Introduction to Coho Salmon
Exciting Gamefish
The coho salmon, also called silver salmon, offers thrilling light-tackle fishing opportunities across the Pacific Coast from California through Alaska as well as the Great Lakes after introduction there. Pound-for-pound, few fish fight as vigorously as hooked coho, known for explosive jumps and long runs. Coho provide firm orange-red fillets rivaling all salmon for table quality. From boats, piers and streams, silver salmon create lasting memories.
Physical Characteristics of Coho Salmon
Coho display slender, torpedo-shaped bodies built for swimming efficiency. Their scales range from metallic blue to silver, with some black spots present on the back and caudal peduncle. Spawning salmon develop darker green heads and dull-red bodies with hooked jaws in males. Most coho weigh 6-12 pounds, smaller than chinook but larger than sockeye and pink salmon on average.
Acrobatic Nature
When hooked, coho salmon explode in aggressive jumps, head shakes, and long accelerating runs. Their athleticism and acrobatics help explain the rich history and popularity of coho as a sportfish. Their strength and speed also aid arduous spawning runs up natal streams.
Habitat and Range of Coho
Coho range from Central California up the Pacific Coast to Alaska and across to Russia and Japan. Introduced populations now thrive in the Great Lakes. Adults enter tributaries in fall to spawn into late winter. Coho require clear, cool, well-oxygenated streams with abundant cover like downed trees and undercut banks for juvenile rearing habitat.
Extensive Open Ocean Migrations
Most of their life after smolting is spent feeding on baitfish like herring, squid and crustaceans across vast areas of the northern Pacific Ocean. Some coho undertake remarkable long-distance migrations in the ocean before homing back to local streams and tributaries to spawn.
Behavior and Life Stages of Coho Salmon
Coho spend one to two years feeding and growing at sea. Returning adults stage at river mouths until fall rains allow easier passage upstream to spawn. Females scatter up to 4,000 eggs into gravel nests or redds constructed by males, who fertilize them. Adults die after spawning. The young remain in freshwater up to two years before migrating to the ocean as smolts.
Aggressive Nature
During the fall spawning season, coho salmon become highly aggressive and territorial, males competing intensely for females. They will strike flies, lures and bait with abandon when intercepted on spawning migrations, providing thrilling sport fishing opportunities.
Coho Salmon Fishing Methods
Casting spinners, spoons and crankbaits that mimic baitfish allows anglers to draw reflex strikes from migrating silver salmon holding near tributary mouths or in larger rivers. Trolling small plugs near drop-offs also works well. Downsizing terminal tackle helps maximize the sporting challenge when fighting strong coho.
Reading the Water
Identifying current seams, structure and zones of staging activity allows dialing in effective trolling patterns or casting approaches. Working transitions and ledges thoroughly helps put lures and baits in front of migrating fish. Patiently probing different areas is key.
Conservation Status of Coho
Many wild coho populations face threats from habitat degradation, predation, fishing pressure, competition from hatchery salmon and impacts tied to climate change. Extensive recovery efforts aim to improve stream habitat, water quality and safe passage. Fishing limits and selective harvest help protect wild runs.
Hatchery Supplementation
Massive hatchery release programs for coho salmon help compensate for reductions in natural reproduction capacity across much of their native range due to human activities. However, risks exist of interbreeding and competition with depleted wild stocks. Monitoring helps ensure hatchery operations protect and sustain wild fish.
Importance of Coho Salmon
Beyond just recreational fishing value, coho provide important food sources for coastal communities. Spawning coho transport key ocean nutrients into headwater streams benefiting the entire ecosystem. Their aggressive fighting makes coho a highly coveted sportfish. Many anglers consider coho excellent table fare as well when promptly handled after catch.
Iconic Gamefish
Pursuing acrobatic coho in rivers and from boats offers some of the most exciting fishing moments anywhere. Entire fishing industries catering to coho anglers thrive across the Pacific Coast. Watching silvers attack lures inspires awe in their power and beauty.
Fun Facts and Records on Coho Salmon
- The largest coho salmon on record weighed 31 pounds caught from an Alaskan river. However, 15-20 pound trophies remain extremely rare.
- Alternate names for coho include silver salmon and medium red salmon across their range from California through the Pacific Northwest.
- Both juvenile and adult coho feed voraciously on insects, plankton and baitfish. Later in life they take a more piscivorous diet.
- Native American tribes like the Gitxsan in British Columbia depended on abundant coho runs both for sustenance and culturally. Salmon were strongly interwoven into their traditional ways of life.
- Larger 5 and 6 year old coho salmon that spend more time feeding at sea often return in later winter to spawn compared to younger 3-4 year old fish.
Responsible Coho Salmon Fishing
Fishing regulations including short seasons, gear restrictions, minimum sizes and low limits help conserve coho. Ethical handling like minimizing air exposure and avoiding gaffs improves survival. Selectively targeting abundant hatchery runs, adhering to limits and focusing on rivers with stronger returns promotes sustainability.
Conclusion
From California to Alaska, chasing after hard-charging coho salmon provides thrilling light tackle fishing opportunities. Protecting critical stream habitat and carefully managing harvest will ensure robust coho runs keep providing ecological benefits and inspiring memorable days on the water into the future. With sound stewardship, the iconic coho salmon endures.