Salmon

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Anfy Water Script - Copyright (C) by Fabio Ciucci 1997-99

King Salmon

Coho Salmon

Atlantic Salmon

(315) 298-2500

COHO SALMON - ONCORHYNCHUS KISUTCH

Names: While this species is very commonly referred to as the silver salmon or blue back, its officially recognized name is coho salmon. The name coho originates from the Indian dialect. Occasionally the coho is referred to as the blueback; however, this is confusing, for blueback is generally regarded as one of the common names for the sea-run cutthroat. The scientific name of the coho is Oncorhynchus, which means hooked snout; kisutch is the name given to the coho by the Indians of the Kamchatka Peninsula, U.S.S.R.

Size: Coho rank as the third largest of the Pacific salmon behind chinook and chum. The world's record sport-caught coho weighed 31 pounds, but today's largest coho rarely exceed 20 pounds; average weights range from 5 to 10 pounds. Coho sizes can vary considerably from year to year depending upon ocean upwellings, temperature, and perhaps even the number of fish competing for food.

Identification: Adult ocean coho, or those newly entered into rivers, are silvery-sided with greenish- or bluish-colored backs. They exhibit black spots along the back and upper fins. These spots are confined to the upper half of the caudal (tail) fin only. The gums of the lower jaw are grayish in color, but the gum color at the very base of the teeth is whitish or cream- colored. Coho tend to darken quickly after entering their natal streams; their heads turn a greenish color and the sides change to brown or maroon with a red lateral slash. The belly color is gray turning to black among advanced spawners. Males develop the hooked snout characteristic of all Pacific salmon and a slightly raised back. Females do not darken as dramatically as males and generally lack the strong red slash marks along the lateral line. White patchy fungus growths appear on the heads and down the back and sides of fish about to spawn or spawn outs.
Oregon coho eggs were transplanted to the Great Lakes in the mid-50s and they have developed into a highly successful and popular gamefish there, with good natural spawning occurring in dozens of streams.

Quick Identification: Black spots on top half of tail, black mouth, white gums (size range 4 -15 lbs.)

KING SALMON

Identification - Best identifying characteristic is teeth set in black gums. The base of the tail flares like the handle of a canoe paddle, offering the angler a grip sufficient to lift the fish. Like the coho, the interior of the mouth will also be gray or black. Tail spots are usually restricted to the top half of the tail, but may also appear on the lower half. The anal fin usually has 15 to 17 rays. Chinook do not jump and roll as much as coho, but have tremendous power and make long reel-screaming runs.

Habits - Open-water fishing is the best in spring and summer, as with coho. Migration to parent streams begin in late summer, with heavy concentration at stream mouths. Stream fishing peaks sometime in September, at the onset of spawning runs.

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(315) 298-2500