FishableWaters

Species

Kokanee

On record in 92 waters across 5 states

Kokanee are landlocked sockeye salmon, stocked in deep reservoirs across the West, and they live their entire life cycle in freshwater without ever reaching the ocean. They're plankton feeders, which makes them one of the few gamefish that won't chase a lure out of aggression — you're fishing to trigger a reflex bite, not hunger.

Kokanee are on record in 92 waters across 5 states, most heavily in Washington, Idaho, Utah, Montana and Wyoming. FishableWaters tracks every kokanee stocking from state agency reports — use the state links and most-stocked list below to find waters near you.

Kokanee
Timothy Knepp / USFWS

By state

Most-stocked waters

How to catch them

Trolling small dodgers or flashers ahead of a hoochie, spoon, or wedding ring rig at a specific depth is the standard approach, since kokanee suspend at whatever depth matches water temperature and food. Downriggers or leadcore line help hold that depth consistently, and success usually comes down to finding the right depth band on a fish finder.

Wedding ring spinners tipped with white corn or a small piece of shrimp behind a dodger are the classic kokanee rig. Scent matters more than with most trout — many anglers add a shot of kokanee-specific scent or cured bait like Fire Corn to the hook.

Know your fish

Silvery and streamlined most of the year, kokanee turn brilliant red with a hooked jaw when they spawn in fall, which is when they die, just like their ocean-going sockeye relatives.

Late spring through summer for open-water trolling, once kokanee settle into their thermocline depth. Fall brings spawning runs into tributary streams, where kokanee are typically catch-and-release only or closed to fishing depending on the state.

Freshest kokanee stockings

Jul 1, 2026High Savery ReservoirWY16,317
Jul 1, 2026Boulder LakeWY59,341
Jul 1, 2026Rob Roy ReservoirWY20,296
Jun 17, 2026Horsethief ReservoirID10,588
Jun 17, 2026Lake Pend OreilleID52,941
Jun 17, 2026Upper Payette LakeID15,882
Jun 16, 2026Lake Pend OreilleID2,338,618
Jun 15, 2026Lake Pend OreilleID3,311,965
Jun 11, 2026Deadwood ReservoirID53,505
Jun 10, 2026North Fork Payette RiverID231,991
Jun 8, 2026Soldiers Meadow ReservoirID13,680
May 27, 2026Palisades ReservoirID69,190
May 21, 2026Sheep CreekUT21,350
May 21, 2026Arrowrock ReservoirID201,217
May 20, 2026Anderson Ranch ReservoirID66,934

Kokanee — FAQ

Where can I catch kokanee?+

Kokanee are stocked across 5 states, led by Washington, Idaho, Utah, Montana and Wyoming. Pick a state below to see every water stocked with kokanee.

What's the best bait for kokanee?+

Wedding ring spinners tipped with white corn or a small piece of shrimp behind a dodger are the classic kokanee rig. Scent matters more than with most trout — many anglers add a shot of kokanee-specific scent or cured bait like Fire Corn to the hook.

When is the best time to catch kokanee?+

Late spring through summer for open-water trolling, once kokanee settle into their thermocline depth. Fall brings spawning runs into tributary streams, where kokanee are typically catch-and-release only or closed to fishing depending on the state.

How many waters are stocked with kokanee?+

92 waters across 5 states hold kokanee on record, updated daily from agency stocking reports.