In some environments they average a foot or less in length, yet "ferocity beyond belief" describes the attitude of the smallest salmon, the kokanee. They will maul lures half their own length, which is strange behavior for any fish, but downright weird for a plankton eater. Like ferocious little dogs that always bark and growl, kokanees apparently feel they have to prove something. Fortunate for those who pursue them, since the bright red flesh of the kokanee is the finest table fare from freshwater.

Tackle

 

Rod: 6- to 8-foot light-power trolling or spinning rod.

Reel: medium-capacity baitcasting or spinning reel.

Line: 4- to 8-pound-test mono.

 

Location

Kokanee are a cold-water fish, preferring water temperatures from 50F to 59F, though they can tolerate temperatures of 65F. Temperatures above 74F become lethal. In spring, kokanee often inhabit the top 10 feet of the water column -- in shallow bays with frequent insect hatches, or over deep water. As surface temperatures warm in summer, kokanee move deeper. Temperature fluctuations, like upwellings, bring kokanee inshore briefly, and extensive daily vertical movements are common. Kokanee are drawn to upwellings, which gather plankton along the edge of masses of water with different temperatures and densities.

Presentation

During the spawning run in rivers and streams, kokanee may be caught on egg-imitating flies, beads, or plastic eggs, but spring and summer are the best times to catch them. When hatches of lake-dwelling mayfly nymphs and midge pupae swarm to the surface from the bottom of mid-depth bays, kokanee can be taken on flies. The key is finding an insect hatch in water below 60F, which often confines the fly-fishing approach to spring and fall. Look for rising fish early in the morning or late in the evening when insects are coming off the water.

When surface waters warm in bays, kokanee move to the main lake. As surface waters in the main lake warm in summer, the fish move deeper, but like ciscoes, they often rise to within 20 or 30 feet of the surface to feed during low-light periods, and can be triggered by surprisingly aggressive trolling techniques. Put a #1 or #2 straight-shaft spinner on an 18-inch leader behind a cowbell attractor, and troll at 1 1/2 to 3 mph along temperature breaks or through known feeding areas.