Kokanee

Description
Kokanee are a resident form of the sockeye salmon; they live in Idaho all their lives. This native fish, often called the "blueback," has greenish-blue back with faint speckling. The sides and belly are silver colored, hence another nickname, "silvers." They are usually found in large, deep lakes all over the state and in reservoirs of the southern part of the state. Individual size varies; they may be stunted 5 inch fish or a 6-pounder. Idaho kokanee are usually 10-12 inches long and weigh one-half pound to one pound.

Life History
From September through December many kokanee salmon leave their normal lake and reservoir environment for streams. Kokanee spawn upstream from the reservoir or lake. Some kokanee will remain in the lake and spawn along the shore. They dig redds, like other salmon spawning in rivers. They spawn on rocky bottoms in Idaho's larger lakes.

Their bodies become "leathery" and turn dark red to bright scarlet while their heads remain dusky green, just before spawning. As with all salmon, the kokanee die after spawning. The eggs hatch early in the spring. Soon after they swim up out of the gravel, the tiny fry migrate down the river to the lake. They usually move at night. The juvenile kokanee travel together in groups called schools of fish. They rarely live near the shore; instead they live out in the middle of the lake. These schools move around the lake in a characteristic pattern. Experienced anglers who have figured out these patterns, can be consistently successful finding kokanee.

Feeding Habits
Kokanee feed primarily on zooplankton; however, a few midges and aquatic insects are occasionally eaten. They use sieve-like structures in their mouths, called gill rakers, to strain the small plankton and invertebrates from the water. During the summer, they are deep in the lake until dusk, when they venture near the surface to feed.

Angling Techniques
Trolling or hand lining are effective methods for catching kokanee. Trolling techniques vary from trolling with small spinners, using corn on a glow hook. Hand lining is popular in the northern part of the state. It is an effective technique wherever kokanee are abundant. Anglers may use trolling techniques to find a school of kokanee. Once they locate a school they may switch to a different technique.