Kokanee Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)
Oncorhynchus nerka
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Genus: Oncorhynchus
Species: O. nerka
Body Type & Identification: The landlocked form of Sockeye Salmon — identical in genetics but permanently adapted to freshwater. Silver-blue coloring in the lake; males turn brilliant red with a green head during the fall spawning run. A small, schooling salmon averaging 10–16 inches in most lakes. A spectacular fall sight when they turn red in spawning streams.
Preferred Water Temperature: 50°F–60°F. A cold-water species that follows temperature-stratified lakes — found at the thermocline depth in summer, which varies by lake. Follow the thermocline up and down seasonally. Exceptional in cold, clear mountain reservoirs and lakes.
Habitat: Cold, clear mountain lakes and reservoirs throughout the western US and Canada. Found in Lake Chelan WA, Lake Tahoe CA/NV, Flaming Gorge UT/WY, Dillon Reservoir CO, and many other western mountain lakes. Also stocked in some Great Lakes tributaries. School in open water following zooplankton and small baitfish.
Best Lures: Small Needlefish trolling lures in pink, red, and chartreuse with a Wedding Ring spinner are the most effective Kokanee trolling setup. Small Dick Nite spoons produce excellent results. Flasher-and-fly setups trolled behind a downrigger at thermocline depth are very productive. Small pink squids trolled at 1–2 mph behind a dodger.
Best Baits: Shoepeg corn on a hook behind a Wedding Ring spinner is a classic Kokanee bait — the scent and color trigger strikes. Maggots are outstanding. Small white or pink marshmallows tipped on a hook produce results. Whole kernel corn works well. Scent attractants (anise, garlic) enhance any bait.
Top 5 Destinations: Lake Chelan WA, Flaming Gorge UT/WY, Lake Granby CO, Odell Lake OR, Lake Tahoe CA/NV.
| Clackamas County Fishing Spots | ||
| Name (# of Reports) | Last Update | Location |
| Timothy Lake (10) | 7-28-2025 | Estacada, OR |
| Columbia County Fishing Spots | ||
| Name (# of Reports) | Last Update | Location |
| Columbia River (235) | 2-20-2026 | OR |
| Crook County Fishing Spots | ||
| Name (# of Reports) | Last Update | Location |
| Crooked River (556) | 5-30-2026 | Prineville, OR |
| Curry County Fishing Spots | ||
| Name (# of Reports) | Last Update | Location |
| Elk River (185) | 5-28-2026 | Port Orford, OR |
| Deschutes County Fishing Spots | ||
| Name (# of Reports) | Last Update | Location |
| Crane Prairie Reservoir (326) | 5-30-2026 | Sunriver, OR |
| Crooked River (556) | 5-30-2026 | Prineville, OR |
| East Lake (248) | 5-30-2026 | La Pine, OR |
| North Twin Lake (48) | 5-22-2026 | La Pine, OR |
| Paulina Lake (178) | 5-30-2026 | La Pine, OR |
| Suttle Lake (4) | 11-8-2025 | Sisters, OR |
| Wickiup Reservoir (86) | 5-28-2026 | La Pine, OR |
| Douglas County Fishing Spots | ||
| Name (# of Reports) | Last Update | Location |
| Galesville Reservoir (250) | 5-28-2026 | Azalea, OR |
| Hemlock Lake (177) | 5-28-2026 | Roseburg, OR |
| Lemolo Reservoir - Umpqua (1) | 5-28-2026 | OR |
| Jackson County Fishing Spots | ||
| Name (# of Reports) | Last Update | Location |
| Lost Creek Lake (127) | 3-25-2026 | Trail, OR |
| Sky Lakes Wilderness Lakes (25) | 5-27-2026 | Chiloquin, OR |
| Willow Lake (140) | 1-7-2026 | Eagle Point, OR |
| Jefferson County Fishing Spots | ||
| Name (# of Reports) | Last Update | Location |
| Crooked River (556) | 5-30-2026 | Prineville, OR |
| Haystack Reservoir (88) | 4-30-2026 | Culver, OR |
| Lake Billy Chinook (58) | 4-25-2026 | Culvar, OR |
| Metolius River (559) | 5-30-2026 | Metolius Springs, OR |
| Olallie Lake (6) | 8-12-2021 | Breitenbush, OR |
| Klamath County Fishing Spots | ||
| Name (# of Reports) | Last Update | Location |
| Crescent Lake (42) | 5-28-2026 | Crescent, OR |
| Fourmile Lake (71) | 4-8-2026 | Kalmath Falls, OR |
| Lake Of The Woods (125) | 5-6-2026 | Klamath Falls, OR |
| Miller Lake (64) | 5-27-2026 | Chemult, OR |
| Odell Lake (64) | 5-26-2026 | Crescent Lake, OR |
| Sky Lakes Wilderness Lakes (25) | 5-27-2026 | Chiloquin, OR |
| Lake County Fishing Spots | ||
| Name (# of Reports) | Last Update | Location |
| Heart Lake (31) | 3-16-2026 | Bly, OR |
| Linn County Fishing Spots | ||
| Name (# of Reports) | Last Update | Location |
| Detroit Reservoir (172) | 5-26-2026 | Detroit, OR |
| Foster Reservoir (83) | 3-23-2026 | Sweet Home, OR |
| Green Peter Reservoir (93) | 9-2-2025 | Sweet, OR |
| Sunnyside Park Pond (14) | 5-27-2026 | Sweet Home, OR |
| Marion County Fishing Spots | ||
| Name (# of Reports) | Last Update | Location |
| Detroit Reservoir (172) | 5-26-2026 | Detroit, OR |
| Multnomah County Fishing Spots | ||
| Name (# of Reports) | Last Update | Location |
| Columbia River (235) | 2-20-2026 | OR |
| Union County Fishing Spots | ||
| Name (# of Reports) | Last Update | Location |
| Wallowa River (81) | 4-24-2026 | Wallowa , OR |
| Wallowa County Fishing Spots | ||
| Name (# of Reports) | Last Update | Location |
| Hells Canyon Reservoir (26) | 4-27-2025 | ID |
| Wallowa Lake (66) | 5-27-2026 | Joseph, OR |
| Wallowa River (81) | 4-24-2026 | Wallowa , OR |
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