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Kokanee are known to occur in Japan, Russia, British Columbia and the Yukon in Canada, and the states of Alaska, Washington, Idaho and Oregon in the U.S.A. They have been introduced into other U.S. states of the northeast and west coasts, including Maine, New York, Vermont, Connecticut, California, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada; and in Canada into Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. This is a non-anadromous, or �landlocked,� form of the sockeye salmon and although the two are the same species and morphologically alike, there are individual differences. The strictly freshwater kokanee does not grow as large as the anadromous sockeye. Maximum size is variable depending on environmental conditions. In one lake in Vermont, for example, stocked kokanee grew to 21 in. (53 cm), while eggs from the vary same source, used to stock other Vermont lakes, produced kokanee that did not exceed 11 in. (28 cm). Males turn from silvery to red at spawning time, while females become a somewhat darker grayish or grayish red color. Rarely, some freshwater populations, turn dull green or yellow instead of red. Both male and female die after spawning just like anadromous Pacific salmon. The kokanee is the only Pacific salmon species that is able to mature and spawn in fresh water without an access to the sea. The kokanee is an extremely popular food and sport fish, but its diet consist primarily of planktonic matter (mostly small aquatic crustaceans like �water flies� and a few insects) which makes it a difficult fish to catch with traditional angling gear and baits. However, using a small piece of worm, a kernel of corn, a salmon egg, or insect larva such as a maggot as bait, or fly fishing with similar imitations have been successful. It is considered a delicacy when smoked.
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Scientific Name:
Oncorhynchus nerka
Family Name:
Salmonidae Family
Also Known As:
sockeye salmon (anadromous form), landlocked salmon, little redfish, Kennerlyís salmon or Kennerlyís trout, landlocked red salmon, and other names, including ìsilver trout.î
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Species Locator:
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