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Salmon, Kokanee
Description
Kokanee salmon are landlocked, smaller forms of sockeye salmon.
There are two forms of Kokanee: those seen spawning near the edge of a lake and those spawning in tributaries or streams that feed into lakes. Male bodies are generally bright red to dirty red-gray with bright to olive green heads and dark tails. They are also characterized by having a large dorsal hump. Though having some red coloration, females are not as brightly colored.
Average Length
9 - 14 inches
Average Weight
1 - 3 lbs
Temperature Range
50 - 60 degrees Fahrenheit
Habitat
Kokanee reside in cold, clear lakes and reservoirs.
Range
The Yukon Territory and British Columbia in Canada. Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, New York, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming in the United States. Nantahala Lake is the only spot in North Carolina where kokanee salmon are found, originally stocked in the mid-1960s by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission to rid the lake of invasive species.