Good morning, The state of North Carolina stocked approximately 80000 Kokanee Salmon in Nantahala Lake four years ago and two years ago. The four-year-old fish should be large enough this season to catch and will spawn if they made it. It is important to catch these salmon and report your catch to the state.
June is probably the best month, 50’ down with downriggers. These salmon are not carnivores as we know them so trout trolling tactics with spoons and crankbaits are not very effective. Dodgers will 1-11/2” Hoothies (little rubber squid) and salmon spinners are effective. Tie your lure above 10-18” behind the dodge so the action on the dodge works the lure. Shoepeg corn or Gulp maggots on the hook will improve your catch rate. Run the dodge lure combination 10-25” behind the ball for fewer tangles and more strikes. Troll at approximately 1.5 mph. The fish is a very light drag.
Do not attempt to release the fish unless you can return them to 50’ immediately. The surface water temperature will be 76-78 degrees which will kill the salmon considerably the temperature at 50’ 50-55 degrees.
If you see a black Ranger bowrider with a gray top that is me.
![Image]()
June is probably the best month, 50’ down with downriggers. These salmon are not carnivores as we know them so trout trolling tactics with spoons and crankbaits are not very effective. Dodgers will 1-11/2” Hoothies (little rubber squid) and salmon spinners are effective. Tie your lure above 10-18” behind the dodge so the action on the dodge works the lure. Shoepeg corn or Gulp maggots on the hook will improve your catch rate. Run the dodge lure combination 10-25” behind the ball for fewer tangles and more strikes. Troll at approximately 1.5 mph. The fish is a very light drag.
Do not attempt to release the fish unless you can return them to 50’ immediately. The surface water temperature will be 76-78 degrees which will kill the salmon considerably the temperature at 50’ 50-55 degrees.
If you see a black Ranger bowrider with a gray top that is me.
