How to catch kokanee salmon in Utah
Landlocked sockeye. Trolling dodgers and squids at Strawberry, Flaming Gorge, and Porcupine — and the famous scarlet spawning runs each September.
Behavior & tendencies
Landlocked sockeye that school in open water and follow the thermocline. They eat zooplankton, not baitfish — so kokanee fishing is about flash, color, and scent triggering aggression, not imitation. Find the school on sonar and stay on it.
Seasonal patterns
Trolling season runs May through August at Strawberry, Flaming Gorge, and Porcupine, going deeper as summer warms. September brings the scarlet spawning runs up tributaries — closed to fishing at most waters, spectacular to watch. Check closures; snagging is illegal.
What they bite
Zooplankton — which means they strike squids, hoochies, and spinners out of aggression.
Recommended presentations
- Dodger + pink/orange squid trolled 1.0–1.8 mph at thermocline depth
- Downriggers or leadcore to hold precise depth
- White corn on every hook (scent-cured is the local religion)
- Jigging spoons over located schools
Best months for kokanee salmon
11 waters holding kokanee salmon
Sorted by how they’re fishing right now.
- East Canyon ReservoirGood
- Blind Lake — Boulder Mtn North SlopeFair
- Fish LakeFairBlue Ribbon
- Flaming Gorge ReservoirFairBlue Ribbon
- Jordanelle ReservoirFairBlue Ribbon
- Mill Meadow ReservoirFair
- Sheep CreekFair
- Porcupine ReservoirFair
- Enterprise Reservoir, UpperTough
- Strawberry ReservoirWarningBlue Ribbon
- Strawberry Reservoir Tribs