What Do Kokanee Salmon Eat? A Complete Guide to Their Diet

Kokanee salmon are a fascinating freshwater fish species found in lakes and reservoirs across western North America Anglers prize kokanee for their hard fighting abilities and delicious pink flesh But what exactly do these landlocked sockeye salmon eat?

In this complete guide, we’ll cover the key components of the kokanee diet and how their feeding habits change throughout their lifecycle. We’ll also explore effective baits and lures for targeting kokanee at different times of year.

Kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) are a subspecies of sockeye salmon native to the upper tributaries of the Columbia River system. Unlike their anadromous sockeye relatives that migrate to the ocean, kokanee remain restricted to freshwater for their entire lifecycle.

Kokanee typically live for three to five years, reaching lengths between 10 to 20 inches. During the majority of their lifecycle, kokanee have bright silver scales with faint black spots. As they near spawning, they transform into their iconic red coloration with green heads.

Kokanee thrive in large oligotrophic lakes and reservoirs with access to clear, cold tributaries for spawning. Popular kokanee fisheries include Lake Pend Oreille Lake Chelan and Flathead Lake. Many landlocked populations have also been introduced beyond their native range.

The Kokanee Diet

Kokanee are opportunistic feeders that utilize a variety of food sources depending on habitat, season, and life stage. Here are the primary components of the kokanee diet:

Zooplankton

• Tiny crustaceans like daphnia, copepods, and ostracods
• Insect larvae
• Rotifers
• Other microscopic animals

Zooplankton makes up the majority of the adult kokanee diet. Kokanee strain these tiny organisms from the water using specialized gill rakers. Peak zooplankton feeding occurs during low light periods.

Phytoplankton

• Microscopic algae like diatoms and dinoflagellates

Phytoplankton are an important secondary food source for kokanee. They may consume phytoplankton directly or feed on zooplankton that have eaten phytoplankton.

Aquatic Insects

• Mayfly and caddisfly larvae
• Midges
• Dragonfly and damselfly nymphs

Insects make up a larger part of the diet for juvenile kokanee, but adults will still feed opportunistically on insects when available. Surface insect activity often draws kokanee to the surface.

Crustaceans

• Freshwater shrimp like Mysis and Neomysis
• Scuds
• Seed shrimp

Small crustaceans are a supplemental food source for kokanee. These protein-rich foods become more important leading up to spawning.

Baitfish

• Young trout
• Juvenile kokanee
• Peamouth chub
• Other small forage fish

While not a primary prey item, kokanee—especially large adults—will eat smaller baitfish. This is more common in lakes with low zooplankton populations.

How Kokanee Feeding Changes Throughout Lifecycle

Kokanee feeding habits shift throughout their lifecycle based on maturation and seasonal food availability:

Fry Stage

After emerging from the spawning gravels, kokanee fry rely on nutrients from their egg sac for initial survival. Once the sac is absorbed, fry switch to feeding on zooplankton and aquatic insects in shallow, nearshore areas.

Fingerling Stage

Fingerling kokanee continue targeting zooplankton in open water but also begin feeding on larger insects and crustaceans. At this stage, competition for food resources starts shaping which fry will survive to adulthood.

Adulthood

Adult kokanee primarily target zooplankton, especially at dawn and dusk when plankton migrate vertically in the water column. Adults will supplement their diet with insects, crustaceans, and small baitfish as available.

Pre-Spawn Stage

As kokanee prepare for the energetic demands of the spawning migration, they target high-fat foods like Mysis shrimp. Aggressive feeding is critical to ensure adequate energy reserves for the spawning journey.

Best Baits and Lures for Catching Kokanee

When fishing for kokanee, it’s essential to match your tactics and gear to their small mouths and preference for specific forage. Here are the most effective baits and lures for targeting kokanee at different times:

Spring

• Small spoons in silver or fluorescent colors
• Wedding ring spinners tipped with maggots
• Tiny jigs tipped with mealworms or waxworms
• Trout dough baits like PowerBait rolled into small balls

Summer

• Needlefish lures and crankbaits that mimic baitfish
• Small spoons and spinners in pink, orange, or red
• Dry flies, nymphs, and streamers for fly fishing

Fall

• Dodger and hoochie rigs with bright colored hoochies
• Large spoons and spinners enhanced with Pro-Cure scents
• Pinch down bait like PowerBait into small nickel-sized balls

Matching your lures and techniques to the seasonal feeding preferences of kokanee is the key to consistent success.

While kokanee prey heavily on tiny zooplankton and phytoplankton, they will feed opportunistically throughout their life on a variety of foods including insects, crustaceans, and small baitfish. Their feeding habits change based on factors like habitat, maturation, competition, and seasonal food availability.

Anglers can take advantage of these feeding behaviors by choosing lures and baits that match the forage kokanee key in on at different times of year. Paying attention to the kokanee diet is one of the best ways to unlock the secrets to catching more of these hard-fighting and great-tasting fish.