2026 regulation year
Kokanee salmon Fishing Regulations by State (2026)
Oncorhynchus nerka
Last updated
Kokanee salmon is regulated separately by each state. This page compares the open-season window, daily bag limit, and size or slot rule for kokanee salmon across the 8 states fishregs covers deeply for 2026. Rules vary by state and often by individual water body, so confirm on the linked state page before fishing. New to bag, slot, and size limits? The glossary explains every term.
Kokanee salmon regulations comparison by state
| State | Open season | Daily bag | Size / slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Open year-round | 10 / day by angling, snagging, or archery — one of the country's highest kokanee bags | No statewide minimum size |
| Idaho | Open year-round | 6 / day on Lake Pend Oreille, Dworshak, Coeur d'Alene + Priest Lake + listed kokanee waters; limit varies by water (confirm current-year reach rule) | No statewide minimum |
| Montana | Open year-round | District-based — Western Fishing District 20 / day (40 in possession); Central 10 / day; Eastern 5 / day. Water-specific: Lake Mary Ronan 10 / day (20 in possession); Little Bitterroot Lake 20 / day with no more than 2 / day (4 in possession) over 12 in. | No statewide minimum; Little Bitterroot Lake no more than 2 / day over 12 in (brood-source protection) |
| Nevada | Open year-round | 10 / day on Lake Tahoe under the CA/NV joint compact (the state's primary kokanee fishery) | 12 in minimum on Lake Tahoe |
| New Mexico | Open year-round | 5 / day within the combined trout/salmon limit (regular hook-and-line season); 12 / day during the fall snagging season | No minimum |
| Oregon | Open year-round | 10 / day statewide (new for 2026 — kokanee are no longer counted within the trout daily limit); 25 / day at Odell + Suttle + Elk Lakes; unlimited at Crater Lake (NPS native-fish-removal policy) | No size limit |
| Utah | Open year-round | Counted within the statewide combined trout limit — 4 trout, kokanee salmon and Arctic grayling (a combined total); no separate statewide kokanee bag; Flaming Gorge allows the 4 trout/kokanee combined limit with no more than 3 kokanee; NO POSSESSION statewide Sept 10 – Nov 30 (spawning-season protection) | No statewide minimum |
| Wyoming | Open year-round | Water-specific — Flaming Gorge 3 / day within the 4 / day combined trout limit (no more than 3 of the 4 trout-limit fish may be kokanee — joint WY/UT compact, reduced from 4 effective Oct 2024); Fremont Lake + New Fork Lakes + Buffalo Bill Reservoir per WGFD area regulations. No statewide kokanee creel number. | No statewide minimum |
Figures are statewide defaults for 2026. Specific lakes, rivers, and coastal zones can carry their own kokanee salmon rules — open any state row for the full season map, gear restrictions, and named water-body overrides.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is there a nationwide kokanee salmon season or bag limit?
- No. Each US state sets its own kokanee salmon rules. Across the 8 states covered here, 8 keep harvest open year-round while 0 define a closed season, and daily bag and size limits differ from state to state. Use the table above to compare, then open a state page for the exact current rule.
- Does my fishing license cover kokanee salmon in every state?
- No. A fishing license is valid only in the state that issued it, apart from a few border-water reciprocity agreements. To fish kokanee salmon in another state you generally need that state's non-resident license — compare non-resident fees on the license-fees page and check the reciprocity page for shared-water exceptions.
- Why do kokanee salmon rules vary so much between states?
- Kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) is a freshwater species, and each state manages it for its own water temperatures, spawning timing, population health, and fishing pressure. Many states also set tougher rules on specific lakes or rivers, so the statewide figure shown here can be overridden on a named water body — always confirm on the linked state page before fishing.