Kokanee salmon are turning vivid red at two Summit County reservoirs, and the window to see them runs through mid-October.
The landlocked salmon, silver most of the year, shift to crimson as they swim upstream to spawn. Males also develop humped backs, hooked jaws and elongated teeth. The transformation is visible at Smith and Morehouse Reservoir and Stateline Reservoir, both in the Uinta Mountains east of Park City, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
"It's just a crazy transformation as they prepare to move upstream, and the biggest thing is that bright red color …" Trina Hedrick, a sportfish coordinator with the Division of Wildlife Resources, told the Park Record on Sept. 22.
At Smith and Morehouse Reservoir, the fish move into Smith and Morehouse Creek and Red Pine Creek. The best viewing there runs from late September through mid-October.
At Stateline Reservoir, about a half-mile from the Utah-Wyoming state line, kokanee run up the east fork of Smith's Fork at the reservoir's north end. The fish at Stateline tend to be smaller but more abundant. Spawning there peaked around mid-September, so the window is closing.
The fish can migrate up to 20 miles during spawning, according to the DWR. Kokanee are Utah's only "true" salmon, a landlocked version of the sockeye found in the northern Pacific. The DWR manages kokanee in about 14 Utah waters, Hedrick told the Park Record.
Unlike trout, kokanee die after spawning. Their decomposing bodies return nutrients to the water for their offspring.
Catch-and-release rules in effect
The DWR prohibits keeping any kokanee salmon caught anywhere in Utah from Sept. 10 through Nov. 30. Some tributaries have even earlier closures. Anglers should check the Utah Fishing Guidebook before heading out.
The agency also asks visitors not to wade into creeks, pick up fish or let dogs chase them. Most kokanee populations in the state depend on natural spawning, and stepping on streambed gravel can crush deposited eggs. Violators could be cited for harassing the fish, the DWR said.
Hedrick told the Park Record that kokanee can sometimes be spotted with their backs poking out of the water in low-flow stretches.
Nearby, Jordanelle Reservoir also offers kokanee viewing along the Provo River above the Rock Cliff recreation area, about 2 miles west of Francis. Trails lead to the river's edge, and a bridge provides an overlook. Spawning there peaked around mid-September.
Upcoming viewing opportunities
- Smith and Morehouse Reservoir: Self-guided viewing, late September through mid-October
- Stateline Reservoir: Spawning underway; peak was mid-September
- Jordanelle Reservoir (Rock Cliff area): Spawning underway; peak was mid-September
