What is a Kokanee

[Mark64]

I would like to get some opinions from others on the subject of, "what is a Kokanee" I apologize if this has been discussed already I have done a search. came up empty. I have just started fishing for Kokanee this year. Done a fair amount of reading on these fish. Everything I have read has told me these are landlocked Sockeye. I have a few friends that are accomplished fishermen and respect their opinion. They are telling me that Kokanee is just a catch all and have refered to Kokanee as Coho/silvers. I am confused by this. Any input would be nice.

[BentRod]

Freshwater sockeye as far as I understand.

[Bodofish]

or a light ish Canadian beer. Normally caught in 12 pack schools.

Had to, couldn't let it pass.........

[rseas]

or a light ish Canadian beer. Normally caught in 12 pack schools.

Had to, couldn't let it pass.........

I was heading the same direction except they don't turn red and green in the fall...

That said, a kokanee is a landlocked sockeye salmon.

[JoshH]

I would like to get some opinions from others on the subject of, "what is a Kokanee" I apologize if this has been discussed already I have done a search. came up empty. I have just started fishing for Kokanee this year. Done a fair amount of reading on these fish. Everything I have read has told me these are landlocked Sockeye. I have a few friends that are accomplished fishermen and respect their opinion. They are telling me that Kokanee is just a catch all and have refered to Kokanee as Coho/silvers. I am confused by this. Any input would be nice.

They are different. Like others have said, kokanee are landlocked sockeye. Easiest way to tell the difference is the coho will be slightly spotted on the back and the upper portion of the tail. Kokanee won't. A few lakes around have coho that wandered in and wound up staying. Lots of people catch them thinking they are kokanee.

[Onmygame]

Kokanee = landlocked sockeye as previously stated.

Landlocked coho = silvers..

HOWEVER

I think where the confusion comes in is that many old timers back in the day called kokanee 'silvers' and some of that has trickled down a generation or two.

If you're not sure which they mean (and they don't know what they mean) when they are discussing lake fishing and say 'silvers' you can ask them which lake they are referring to as it will likely hold one or the other...and that data is easy to look up if you are unfamiliar with the lake.

onmygame

[hewesfisher]

Kokanee = landlocked sockeye as previously stated.

Landlocked coho = silvers..

HOWEVER

I think where the confusion comes in is that many old timers back in the day called kokanee 'silvers' and some of that has trickled down a generation or two.

If you're not sure which they mean (and they don't know what they mean) when they are discussing lake fishing and say 'silvers' you can ask them which lake they are referring to as it will likely hold one or the other...and that data is easy to look up if you are unfamiliar with the lake.

onmygame

Highlighted text is the reason for confusion. LOTS of people still call them silvers, I hear it all the time. If you get around kokanee water in eastern WA and north ID, you'll also hear the term "blue backs" because that's the color of their back.

[Mark64]

Thanks for the input. That is what I had been reading and understood. I really like the beer reference. Haha I didn't even think about the Kokanee beer. Good stuff!!!