Kokanee Salmon Fishing in Washington
Top 4 lakes ranked by stocking volume
Washington 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 Washington
| Rank | Lake | County | Acres | Total stocked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Banks Lake | Grant | 27,000 | 418,680 |
| 2 | Lake Washington | King | 21,500 | 318,149 |
| 3 | Lake Chelan | Chelan | 33,104 | 270,803 |
| 4 | Lake Roosevelt | Stevens | 79,000 | 44,806 |
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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