The sockeye is also known as red salmon and blueback salmon. The landlocked form is called kokanee, koke, redfish, and silver trout.

Sockeyes are strong fighters and good leapers, but until recently were not widely sought by anglers because of their plankton-eating habits made them difficut to catch. However, fishermen have discovered that sockeyes can be caught on small baits and lures like a tiny baited with a salmon egg or piece of worm, or a fly. Cowbells work well as an attractor. Kokanee can be caught during the open-water season, but are more easily caught through the ice.

The Sockeye Salmon has silvery sides with a brilliant steel-blue to bluish green back. No distinct black spots, but may have black speckles on its back. Outward appreance is similar to that of chum salmon, but they have 30 or more long, slender gill rakers on the first gill arch; chums have less than 30 short, stubby gill rakers.

Eating Habits

The diet of sea-run sockeyes consists mainly of plankton and small crustaceans, rarely fish. Kokanee also eat plankton, but somtimes feed on small bottom organisms.

Table Quality

Excellent; the meat is oily, bright red and very flavorful. Considered one of the beat eating Pacific salmon.

Age and Growth

Most sockeyes spawn at age 4, but some spawn as early as age 3 or as late as age 8. Males weigh more than femails of the same age.

Word Record

Sea-run: 15 pounds, 3 ounces, caught in the Kenai River, Alaska, in 1987. Kokanee: 6 pounds, 9 ounces, caught in Priest Lake, Idaho, in 1975.