sockeye salmon when it is landlocked. I need to get back to work as this fish has consumed most of my time since june. The issaquah creek state salmon hatchery, local property owners, and culverts block or have blocked the kokanee s access to habitat needed for spawning. Kokanee fingerlings released into california lakes and. Sep 27, 2015 3 ways to hook salmon eggs on fish hooks diy fishing tr. Length record catch and release game fish most recent entry is highlighted in this color. The kokanee salmon oncorhynchus nerka, also known as the kokanee trout, little redfish, silver trout, kikanning, kennerlys salmon, kennerlys trout, or walla, is the nonanadromous form of the sockeye salmon meaning that they do not migrate to the sea, instead living out their entire lives in freshwater.
The idaho department of fish and game says kokanee salmon are prized for their fighting. The worlds largest recorded kokanee salmon was caught, smoked and eaten before anyone realized what a prize fish it was. The utah division of wildlife resources serves the people of utah by managing and protecting the states wildlife. In 1934, ernest hemingway caught a record size468poundblue marlin.
They offer guided kokanee trips call scott at 5416835719 to book, and have clients come from around the west to learn from them, then apply their techniques on their home waters. Michigan department of natural resources state record fish. Jul 11, 2016 the california department of fish and wildlife cdfw has recently completed the release of the 2016 allotment of kokanee salmon fingerlings. Theyve been stocked in several utah waters, including causey reservoir, porcupine reservoir, moon lake and strawberry reservoir, which currently boasts the state record, a 6pounder, caught in 1995. The biggest known kokanee salmon to be caught in utah was caught at strawberry reservoir in 1995 and has become a state record. Kokanee salmon oncorhynchus nerka utah fishing info. The kokanee is the landlocked version of the sockeye salmon. Kokanee salmon in the strawberry resevoir in wasatch county, utah, aug. I was reading the dnr page for record size catch and types and it said the state record kokanee salmon was caught in the clinton river in oakland co. Covering more than 40,000 acres, it holds lake trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, smallmouth bass and more. Art and karen pearce, owners of kokanee creek tackle have been fishing in the rocky mountains for salmon, trout and other species since childhood. Kokanee can be one of the most difficult and elusive fish species to catch in utah, but are a beautiful fish to catch and are very tasty to eat.
Each fall the fish turns a vivid pinkish red before broadcasting their eggs along the creek. Jun 19, 2010 the kokanee caught on june, 2010, at wallowa lake, oregon is the new igfa alltackle world record, 9 lb 10 oz. Most importantly, if you are feeling sick, please stay home. This year, researchers counted over 10,000 fish within a mile of the reservoir. If so, i would very much like to hear if anyone on this site has caught one and their opinion on it. They keep taking away our spring salmon seasons in the. This years allotment included 634,430 kokanee released into lakes and reservoirs throughout the state. Fishing montanas waters is enjoyed by many, but only a few anglers catch a record fish.
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