Northwest Magazines

The largest of the five species of Pacific salmon is the chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), which can weigh more than 100 pounds. Chinook salmon are called by many names: spring salmon, king salmon, blackmouth salmon, jack salmon, Columbia River salmon, Fraser River salmon, hook bill salmon, and tyee salmon. These salmon are native to the Pacific Ocean and range from Alaska to California. They are a prize sport fish and considered quite tasty.

Salmon are anadromous

This is a fascinating aspect of some fish because the word means they are able to live in both freshwater and saltwater. The salmon are born in freshwater creeks and rivers along the West Coast and as small fry swim downstream to the ocean. At this stage they are called smolts, because they are going through a transformation that enables them to live in the salty ocean for the next few years. They will stay in the ocean for one to eight years. The longer they stay in the ocean the larger they become. When it is time to spawn, they head back to their stream of birth (natal stream), where they will spawn and die. Most scientists agree that the fish find their natal stream by smelling and tasting the water.

Story and photo by Jeffery Rich

A yolk-sac fry emerges from an egg,
surrounded by other newborns.

Where to spot chinook salmon >>>

The fall run from September through November is usually the best time to witness the amazing spectacle of chinook salmon spawning. Almost any major river has a fall chinook run; anglers especially enjoy this season. Some rivers also have a spring run, with chinook entering rivers from April to late July. Some areas offer great close-up viewing and have made it easy to see the spawning salmon. Several sites are listed in this article to see salmon at other stages. Salmon fry can be viewed at some hatcheries from January until February. From the comfort of your computer you can view a salmon cam at (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildwatch/salmoncam/index.html)

Bonneville Lock and Dam and Bonneville Hatchery along Columbia River
In Washington, take Hwy 14 about 40 miles east of Vancouver. In Oregon, take I-84 to exit 40 at the Bonneville Hatchery. This is a good place to view the big fish.
(541-374-8442; www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/b/home.asp or
541-374-8393; www.dfw.state.or.us/hatchery/bonneville.htm)

Stamp River in British Columbia
Stamp River Provincial Park is located northwest of Port Alberni on central Vancouver Island. Follow Hwy 4 past Port Alberni and turn onto Beaver Creek Road. Follow signs. Besides the chinook of September to November, expect to see sockeye salmon running in summer and coho salmon from August to December. (250-474-1336; www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/stamp.html)

Hatcheries to see salmon fry in Washington

Issaquah Salmon Hatchery - From I-5 take I-90 east to Front Street exit. Make a right onto Front Street for 0.6 miles to West Sunset Way and turn right on Sunset Way to the hatchery. (425-427-0259)
Priest Rapids Hatchery - Located just below Priest Rapids Dam on the Columbia River in south central Washington off Hwy 243. (509-932-4481)
Lake Aberdeen Hatchery - Located on Aberdeen Lake 12 miles east of Aberdeen on Hwy 12. (360-533-1663)

Hatcheries to see salmon fry in Oregon

Cole M. Rivers Hatchery - Located on the Rogue River 30 miles northeast of Medford. (541-878-2235)
McKenzie Hatchery - Located on the McKenzie River 22 miles east of Eugene. (541-896-3513)

Parental instincts

Most of the large rivers along the Pacific Ocean have chinook salmon runs, and many of these rivers also have hatcheries that raise the fish. The adult salmon build a nest (redd) in the gravel on the bottom of the stream, where the female lays up to 5000 eggs. While she is laying, the male is right beside her fertiliz-ing the eggs with his sperm (milt). She then covers the fertilized eggs with gravel. The eggs hatch about 90 to 150 days later, depending on the water temperature. They are born with a yolk sack attached to their belly (yolk sack fry), which is the food source. These young will stay in the gravel nest while the yolk sack becomes absorbed and the fish continue to grow. When the yolk sack is about gone (buttonup fry), they will swim up into the river and start feeding and heading downstream to the ocean.

Northwest Travel Magazine January/February 2007

Jeffrey Rich is a photonaturalist whose pictures capture intimate moments of wildlife. He leads photo tours throughout the United States and currently teaches science at Stellar Charter School. (www.jeffrichphoto.com)