How to Control Kokanee Trolling Depth (Complete Beginner's Guide)
- Corey Baker
- Apr 8
- 7 min read
If you've spent a full day on the water trolling for kokanee and came home empty-handed, there's a good chance your lure was at the wrong depth. Not the wrong color. Not the wrong speed. The wrong depth.
Kokanee are one of the most depth-specific fish you'll ever target. They lock into a narrow band of the water column and rarely leave it to chase a lure. Whether you're fishing Strawberry Reservoir in Utah or another kokanee lake, learning to control your trolling depth is the single most important skill you can develop as a beginner.
This guide, which is part of our series on the Best Kokanee Trolling Setup, will walk you through everything: how to find kokanee depth, how to read your fish finder, and the three best methods for getting your lure exactly where the fish are.
Why Kokanee Trolling Depth Is Everything
Kokanee (landlocked sockeye salmon) spend their lives suspended in open water, chasing plankton and staying inside a preferred temperature range — typically 48°F to 54°F.
What that means practically:
They hold at very specific depths, often within a 5-foot window
They shift up and down throughout the day based on light and temperature
They almost never chase a lure outside their zone
So when new anglers ask "how deep should I troll for kokanee?" the honest answer is: wherever your sonar says they are. Not a foot above them. Not a foot below. Right in their face.
That's not a beginner-unfriendly answer it's just the truth. And the good news is, finding that depth is a learnable skill.
Step 1: How to Find Kokanee Depth (Before You Even Start Trolling)
How to Read a Fish Finder for Kokanee
Your fish finder (sonar) is your most important tool on the water. Learning how to read a fish finder for kokanee doesn't take long, and it changes everything.
Here's what to look for:
Suspended arches or clusters, kokanee won't be sitting on the bottom; they'll be floating mid-column
Tight schools at a consistent depth if you see fish stacked between 25 and 30 feet, that's your zone
The thermocline a visible band on your sonar where warm and cold water meet; kokanee love to hang just above it
At Strawberry Reservoir, on of lakes/reservoirs we offer guided kokanee trips on the kokanee are known for suspending in tight schools that can shift throughout the day, especially as the sun gets higher. Locals regularly learn to check their sonar constantly rather than set a depth and forget it.
Beginner tip: If you don't see fish on your graph, don't just pick a random depth and hope. Move around the lake until you mark fish, then start trolling.
How to Locate Kokanee Depth — A Simple Process
Motor slowly across likely areas and watch your sonar
Note the depth where you see consistent fish marks
Set your presentation 2–3 feet above that depth (kokanee will move up slightly, but almost never down)
Adjust in small increments (3–5 feet at a time) if you're not getting bites within 15–20 minutes
If reading sonar still feels confusing, this is something that clicks fast when you see it in person. Spending even a few hours on the water with experienced guides can shorten that learning curve dramatically.
The 3 Best Methods to Control Kokanee Trolling Depth
Once you know how to find kokanee depth, you need a reliable way to get your lure there and keep it there. Here are the three methods, from most precise to most beginner-friendly.
Method 1: Downriggers — The Most Precise Option
If you want to know the best depth for kokanee fishing at any given moment and hit it consistently, downriggers are the gold standard.
How to Use Downriggers for Kokanee
A downrigger uses a heavy metal ball (called a "cannon ball") attached to a cable and a counter that tells you exactly how deep the ball is. Your fishing line clips to the ball, and when a fish hits, the line releases and you fight the fish freely.
Kokanee downrigger setup (beginner version):
Rig your rod with your kokanee lure of choice (hoochies, wedding rings, or small spoons work great)
Let out 6–15 feet of line behind the boat before clipping to the downrigger
Lower the ball to your target depth (the depth you marked on your sonar)
Set your rod in the holder, engage the reel, and troll
Best Depth for Kokanee with Downriggers
Because downriggers are so precise, they shine when kokanee are stacked in a tight window which is common at during mid-summer when fish push into the 35–55 foot range. You can run up to 4 rods at slightly different depths (say, 42, 38, 34, and 30 feet) until one starts producing, then match the other rod to it. We run 4 Cannon Optima Downriggers on our guide boats to help dial in the exact depth that is producing.
Why beginners love downriggers once they try them:
You always know your exact depth
You can repeat the same presentation on every pass
Adjusting depth takes seconds
The learning curve is mild, and once it clicks, you'll wonder how you ever fished without them.
Method 2: Lead Core Line: Great Without Downriggers
Don't have a downrigger? Lead core line for kokanee depth is a proven alternative that many serious kokanee anglers swear by.
How Lead Core Line Works
Lead core line is heavy, color-coded fishing line that sinks at a predictable rate. It comes in 10-yard color segments, and each color you let out adds depth.
Lead Core Depth Chart for Kokanee (General Estimates)
Colors Out | Approx. Depth |
2 colors | ~10 feet |
3 colors | ~15 feet |
4 colors | ~20 feet |
5 colors | ~25 feet |
6 colors | ~30 feet |
7 colors | ~35 feet |
Important: These are rough estimates. Actual depth varies with trolling speed and lure drag. Slower trolling = more depth. Faster trolling = less depth. Always verify with your sonar when possible.
How Many Colors for Kokanee?
In spring, when fish are holding in the 15–25 foot range, 3–5 colors is typically a solid starting point. By midsummer, you may need 6–7+ colors or switch to downriggers as fish push deeper.
Pros of lead core:
No special equipment required
Covers water effectively
Great for beginners on a budget
Cons:
Less precise than downriggers
Harder to make quick depth changes
Takes some math and experimentation
Method 3: Snap Weights: The Best Budget Starting Point
If you're brand new to kokanee trolling or a seasoned kokanee guide like my self and want the most affordable, easiest way to start controlling depth, snap weights for kokanee are your answer. Often early in the mornings these snap weights or long lines produce the bite.
How to Use Snap Weights for Trolling
Snap weights are small clip-on weights that attach to your main line a set distance ahead of your lure. They pull your line down as you troll.
Basic setup:
Let out your lure 50–75 feet behind the boat
Attach a snap weight to your line (common sizes: 1 oz, 2 oz, 3 oz)
Let out an additional 20–50 feet of line behind the weight
The weight pulls your lure down. Heavier weight = more depth.
Trolling Weights Depth Chart
Depth increases as trolling speed slows or more line is let out.
Why beginners love snap weights:
Very affordable (a few dollars each)
Easy to change weights on the water
No special equipment or setup needed
They're not as precise as downriggers, but they'll absolutely catch fish — and they're a great way to learn the basics of how to control kokanee trolling depth before investing in more gear.
Best Kokanee Trolling Depth by Season
Depth changes throughout the year as water temperatures shift. Here's a general seasonal guide — with the reservoir we guide on in mind:
Season | Typical Kokanee Depth |
Early Spring (ice-off) | 5–20 feet |
Late Spring | 15–30 feet |
Early Summer | 25–45 feet |
Midsummer | 40–65 feet |
Late Summer / Fall | 50–80+ feet |
Midsummer fish often push to 40–60 feet and tightly stack near the thermocline. This is when precise depth control, especially with downriggers, makes the biggest difference in your catch rate.
Pro Tips for Beginners: Dialing In Kokanee Trolling Depth
Faster
Trust your graph. If your sonar marks fish at 32 feet, fish 32 feet. Don't second-guess it.
Run multiple depths. If regulations allow multiple rods, stagger them at different depths until one produces then match the others.
Adjust throughout the day. Kokanee move. Morning fish may be at 20 feet; afternoon fish may be at 45 feet. Stay flexible and keep checking your sonar.
Keep a log. Write down what depth fish were biting, at what time of day, and in what season. Kokanee patterns repeat, especially on a consistent fishery.
Depth beats everything else. You can have the perfect lure, the perfect speed, and the perfect color. If you're 10 feet off the right depth, you're not catching fish.
Frequently Asked Questions
How deep should I troll for kokanee? Troll at the depth your sonar shows fish holding — anywhere from 5 feet in early spring to 80+ feet in late summer.
What is the best depth for kokanee fishing? It varies by season. Spring typically puts fish at 15–30 feet. Midsummer fish often hold at 40–60 feet near the thermocline. Always confirm with your fish finder on the day you're fishing.
Can you catch kokanee without a downrigger? Absolutely. Lead core line and snap weights are both effective, especially in the 10–35 foot range. Downriggers give you more precision at deeper depths.
How many colors of lead core line for kokanee? A general rule is about 5 feet of depth per color, but this varies with speed and lure drag. In spring, 3–5 colors is a common starting point.
Why am I not catching kokanee while trolling? The most common reason for beginners is wrong depth. After that: too fast or too slow, wrong lure, or fishing unproductive water. Start by checking your depth first.
Final Thoughts
Kokanee fishing has a reputation for being tricky, and honestly, it can be. But most of that difficulty comes down to one thing: depth.
Once you learn to read your sonar, locate where the fish are holding, and get your lure consistently into that zone everything else gets a lot easier. Whether you start with snap weights, move to lead core, or go straight to downriggers, the goal is always the same: get your presentation to the fish.
If you want to fast-track that learning, fishing Strawberry Reservoir with an experienced guide is one of the best investments you can make as a beginning kokanee angler. A single day on the water watching someone work their sonar, set their downriggers, and adjust depth in real time is worth more than a season of guessing on your own.
Tight lines — and don't forget to check your depth.
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