Kokanee Salmon

Oncorhynchus nerka

Physical Characteristics

• Kokanee are landlocked sockeye salmon and are identical in appearance to the anadromous sockeye salmon except for their smaller size.
• Kokanee in Kathleen Lake seldom exceed 1 kg (2 lbs) in weight or 50 cm (20”) in length.
• Kokanee are usually bright silver bluish colour and have a trout-like body shape.
• At spawning time, they take the appearance and coloration of spawning anadromous sockeye. Males become bright red on the back and sides with dirty white under-parts. Their head becomes green in colour with a dusky elongated snout, and a light hump forms behind the head.
• Spawning females are similarly coloured, but the red is much darker.
  

Habitat and Feeding

• During most of the year, Kokanee are in deep water, feeding on zooplankton and chironomid larvae.
• In early June, large schools of Kokanee feed in the shallows of stocked lakes, and are eagerly sought after by anglers for their tasty flesh.
  

Additional Resources

• How to Catch Them - Salmon