Watchable Wildlife: Coho and Chinook Salmon
Did You Know?
Both are non-native, Pacific coast species.
Chinook Salmon - Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Photo: Eric Engbretson, Engbretson Underwater Photo
- Most are hatchery-raised and stocked in lakes Ontario and Erie and their tributaries.
- They protect their fertilized eggs by burying them in stream gravel.
What to watch for:
Coho average about 10 pounds and 20-34 inches long
Chinook range from 15-30+ pounds and 22-44 inches long.
Both species have gray backs speckled with black spots, and silver-gray sides.
Male coho develop a deep red coloration on their sides as they mature for spawning.
Chinook have fully spotted tails while Coho have only a few spots on their tails,
usually confined to the upper lobe.
Where to watch:
Lakes Erie and Ontario and their tributaries
When to watch:
In spring, you may see these salmon chasing alewives and smelt in shallow near-shore areas. In fall, enjoy one of nature's most impressive and poignant spawning displays as these huge fish race up rivers and streams to lay their eggs before dying.