Kokanee Salmon Return to Coldstream Creek

Coldstream, B.C. - Bright red kokanee salmon are once again making their annual journey into Coldstream Creek, a spectacle that draws both locals and visitors each fall.

The fish, a landlocked form of sockeye salmon, spend most of their lives in Okanagan Lake before heading upstream to spawn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nxIhHiVcuo

According to provincial species reports, kokanee in this region include both stream-spawning and shore-spawning populations. In Coldstream Creek, they can be seen pushing steadily against the current, intent on securing a mate and completing their life cycle.

While many males are now a striking crimson with dark backs and hooked jaws, smaller fish—often females—tend to appear more brownish-red. Once spawning is complete, the kokanee will die, leaving behind the next generation.

Spawning itself is simple but dramatic: females use their tails to dig a shallow nest in the gravel, called a redd. They release their eggs into the hollow, while males swim alongside to fertilize them with milt.

The female then covers the eggs with gravel, protecting them until they hatch in the spring.

Although a dominant male usually fertilizes most of the eggs, other males often dart in at the last moment, competing for a chance to pass on their genes.

Kokanee are a vital part of the Okanagan’s aquatic ecosystem, providing food for eagles, ospreys, and even bears, while also serving as an indicator of lake health.