Dr. Richy J. Harrod is a PhD ecosystem scientist who has uniquely bridged academic research with outdoor media, spending 28 years as a USDA Forest Service Fire Ecologist while simultaneously building Harrod Outdoors into an award-winning multimedia platform. He co-hosts the popular “We Are Outdoorsmen” podcast with Bobby Loomis of Mack’s Lure, combining over 60 years of hunting and fishing expertise to deliver authentic outdoor education to sportsmen across North America. Harrod has received 22 industry awards including the prestigious Northwest Outdoor Writers Association Legacy Award in 2018.
Kokanee salmon have a reputation for driving anglers a little crazy and that’s exactly why so many of us love chasing them. But according to Mack’s Lure Pro Staff angler Richy Harrod, kokanee don’t have to be a mystery if you understand a few key principles. “Kokanee are actually relatively easy to catch once you know a few things,” Harrod says. “The challenge is figuring out where to start.”
Many anglers struggle with kokanee not because they are a difficult fishery, but because they live in big water and move constantly. “Kokanee are schooling fish that follow the feed up and down the water column,” Harrod explains. “Once you figure out where they are, you can be successful in catching them.”
The problem? Many kokanee lakes especially throughout the West are massive. In places like eastern Washington, anglers are often staring at miles of open water, wondering where to even begin. “That’s the biggest thing for people,” Harrod says. “Knowing where to start.”
No matter the season or lake, kokanee relate to structure and forage. Harrod looks for the same types of areas everywhere he fishes. “The kinds of places you want to look consistently from lake to lake are off points, on shelves, on the edge of shelves, and over channels,” he says. “If you focus on those areas, no matter where you are, you’re going to find kokanee.”
These locations act as travel routes and feeding zones as kokanee follow zooplankton throughout the year. In spring, fish are often higher in the water column. As summer progresses and water temperatures rise, kokanee typically move deeper. In fall and winter, they may suspend over deeper structure but still hold close to these same features.
Unlike other salmon species that key in on larger baitfish, kokanee feed almost exclusively on tiny forage. “They eat zooplankton,” Harrod says. “They’re eating little tiny mysis shrimp, small water plants, and small insects. They’re eating very small bait.”
This is why kokanee gear tends to be compact, colorful, and finesse oriented.
Harrod fishes kokanee waters across the region, but he has a clear preference when it comes to trophy potential. “I like fishing places like Roosevelt because the fish are bigger on average,” he says. “There aren’t as many, but the chance to catch a four or five pound fish is there.” While some lakes produce fast limits of smaller kokanee, others reward patience with true giants. Adjusting expectations and techniques to the specific lake you’re fishing is key to staying successful year round.
No matter the season, the formula stays the same: Find the food Locate the school Match the size of the forage. Stay mobile until you get bitten. “Kokanee move,” Harrod emphasizes. “If you’re not on fish, don’t be afraid to change depths or locations.”
With modern sonar, consistent structure patterns, and proven kokanee tackle like Mack’s Lure Double D Dodger and the Double Whammy Kokanee Pro, anglers can take much of the guesswork out of the process. Once you crack the code, kokanee fishing becomes less frustrating and a whole lot more fun.
Photo Credit: Richy Harrod
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