Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
The king of Pacific salmon — massive, powerful, and the most prized salmon to catch and eat
📅 When to Fish
Habitat
Pacific Ocean, Great Lakes, and large tributary rivers. Adults return to cold freshwater streams to spawn.
Best Season
Late summer through fall during spawning runs. Year-round fishing in Great Lakes.
Best Times
Early morning, especially on overcast days. First light during river runs.
Record
97 lbs 4 oz (Les Anderson, 1985)
Ideal Water Temp
45–57°F
Top Lures & Baits
- •Herring or anchovy plug
- •Spoons (Coyote, Krocodile)
- •Large spinners
- •Egg patterns (fly)
- •Yarn flies with spawn sacs
🔍 Identification
Largest Pacific salmon — silver sides, black spots on both lobes of tail, black gums (diagnostic). During spawning, males turn red-orange with a hooked jaw.
🍽️ Eating Quality
Outstanding — rich, oily, deep red-orange flesh. Highest fat content of any salmon. Exceptional smoked, grilled, or as sashimi.
📍 Where to Find It
🎣 Beginner Tip
In rivers during runs, fish where fast water meets slow water — the seam. Use egg imitations under a float or drift spawn bags naturally. Let current carry without drag.