Kokanee Salmon Fishing in California
Top 4 lakes ranked by stocking volume
California stocks kokanee salmon in 4 known waters, ranging from small impoundments to multi-thousand-acre reservoirs. The lakes below are sorted by recent stocking volume — quantity isn't everything, but it's a strong proxy for how much effort the state agency is putting into a given fishery.
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About Kokanee Salmon
Land-locked sockeye. Stocked across the West, especially in deep cold reservoirs. Trolling at the right depth with a flasher/dodger setup is the only consistent approach.
Best seasons: summer. Active water-temp range: 50–60°F.
Productive techniques
- downrigger trolling with small spoons and dodgers
- Wedding Ring lures tipped with corn
Top Kokanee Salmon lakes in California
| Rank | Lake | County | Acres | Total stocked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Almanor | Plumas | 28,000 | 361,000 |
| 2 | Don Pedro Reservoir | Tuolumne | 12,960 | 277,622 |
| 3 | Bullards Bar Reservoir | Yuba | 4,810 | 225,569 |
| 4 | Lake Shasta | Shasta | 30,000 | 12,856 |
Gear for Kokanee Salmon
Tackle that consistently produces. Amazon Associate links — we earn from qualifying purchases.
- rod: Light kokanee trolling rod
- reel: Line counter reel
- lure: Kokanee dodgers + spinners
- bait: Shoepeg corn (cured)
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