Colorado fall is not only about leaf-peeping for the changing aspens or ripping streamers for Salmo and Salvelinus species. It is also Kokanee season. These landlocked sockeye light up our rivers in full crimson, charging upstream with one thing on their mind: spawn. They are not feeding, but they will crush flies out of pure aggression. That makes for some of the most fun and sometimes most frustrating fishing of the year.
Rigging Up
Kokanee pull hard, so bring enough rod. A solid six-weight with backbone is ideal, but your five-weight will work just fine. I usually run 3X or 2X fluorocarbon tippet. These fish are stacked up tight, and they thrash, so the added strength and abrasion resistance keeps you in the game.
Most anglers fish an indicator nymph rig. Two flies, enough weight to get down, and steady drifts through travel lanes will cover most situations. Swinging or stripping a bright streamer on a sink tip can also trigger fish that ignore dead drifts. When they commit, they smack with full force.
Flies That Work
Matching the hatch is not part of the equation. The goal is to irritate them enough to strike. Bright and flashy patterns consistently do the job. My favorites are:
All of these patterns in hot colors like pink, chartreuse, or fire orange will get Kokanee to react.
Where to Find Them
Dillon Reservoir and Its Southern Inlets
The Snake River and Upper Blue are home to one of Colorado’s best known Kokanee runs. By mid-October these inlets are filled with fish pushing up out of Dillon. What makes this run unique is that it is completely self sustaining. The last Kokanee stocking at Dillon was in 1978. Look for fish holding in deeper pools below riffles and in travel lanes where pods are on the move.
The Gunnison run starts earlier than most and is usually at its best in late September. By mid October it is beginning to taper off, but it can still be productive. The confluence of the Taylor and East Rivers in Almont is the heart of the run, and salmon stage here before spreading upriver. Focus on riffles and tailouts, and expect fish to be a bit more cautious since flows are often low and clear.
The Dream Stream, South Platte Above Eleven Mile
By late October and into November, Kokanee mix with lake run browns in the meadow stretch of the Dream Stream. Salmon stack in deeper bends and tailouts, giving plenty of opportunities. A reminder for this section: avoid fishing to trout on spawning redds and give actively spawning browns space. It is easy to focus on Kokanee here without disturbing future generations of fish.
Chasing Red in the Rockies
Kokanee will not always play along. Some days they refuse every drift, and the next they attack everything in sight. That unpredictability is part of the draw. With stout rigs, bright flies, and the right timing on one of these fall runs, chasing crimson salmon in Colorado becomes one of the most memorable experiences of the season.
