2026 regulation year
Nevada Kokanee salmon 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Oncorhynchus nerka
Last updated
Nevada's kokanee salmon — the landlocked, non-anadromous form of sockeye salmon — are concentrated almost entirely on Lake Tahoe (191 sq mi natural alpine lake on the CA/NV line — Washoe + Carson + Douglas Counties NV + El Dorado + Placer Counties CA — country's 2nd-deepest natural lake at 1,645 ft + the largest alpine lake by volume in the lower 48), the state's primary kokanee fishery, under the CA/NV joint reciprocal compact (CDFW + NDOW). Kokanee were introduced to Lake Tahoe in the 1940s and now form the principal open-water forage base sustaining the lake's introduced Mackinaw (lake trout) fishery while supporting a popular troll fishery in their own right. The CA/NV compact sets a 10 / day kokanee bag with a 12 in minimum size on Lake Tahoe. Kokanee turn brilliant spawning red and stage near tributary inlets each fall — across the state line the Taylor Creek (CA) run is a well-known viewing site, while NV-side anglers troll small flashers + squid/hoochie tipped with white corn at downrigger depth through late summer and into the September – October spawning stage. NV state-record kokanee salmon 4 lb 13 oz Lake Tahoe 1973 (Dick Bournique) remains the official record; Tahoe kokanee typically run 12-16 in / 1-2 lb, but the lake's deep, cold, plankton-rich water occasionally grows trophy fish toward the state record. NDOW does not permit snagging of kokanee. Open year-round on Lake Tahoe.
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Season
Open year-round Open year-round on Lake Tahoe (CA/NV joint compact); late-summer-through-fall (August – October) is the densest troll window as kokanee stage to spawn near tributary inlets.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 10 / day on Lake Tahoe under the CA/NV joint compact (the state's primary kokanee fishery)
- Possession
- 20 in possession (Nevada possession limit = 2× the daily limit)
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 12 in minimum on Lake Tahoe
- Trophy rule
- NV state-record kokanee salmon 4 lb 13 oz Lake Tahoe 1973 (Dick Bournique); Tahoe kokanee typically run 12-16 in / 1-2 lb, but the lake's deep, cold, plankton-rich water occasionally grows trophy fish toward the state record — and the kokanee population is the principal open-water forage base sustaining Lake Tahoe's trophy Mackinaw (lake trout) fishery
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line; downrigger trolling permitted; snagging of kokanee prohibited
- Chumming prohibited in Lake Tahoe
- Either a Nevada or California fishing license is honored on Lake Tahoe under the CA/NV joint reciprocal compact; NDOW Trout Stamp ($10 res/NR) required to harvest or possess kokanee/trout on the NV side
- Confirm current-year NDOW + CDFW Lake Tahoe regulations for season + limit updates
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Nevada waters:
Lake Tahoe
10 / day with 12 in minimum under the CA/NV joint compact; either NV or CA license honored; the state's primary kokanee fishery + principal forage base for the lake's Mackinaw (lake trout)
Official source
Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) publishes the authoritative 2026 Nevadafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
The kokanee salmon rules on this page are sourced from Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW)'s official kokanee salmon regulation page.
Visit official Nevada fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Kokanee salmon closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Nevada Department of Wildlife's emergency-order feed — check it before any Nevada trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is kokanee salmon season in Nevada?
- Nevada keeps kokanee salmon open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
- What is the Nevada bag limit for kokanee salmon?
- The Nevada daily bag limit for kokanee salmon is 10 / day on Lake Tahoe under the CA/NV joint compact (the state's primary kokanee fishery). The possession limit is 20 in possession (Nevada possession limit = 2× the daily limit). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size kokanee salmon can you keep in Nevada?
- The Nevada size rule for kokanee salmon is 12 in minimum on Lake Tahoe. Trophy rule: NV state-record kokanee salmon 4 lb 13 oz Lake Tahoe 1973 (Dick Bournique); Tahoe kokanee typically run 12-16 in / 1-2 lb, but the lake's deep, cold, plankton-rich water occasionally grows trophy fish toward the state record — and the kokanee population is the principal open-water forage base sustaining Lake Tahoe's trophy Mackinaw (lake trout) fishery.
- Do you need a license to fish for kokanee salmon in Nevada?
- Yes. Nevada requires a valid fishing license to fish for kokanee salmon, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Nevada license — compare resident and non-resident Nevada fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for kokanee salmon in Nevada?
- Yes. In Nevada, kokanee salmon fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; downrigger trolling permitted; snagging of kokanee prohibited; Chumming prohibited in Lake Tahoe; Either a Nevada or California fishing license is honored on Lake Tahoe under the CA/NV joint reciprocal compact; NDOW Trout Stamp ($10 res/NR) required to harvest or possess kokanee/trout on the NV side; Confirm current-year NDOW + CDFW Lake Tahoe regulations for season + limit updates.
- Do specific Nevada waters have different kokanee salmon rules?
- Yes. 1 named Nevada water carries a rule that override the statewide kokanee salmon regulation, including Lake Tahoe. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.