Juveniles: Large parr marks, including on dorsal ridge. Spots on back, dorsal fin and both lobes of caudal fin. Maxillary extends past rear margin of eye. Red or yellow marks on throat.

Adults: Body dark green above, olive-green on sides and silvery below. Black spots on back and sides, rounded spots on dorsal, caudal, anal and adipose fins. Yellow or red slash on throat. Upper jaw extends past hind margin of eye. Length 12-15 inches.

Spawning adults: Males have red horizontal bar along sides of the body, somewhat pointed or hooked snout. Females also develop the red band, but it is less vivid that the males.

Life History: Anadromous, also some inland (non-anadromous) populations. Anadromous adults return to their natal streams late autumn to early winter, while actual spawning occurs from February to May. The females choose the redd sites, usually small, gravelly streams. She digs the nest(s), and lays her eggs which are simultaneously fertilized by the male. Both females and males die after spawning. Fecundity ranges from 226 to 4420 eggs per female. Fry emergence can be anytime from April to August. After emergence, some of the juveniles will go directly to sea, while others will remain in fresh water until their second or third year. The outmigration to the larger river or lake, or to the ocean, usually occurs sometime in the spring. Once in the ocean, individuals remain for one or more years before returning to their home streams to spawn.

Feeding: The diet consists mainly of insects, also other fishes, arthropods and salmon eggs.

Groot, C and Margolis, L. Eds. 1991. Pacific Salmon Life Histories. UBC Press. Vancouver, B.C.

Juvenile fish id key. 1995. The Streamkeepers Handbook: a Practical Guide to Stream and Wetland Care. Community Involvement Division, Salmonid Enhancement Program, Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Vancouver, B.C.

Scott, W and Crossman, E. 1973. Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Bulletin 184. Ottawa, Ontario.

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