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2008
Chinook Salmon Vanish Without a Trace Where did they go?
The Chinook salmon that swim upstream to spawn in the fall, the most robust run in the Sacramento River, have disappeared. The almost complete collapse of the richest and most dependable source of Chinook salmon south of Alaska left gloomy fisheries experts struggling for reliable explanations — and coming up dry.

Whatever the cause, there was widespread agreement among those attending a five-day meeting of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council here last week that the regional $150 million fishery, which usually opens for the four-month season on May 1, is almost certain to remain closed this year from northern Oregon to the Mexican border. A final decision on salmon fishing in the area is expected next month.

As a result, Chinook, or king salmon, the most prized species of Pacific wild salmon, will be hard to come by until the Alaskan season opens in July. Even then, wild Chinook are likely to be very expensive in markets and restaurants nationwide.
 

Meet The Fish
Fall Chinook Salmon


Late Fall Chinook Salmon

 

Steelhead trout

Fish in raceways

“It’s unprecedented that this fishery is in this kind of shape,” said Donald McIsaac, executive director of the council, which is organized under the auspices of the Commerce Department.
 

Trophy Mounts completes the largest brook trout ever landed

Fishermen think the Sacramento River was mismanaged in 2005, when this year’s fish first migrated downriver. Perhaps, they say, federal and state water managers drained too much water or drained at the wrong time to serve the state’s powerful agricultural interests and cities in arid Southern California. The fishermen think the fish were left susceptible to disease, or to predators, or to being sucked into diversion pumps and left to die in irrigation canals.

But federal and state fishery managers and biologists point to the highly unusual ocean conditions in 2005, which may have left the fingerling salmon with little or none of the rich nourishment provided by the normal upwelling currents near the shore.
 

The life cycle of these fall run Chinook salmon takes them from their birth and early weeks in cold river waters through a downstream migration that deposits them in the San Francisco Bay when they are a few inches long, and then as their bodies adapt to saltwater through a migration out into the ocean, where they live until they return to spawn, usually three years later.

One species of Sacramento salmon, the winter run Chinook, is protected under the Endangered Species Act. But their meager numbers have held steady and appear to be unaffected by whatever ails the fall Chinook.
 

Stillaguamish Tribal Hatchery

Record chum run 2003.

The Stillaguamish Tribe has voluntary chosen to not fish for Chinook salmon since 1980.

In 1978 Stillaguamish Tribal Hatchery opened operations as a restoration facility for the Chinook and Coho salmon to rebuild diminished runs. At present, the Chinook salmon is listed on the endangered species list in the Stillaguamish watershed due to degradation of habitat and over-fishing. We work hard in our efforts to change the course of the decreasing population, so that a strong and thriving population can exist again in the Stillaguamish River.

So what happened? As Dave Bitts, a fisherman based in Eureka in Northern California, sees it, the variables are simple. “To survive, there are two things a salmon needs,” he said. “To eat. And not to be eaten.”

Fragmentary evidence about salmon mortality in the Sacramento River in recent years, as well as more robust but still inconclusive data about ocean conditions in 2005, indicates that the fall Chinook smolts, or baby fish, of 2005 may have lost out on both counts. But biologists, fishermen and fishery managers all emphasize that no one yet knows anything for sure.

Bill Petersen, an oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s research center in Newport, Ore., said other stocks of anadromous Pacific fish — those that migrate from freshwater to saltwater and back — had been anemic this year, leading him to suspect ocean changes.

After studying changes in the once-predictable pattern of the Northern Pacific climate, Mr. Petersen found that in 2005 the currents that rise from the deeper ocean, bringing with them nutrients like phytoplankton and krill, were out of sync. “Upwelling usually starts in April and goes until September,” he said. “In 2005, it didn’t start until July.”

Mr. Petersen’s hypothesis about the salmon is that “the fish that went to sea in 2005 died a few weeks after getting to the ocean” because there was nothing to eat. A couple of years earlier, when the oceans were in a cold-weather cycle, the opposite happened — the upwelling was very rich. The smolts of that year were later part of the largest run of fall Chinook ever recorded.

But, Mr. Petersen added, many factors may have contributed to the loss of this season’s fish.
 

Bruce MacFarlane, another NOAA researcher who is based in Santa Cruz, has started a three-year experiment tagging young salmon — though not from the fall Chinook run — to determine how many of those released from the large Coleman hatchery, 335 miles from the Sacramento River’s mouth, make it to the Golden Gate Bridge. According to the first year’s data, only 4 of 200 reached the bridge.

Mr. MacFarlane said it was possible that a diversion dam on the upper part of the river, around Redding and Red Bluff, created calm and deep waters that are “a haven for predators,” particularly the pike minnow.

Farther downstream, he said, young salmon may fall prey to striped bass. There are also tens of thousands of pipes, large and small, attached to pumping stations that divert water.

Jeff McCracken, a spokesman for the federal Bureau of Reclamation, which is among the major managers of water in the Sacramento River delta, said that in the last 18 years, significant precautions have been taken to keep fish from being taken out of the river through the pipes.

“We’ve got 90 percent of those diversions now screened,” Mr. McCracken said. He added that two upstream dams had been removed and that the removal of others was planned. At the diversion dam in Red Bluff, he said, “we’ve opened the gates eight months a year to allow unimpeded fish passage.”

Bureau of Reclamation records show that annual diversions of water in 2005 were about 8 percent above the 12-year average, while diversions in June, the month the young Chinook smolts would have headed downriver, were roughly on par with what they had been in the mid-1990s.

Peter Dygert, a NOAA representative on the fisheries council, said, “My opinion is that we won’t have a definitive answer that clearly indicates this or that is the cause of the decline.”

Salmon Fishing British Columbia Canada for Chinook Salmon, also known as King Salmon or Spring salmon and the largest of the 5 Pacific Ocean salmon, are known for their outstanding strength and stamina, as well as their terrific table qualities!!

There are two major Salmon fishing runs of Chinook that are targeted; the Fraser River summer run which fans out into the major interior tributaries, and the fall run Harrison River Chinook Salmon. The Harrison river is a large tributary to the Fraser river with its confluence near Chilliwack British Columbia. Fishing Salmon on the Fraser river Chinook Salmon are commonly caught from May through early September, will range in size from10 to 40 pounds and are in mint condition being only a few days from the ocean. They are commonly caught by bar-fishing using heavier gear and a spin-n-glo, or by float fishing with a variety of  baits.

Salmon fishing the Harrison river for a fall run of  a white flesh variety of Tyee salmon is very productive and are generally larger and can reach weights of 60 pounds or more! These Chinook Salmon are also caught by bar-fishing during October. The limit for Chinook salmon fishing is one adult fish per day, a possession limit of two.

 

Coho Salmon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A smaller salmon ranging in size from 4 to 12 pounds, Coho Salmon are a favorite fish by all anglers on the Fraser. Also known as silver Salmon, fishing for Coho generally occurs from September through November using bar fishing, spin fishing, float fishing, and fly fishing techniques. Many of the area's tributaries have Coho returns, however, we choose to concentrate our efforts on the Fraser mainstem and the Harrison river.
The limit for Coho vary from two to four HATCHERY (adipose fin-clipped) fish per day, double that for possession.

Sockeye Salmon

Thank goodness these fish average only 5 - 6 pounds or we'd never land them. The action when the sockeye salmon are in, is incredibly exciting. Salmon fishing in British Columbia for these silvery speedsters that arrive in June and migrate up the Fraser in huge numbers right through mid-September. Sockeye are best caught bottom bouncing with light salmon gear.  These fish provide a unique angling opportunity for all anglers whether a beginner or a pro. They can also be caught with fly fishing tackle. This fishery is regulated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and can be opened or closed on short notice. The sockeye salmon fishery is typically open on August 1st, and can remain open for the entire month. The limit for sockeye is two fish per day, four in your possession. These fish are highly sought after for their excellent table qualities.

Chum Salmon

Ranging in size from 8 to 20 pounds, the tenacious chum salmon, or dog salmon as they are commonly called, are the "water buffaloes" of the river. The chum will color up when it enters the freshwater in mid to late September, but that does not deter it from attacking anything in its path! A very strong salmon, most anglers will agree that the chum is hard on tackle and provides a worthy challenge when taken on drift, spinning and fly tackle. The chum is easily identified by the purplish vertical bars on its sides and, on the bucks, by rather large teeth, hence the nickname dog salmon. Occurring in good numbers, chum can be found almost anywhere in the lower Fraser and its tributaries. The limit for chum salmon is two fish per day, four in your possession. Salmon Fishing in British Columbia is exciting

Pink Salmon  

 
Pink salmon are found in the lower Fraser and its tributaries on odd numbered years (2005,2007,etc.). Commonly called humpies because the males develop a conspicuous hump on their backs, pink salmon can be taken on every type of tackle and will bite readily.  late August and continue into mid-October 2005. The limit for pink salmon is four fish per day, eight in your possession. Come on Salmon Fishing in British Columbia. This makes fishing for pinks fun for everyone including the younger anglers. The next run will begin in

Full Day Trips $150.00 Per Person (25% Deposit Per Person) Gift Certificates Available All Equipment, Bait & Tackle Provided Coast Guard Master License & Insured Call Early To Book Best Dates As a qualified Fishing Guide can assure that you catch more fish! Guide Service Northwest fishes from Astoria Oregon all the way up the Columbia River to catch: Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Fall Chinook Trophy Sturgeon and Keeper Sturgeon Winter run Steelhead and Summer run Steelhead

WHAT TO BRING Oversize sturgeon fishing guides know where to find Sturgeon on the Columbia River. Guide Service Northwest Specializes in Salmon, Sturgeon and Steelhead fishing in the Northwest. Oregon fishing is great with Oregon fishing guides. A Columbia river fishing guide, can catch keeper sturgeon or trophy sturgeon. Oregon salmon fishing is best on the Columbia River all the way to Astoria.  WHAT TO BRING ON YOUR FISHING TRIP Raingear Warm Clothes Sun Screen Cooler To Transport Fish Home Camera Food / Snacks Fishing License & Tag

SALMON FISHING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

The fishing season starts in June with the run of mighty Spring salmon, and lasts until early August. Depending on the water conditions, we fish the Skeena and/or Kitimat River. The Spring or “Chinook Salmon”, are the biggest of the pacific salmon and fish of 50 to 60 pounds are not uncommon. Heavy tackle is necessary for these big fish. The most common gear is spin-o-glow and 6 to 10 ounces of weight. In the middle of July sockeye salmon will begin to make their appearance in the Skeena River.

Sockeye are much smaller then the Springs, but they make up for it by their explosive fight. Sockeye are considered by many to be the best eating fish. Nothing beats the fly when it comes to Sockeye fishing, but they can also be caught with small spin-o-glows bounced along the river bed. Next in line is the Coho salmon, which starts in September. The Coho can reach up to 25 pounds, but most are between 8 and 15 pounds. Somewhat more aggressive then the Spring, they will chase down spoons and flies.

Last but not least, if one is lucky, you might hook into a Steelhead. Imagine catching a rainbow trout with proportions and the weight of a salmon!!! Steelhead will start in late August and be numerous in September. Essentially they are big ocean-going rainbow trout and as such can be caught on almost anything. Their size ranges from 10 all the way to 30+ pounds.

Yukon River Chinook Salmon

sockeye

Chinook Salmon Coho Salmon Chum Salmon Pink Salmon

The mighty Fraser River and its tributaries get some of the largest sockeye salmon runs in the world. This is also one of our world-class fisheries , with runs quite often surpassing 10+ million fish. The Sockeye Salmon are highly prized for their mouth watering, delicious and dark orange meat. They are a hard fighting fish, displaying great aerial acrobatics, and super fast, line peeling runs. They average 5-8lbs, with bigger fish over 10lbs available. Every year, anglers patiently await the arrival of the Sockeye Salmon, as it provides fast, action packed fishing that is hard to beat! It is not uncommon to hook between 15-25+ salmon/person/day.

This fishery is controlled by our fisheries department, with a very regulated fish-retention season that usually opens in the first week of Aug and can last into the first week of Sept. However, sockeye retention closures can occur at any time, so please make sure to check with us for updated information. This is primarily a Fraser River fishery with bottom bouncing being the common fishing method for catching these fish in really fast water. We also fish several other smaller tributaries that offer great fly-fishing opportunities for these salmon. salmon/person/day.


Sockeye Salmon are present in our rivers from June-Oct, with the best fishing times being mid July-late Sept They arrive in our rivers as lean, silver fish, fresh from the ocean and in prime fighting and eating condition. As spawning time approaches, they turn to a beautiful and vibrant dark red colour that makes them very visible in the clear rivers.

Wildlife Indicator - Chinook Salmon

No creature, beside humans, penetrates the Pacific Northwest as thoroughly as salmon. The wildlife index tracks Chinook salmon returning as adults to the Bonneville Dam, the lowest dam on the Columbia River.

No creature, beside humans, penetrates the Pacific Northwest as thoroughly as salmon. The wildlife index tracks Chinook salmon returning as adults to the Bonneville Dam, the lowest dam on the Columbia River. These mighty fish are a good indicator for the Northwest's once-prolific salmon runs and for the health of the vast river system that binds British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

Geographic range: Salmon are located throughout Cascadia. The Columbia Chinook are the largest and most prolific salmon in the region's biggest and most extensive river system.

What salmon tell us: Because of salmon's ubiquity, they are probably the best biological indicator of ecological health in the Northwest.
Changes in their populations can indicate any number of a long list of man-made and natural activities, including--to name a few--hydroelectric dams, irrigation, cattle ranching, clearcutting, suburban sprawl and development, industrial waste, global warming, and stormwater management.

How they're doing: The Chinook salmon report card is mixed.

• Yearly variation: First, it's difficult to get an accurate measurements of long-term trends in salmon population, because annual population counts can vary by huge margins. Returning Chinook at the Bonneville Dam--the lowest dam on the Columbia--vary by an average of 38 percent a year.
• Only a fraction of historical abundance: Today on the Columbia, salmon return in only a fraction--perhaps 5 percent--of their historic abundance. And because most salmon on the Columbia today are hatchery-raised fish, the true picture of salmon is even less rosy. Wild Chinook may only now be 1 percent of their historic numbers.

What to do: Key reforms for protecting salmon include reducing pollution runoff into the Columbia and its tributaries; getting more accurate measurements of salmon health through methods such as biomonitoring; and removing dams such as those on the lower Snake River. Reducing reliance on hydropower, by shifting to alternative energy sources and conservation, also frees up more water for salmon to migrate past dams.

You can also volunteer for the many fine efforts to restore Northwest salmon and their habitat

Juvenile Coho Salmon

Klamath River

KLAMATH RIVER
The mighty Klamath River is California’s second largest river and flows almost three hundred miles from Oregon to the mouth of the river at Requa in Klamath; CA. Klamath is headquarters or world class salmon and steelhead trout fishing and has often been referred to as the “Steelhead Capitol of the World.” The fish are not the only attraction though, located in the center of the Redwood National and State parks, Klamath Ca. is the ideal place for a family vacation, it’s breathtaking river adventures and miles of trails through old growth redwood forests centuries old, abundant wildlife including bears, coyotes, whales, seals and sea lions not to mention an array of birds including eagles, osprey, heron, pelican and seagulls.

KLAMATH SPRINGER SALMON
We begin fishing the Klamath in May to mid July for springers. We anchor on the edges of the river intercepting their natural traveling lanes with spinners or rogue spinner bait rigs. When that springer hits bait the fun begins, with the high spring flows and these football shaped salmon the battle is on. When it is all said and done you have the best tasting of all salmon. To many fishermen, barbecuing that first springer is a tradition. We fish out of a custom built Jet craft boat that is covered and heated for comfort, this trip includes a full breakfast that is cooked to your request and consists of ham, sausage, hash browns and eggs along with coffee served hot while you fish.

KLAMATH SUMMER STEELHEAD
We begin fishing for summer run steelhead in mid July when the half pounders enter the river. The steelhead fishing has been outstanding the last 2 years with steelhead to 15lbs being landed. We side drift or boondoggle out of our jet sleds with small baits and drift balls on the lower 30 miles of the river. It is not uncommon to land 20 to 30 steelhead per day.

KLAMATH FALL RUN CHINOOK SALMON
The fall run of king salmon in the Klamath can run into the hundreds of thousands. The salmon enter the river in late July where we troll for them with spinners or rogue spinner bait rigs fishing the tides. In August the salmon begin making their upstream migration, where we target them in the deep holes and runs they hold in with our jet boats boondoggling or dragging bait. The average fall salmon is about 15lbs. with the larger fish in the 40lb class. There was a monster 68lb king salmon caught at the mouth of the river in August of 2004 (by net) by a local Yurok Indian. Limits of salmon are easily obtained and days of 30 plus fish are not uncommon.

Salmon and Trout Subfamily

Salmoninae

Each kind of salmon and trout (salmonid) in New York is currently managed with specific regulations on size, creel limits, and seasons. Management policies require anglers to identify their catch correctly to apply the proper regulations. Two problems in correct identification frequently arise: (1) many anglers and naturalists use common names for salmonids that differ from those used in fishing regulations; and (2) some anglers, especially beginners, are not familiar with techniques used to differentiate among these sport fishes. Misidentification of fish prevents proper interpretation of fishing regulations and may cause unintentional violations of fish and wildlife laws, upsetting the best management efforts.

Salmonids have fins with soft rays, except the adipose fin--a small, fatty fin located between the dorsal and tails fins--which has not rays. Fins of salmonids lack the stiff spines found on fins of some other fishes, such as sunfish and yellow perch. The dorsal fin is located about midway on the back. The tail varies from being deeply forked on some fish to nearly squared on others.

In summary, salmon and trout are smooth-scaled fish that have: (1) an adipose fin; (2) a large mouth with the jaw extending back beyond the eye; and (3) soft-rayed fins.

Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)

Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

Brown Trout (Salmo trutta)

Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush)

Rainbow Trout or Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

Chinook Salmon

Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

The Chinook Salmon, also known as King Salmon, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. An anadromous fish regularly lives in the sea, but will migrate to freshwater to breed. It is a Pacific Ocean salmon, but has been introduced to many other bodies of water throughout the world, including the Great Lakes.

The Chinook salmon is blue-green on the back and top of the head with silvery sides and white underneath. It has black spots on its tail and the upper half of its body; its mouth is a dark gray. Adult fish average 33 to 36 inches (840 to 910 mm), but may be up to 58 inches (1.47 metres) in length; they average 10 to 50 pounds (5 to 25 kg), but may reach 130 pounds (50 kg).

Chinook salmon may spend between one to eight years in the ocean before returning to their home rivers to spawn, though the average is three to four years. Chinook prefer larger and deeper water to spawn in than other species of salmon and can be found on the spawning area from September through to December. Young fish usually stay in freshwater from twelve to eighteen months before traveling downstream to estuaries, where they remain for several months.

Chinook salmon range from San Francisco Bay in California to north of the Bering Strait in Alaska and the arctic waters of Canada and Russia. Populations occur in Asia as far south as the islands of Japan. Fresh water populations have also been introduced into the Great Lakes.

Chinook were the first Pacific salmon to be transplanted to other parts of the world, but the only notable success in creating self-sustaining stocks has been in New Zealand. A key factor in this general failure was that, like other Pacific salmon, Chinook salmon seek the stream of their birth to spawn and die. They have apparently failed to find the right kind of spawning streams along Lake Michigan, so continuous stocking is necessary to maintain the Chinook as one of the lake's most prized game fish.

Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Identification tips for trouts and salmons

• Length: 20 to 35 inches
• Weight:3 to 15 pounds
• Coloring: iridescent green to blue-green on back; sides below lateral line silvery; silvery to white underside
• Common Names:king salmon, tyee, spring salmon, quinnat
• Found in Lakes:Stocked in Michigan, Huron, Ontario, Erie and Superior
   

Many chinook salmon end their days as trophies mounted on tavern and game room walls. In tribute to their size and character, they are also known as "king salmon."

Chinook were the first Pacific salmon to be transplanted to other parts of the world, but the only notable success in creating self-sustaining stocks has been in New Zealand. A key factor in this general failure was that, like other Pacific salmon, chinook salmon seek the stream of their birth to spawn and die. They have apparently failed to find the right kind of spawning streams along Lake Michigan, so continuous stocking is necessary to maintain the chinook as one of the lake's most prized game fish.

Chinook are generally caught by trolling. But as winter approaches and the lake becomes colder, they disappear in search of more suitable water temperatures. Some say they veer south along a route five to 15 miles offshore; others say that, unlike cohos, they simply move offshore into deeper water.

For several reasons, this salmon species is especially popular with fish management agencies. They can be released five to six months after hatching and therefore are cheaper to hatch and stock than cohos, which require 14 to 16 months. During their four- to five-year lifespan, chinooks feed on large numbers of alewifes and so put more pressure on the lake's alewife population.

"King Salmon"   For the census-designated place in Alaska, see King Salmon, Alaska.
Chinook Salmon

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Genus: Oncorhynchus
Species: O. tshawytscha
Binomial name
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
(Walbaum, 1792)

The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, (derived from Russian чавыча), is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. It is a Pacific Ocean salmon and is variously known as the king salmon, tyee salmon, Columbia River salmon, black salmon, chub salmon, hook bill salmon, winter salmon, Spring Salmon, Quinnat Salmon and blackmouth. Chinook Salmon are typically divided into "races" with "spring chinook", "summer chinook", and "fall chinook" being most common. Races are determined by the timing of adult entry into fresh water. A "winter chinook" run is recognized in the Sacramento River.

DID YOU KNOW?Chinook salmon may spend between 1 to 8 years in the ocean before returning to their natal streams to spawn, though the average is 3 to 4 years.

SCIENTIFIC NAME:Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, from the Greek words onkos (hook), rynchos (nose) Male and tshawytscha (the common name for the species in Siberia and Alaska).

COMMON NAMES: King salmon, tyee salmon, Columbia River salmon, black salmon, chub salmon, hook bill salmon, winter salmon and blackmouth.

DESCRIPTION: The chinook salmon is blue-green on the back and top of the head with silvery sides and white bellies; black spots on the upper half of its body with gray/black mouth coloration. Up to 58 inches in length and weigh up to 129 pounds; although chinook salmon is generally up to 36 inches in length and weigh up to 30 pounds.

LIFE CYCLE: Spawning in streams that are larger and deeper than other salmon utilize, chinook salmon spawn from late summer to late fall, depending on the run. Fry and smolts usually stay in freshwater from 1 to 18 months before travelling downstream to estuaries, where they remain up to 189 days. Chinook salmon spend 1 to 8 years at sea before returning to natal streams to spawn.

RANGE: Chinook salmon range from Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, to Santa Barbara, California. Spawning and rearing chinook are found in most of the rivers in this region, with significant runs in the Columbia River, Rogue River, and Puget Sound.

HABITAT AND ECOLOGY: Freshwater streams and estuaries provide important habitat for chinook salmon. They feed on terrestrial and aquatic insects, amphipods, and other crustaceans while young, and primarily on other fish when older. Eggs are laid in deeper water with larger gravel, and need cool water and good water flow (to supply oxygen) to survive. Mortality of chinook salmon in the early life stages is usually high due to natural predation and human induced changes in habitat, such as siltation, high water temperatures, low oxygen conditions, loss of stream cover and reductions in river flow. These impacts are primarily caused by poor forestry practices, dams, and water diversions.Estuaries and their associated wetlands provide vital nursery areas for the chinook prior to its departure to the open ocean. Wetlands not only help buffer the estuary from silt and pollutants, but also provide important feeding and hiding areas. The draining and filling of wetlands and the pollution of the estuary from industrial discharges and run-off, negatively impact chinook salmon.

ECONOMIC VALUE: Chinook salmon is highly valued by commercial fishermen, despite their scarcity relative to other Pacific salmon along most of the Pacific coast. Chinook salmon is also an important subsistence fish and a valuable recreational resource.