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Sockeye Salmon

Sockeye Salmon

Sockeye Salmon in Utah exist as kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), a landlocked form that spends its entire life in freshwater.

First introduced to Utah in 1922, kokanee have been regularly stocked since then and are now established in Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Strawberry Reservoir, and several other water bodies across the state.

Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus nerka

Also known as kokanee salmon

Physical Characteristics:
  • These fish are silvery-blue for most of their lives but transform dramatically during spawning season, turning bright red with males developing humped backs, hooked jaws, and elongated teeth.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Established in Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Strawberry Reservoir, and several other water bodies across the state.

Key Locations

  • Major Utah populations exist in Strawberry Reservoir (Wasatch County), Flaming Gorge (Daggett County), Jordanelle Reservoir (Summit County), Causey Reservoir (Weber County), Smith and Morehouse Reservoir (Summit County), Stateline Reservoir (Summit County), Fish Lake (Sevier County), Electric Lake (Emery County), and Porcupine Reservoir (Cache County).
  • Key productive locations include the Strawberry River near the visitor center, Sheep Creek below Flaming Gorge, the Provo River above Jordanelle's Rock Cliff area, and tributary streams of other major reservoirs.

Specific Spots

  • At Strawberry, they can be caught in high numbers around rocky shorelines.
  • Fish depths of 65-80 feet at places like Lake Chelan.
  • Target rivers and streams during spawning runs.

Sockeye Salmon FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Sockeye Salmon in Utah?

For lake fishing, use dodgers with bare red hooks in sizes #2 to #1. Chrome or silver scale dodgers work well with short leaders and bare red hooks. Many successful anglers use just bare red hooks with minimal terminal tackle.

What flies work for Sockeye Salmon in Utah?

Russian River flies or other brightly colored patterns with single-point hooks and less than 1/2" hook gap.

When is the best time to fish for Sockeye Salmon in Utah?

Prime season runs from late spring through summer before the September 10 closure. They spawn from late spring to midsummer depending on the population, with peak spawning occurring September through early November at different locations.

How do you catch Sockeye Salmon in Utah?

The most effective technique for catching kokanee in Utah waters is 'flossing' or 'lining,' where anglers position themselves in rivers and streams to drift their line through the path of swimming salmon, allowing the leader to enter the fish's mouth as they swim upstream.

What do Sockeye Salmon eat?

Their diet consists primarily of zooplankton, with large zooplankton being their food of choice, though juveniles also feed on planktonic crustaceans, small aquatic insects, and occasionally snails.

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