DescriptionDescriptionThis species is the largest of the Pacific salmon. They average about 18 pounds, seldom weigh over 60, but are as large as 125 pounds. As an anadromous fish, they are born in freshwater, migrate to saltwater for most of their lives, and return to freshwater to spawn. They may travel up to 2,000 miles to reach preferred streams. Upon completion of their upstream reproduction, the fish die. Depending on when they enter their spawning rivers, they are known as spring, summer or fall Chinook.
They are a tremendously important commercial species, and the conflicts between all "user groups" has been an ongoing struggle. Dams are particularly devastating to migrating fish, and mitigating efforts are at best neutral to the success of historic spawning runs. It is also the species most sought after by sport fishermen, exceeding the numbers and pounds of catch of any other Pacific salmon.
Chinook Salmon are most often the quarry of saltwater anglers trolling with deep-running baited lures. As a schooling species, once located, they provide fine action for large fish. The fly fisher will most easily find them in freshwater streams of the Pacific Northwest as fish enter for their spawning runs. Chinook use a variety of freshwater habitats, but it is more common to see them spawn in larger mainstream rivers than other salmon species. In that they return year-after-year to the same waters as their parents, the known locations and times for activity give a headstart to the angler. These large fish require appropriate "big fish" tackle, with sinking lines and patterns. The females tend to be more fresh/bright than their male counterparts, but both are strong, capable fighters typical of sea-run fish.