Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
The Chinook salmon, also known as the king salmon, is the largest of all Pacific salmon species and one of the most powerful fish an angler can hook on a fly rod. Native to the Pacific coast from California to Alaska and across to Siberia, Chinook salmon can exceed 50 pounds and are capable of sustained, drag-screaming runs that test both angler and equipment. Their life cycle is one of nature's great dramas, as adults return from the ocean to their natal rivers, often traveling hundreds of miles upstream, to spawn and die. Fly fishing for Chinook salmon on their spawning runs offers an extraordinary combination of raw power and scenic beauty, whether swinging flies on Alaskan rivers or drifting beads and egg patterns in Pacific Northwest tributaries. King salmon hold deep cultural and ecological significance throughout their range.
Order
Salmoniformes
Family
Salmonidae
Genus
Oncorhynchus
Species
O. tshawytscha
Open ocean during feeding phase; large coastal rivers with deep pools, gravel bars, and strong currents during spawning migration
Native Range: Pacific Ocean and associated river systems from central California north to the Yukon River in Alaska and across to Kamchatka, Russia
Introduced Range: Great Lakes of North America, Patagonia (Argentina and Chile), and New Zealand
In the ocean: herring, anchovies, sardines, squid, and shrimp; in freshwater during spawning migration: largely non-feeding, but will take flies out of territorial aggression
Chinook salmon return to their natal rivers from late spring through fall depending on the run type. They construct large redds in deep gravel, and females deposit 3,000 to 14,000 eggs. All Chinook die after spawning, their decaying bodies providing essential marine-derived nutrients to freshwater ecosystems.
Spawning Months
Spawning Temperature: 45-55°F
The Chinook Salmon is currently classified as Multiple populations listed as Threatened or Endangered under the ESA; Sacramento River winter-run Chinook are Endangered; robust populations remain in Alaska and British Columbia. Responsible catch-and-release practices help protect populations for future generations of anglers.
Target Chinook salmon by swinging large, heavy flies through deep runs and tailouts on a sinking line. In Alaska, dead-drifting egg patterns behind actively spawning fish can be highly effective. Focus on the deepest slots in the river where fish rest during their upstream migration.
A 9 to 10-foot 8 to 10-weight rod with a strong fighting butt is essential. Use heavy sinking-tip lines and 15-20 lb tippet to handle these powerful fish.
Average Size
24-36 inches, 10-30 lbs
World Record
97 lbs 4 oz (Kenai River, Alaska, 1985)
