I was fishing for cutthroat in the Union River on the Hood Canal yesterday when I caught a couple of salmon I didn't recognize. I thought only chum ran in the river and these weren't chum. They were brownish with black spots on the back, and they had black inside there mouths. They were between 12-14 lbs. Anyone? Thanks.

My guess is they were Atlantic Salmon since a bunch escaped from a pen in the South Sound.

I was wondering if they were cliped?

They were not clipped...all fins were intact. I thought they might be Atlantic but I just don't know. A buddy thought maybe Chinook. Since I've only caught a few chum in rivers I dunno. I did see a few chum in the area.

I fish the Union quiet often for the "cuts." I'm willing to bet you hooked up with a couple of chinooks from the discription you gave. Not to mention that I've seen lots of chinook salmon in the river during the fall months with the chum. Good Luck!
Craig

Go over to the WDFW page and look under the science page, they are showing a couple of pictures of Alantic salmon, one is brownish(bronze)buck w/ slight hook nose.Might just be what you caught, but the chinook are in the rivers and should be getting dark also. http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/fish/atlantic.htm


[This message has been edited by scotty (edited 09-20-1999).]

[This message has been edited by scotty (edited 09-20-1999).]

if they had spots on the gill plates they are atlantics, if not, most likely chinooks!

seems like a good one. better figure it out, soon before enforcement helps you out

The salmon were incidental cathches and were released. The river is catch & release to all gamefish according to the pamphlet. I figure they were kings. Thanks to all for your input.