Kokanee fishing on Whiskeytown Lake continues to produce slow limits for anglers who have this lake dialed in and continue to put in the time to attain the daily limits of 5 fish per person. Recently, Whiskeytown Lake has been receiving and releasing surplus cold water pulses from Trinity Lake. This can have a negative effect on the Kokanee bite this early in the season. The good news is that the Kokanee are abundant and their size for this time of the year is very good. 15"-16" Kokanee are the average now and they are only going to get bigger as the season progresses.

With current King salmon returns on the Sacramento River looking to be down again this year, the Whiskeytown lake Kokanee salmon fishery will be a great alternative for that group or family looking for a great day on the water. The Kokanee are very good eating and rival the table fare of any ocean caught salmon. Kokanee are land locked Sockeye salmon so their quality should come as no surprise to anyone and with the Kokanee averaging more than a pound a piece, harvesting limits can certainly provide some great meals for the family.

I will be guiding on Whiskeytown Lake thru October and expect to have another season to remember. I had a great number of trips last season and expect to see even more days on the lake as this fishery continues to gain in popularity. Give me a call or shoot me an email to get your day of Kokanee salmon fishing booked this summer! Its always a great day on the water in my comfortable 24' Willie jet boat. I have a canvas top to provide shade for my clients this year and as always, ask about a bbq lunch on the boat.