Successful spawning of interior Coho, Kokanee and Sockeye Salmon was accomplished. This hatchery raises rainbow trout, kokanee, and salmon. The lake was then restocked with rainbow trout, brook trout, and kokanee salmon. Popular fishing includes that of smallmouth and largemouth bass, catfish, kokanee, rainbow and brown trout. There are also land-locked kokanee (sockeye salmon) and rainbow trout. Lake trout are predatory and will eat young kokanee. Wickiup holds a reputable amount of both Kokanee and Coho Salmon. The lake is popular with anglers and is continually stocked with Trout and Kokanee Salmon. The lake is home to several species of fish, including rainbow trout and kokanee. There is some morphological divergence between the kokanee and sockeye. One interesting case involving speciation with salmon is that of the kokanee (landlocked) sockeye. The Japanese kokanee varies from its sea-going sockeye relative in a few ways. Some kokanee have been seen spawning in April. Nantahala Lake is the only place in North Carolina where kokanee salmon are found. Conservation efforts have been largely successful with 4,660 kokanee spawning in the park in 2015.