Also known as
- Dog Salmon US
- Keta Salmon US
- Silverbrite Salmon US
- Calico Salmon US
- Autumn Salmon US
Identification
A robust deep-bodied Pacific salmon with heavy shoulders and the hardest pound-for-pound fight of its genus — 'dog salmon' for a reason. Males develop dramatic spawning profile.
- Ocean phase: metallic bluish-green back grading to silver flanks, no distinct spotting
- Spawning phase: dark olive body with vertical bars of purple, red, and green — 'calico' pattern
- Large canine-like teeth, especially prominent on spawning males — source of 'dog salmon' name
- Deeply forked tail with no spotting on either lobe
- Pronounced hooked lower jaw and deepened body on spawning males
Where it holds
- Offshore
- Estuaries
- Rivers
Behaviour
An anadromous salmon with minimal freshwater juvenile residence — fry outmigrate to saltwater almost immediately. Ocean-phase adults range widely across the North Pacific feeding in the upper water column. Returning adults stop feeding on river entry but strike from aggression and territoriality — the river bite is reactive, not feeding. Light-biting on the take despite the hard fight that follows. Peak return 10-14°C (50-57°F).
Diet: Squid, Herring, Sand Eels, Copepods, Amphipods
How it's caught
Line Fishing
Spinning
Twitching jigs tipped with raw prawns is the signature Pacific Northwest chum technique — short sharp rod lifts with slack-line falls through holding pools trigger savage strikes. Casting Pixee spoons, Dardevle spoons, and Vibrax spinners in pink/chartreuse/purple also produces well on fresh-run fish in estuaries and lower rivers. Light-biting fish need sensitive rod tips and watchful line management.
Float Fishing
Centerpin or spinning-reel float drifts with raw prawns, sand shrimp, or yarn through river slots and tailouts. 11-14ft float rods give the reach and drag-free drift chum need. Set the float to keep bait ticking just above bottom at the hold depth. Watch for light subtle takes — chum rarely slam a float. Dominant method on most WA, OR, and BC chum rivers.
Trolling
Ocean trolling with mini-hoochies, small spoons, and diving plugs at 1-2 knots across tide rips and estuary mouths takes fresh fish before they enter rivers. Back-trolling Flat fish M2, MagLip 5.0, and K15 Kwikfish downstream against river current through holding pools is a deadly river adaptation.
Jigging
Vertical-jig marabou or tungsten-head jigs tipped with prawn in concentrated holding water from piers, jetties, and boats. Also effective fished on 8ft fast-action rods as a twitching presentation through river pools — the cadence triggers territorial strikes from staging fish.
Fly Fishing
Saltwater Fly
Cast chartreuse/pink/purple baitfish patterns and small squid flies on intermediate or sink-tip lines to fish feeding in tide rips and estuary mouths. Strip-retrieve fast and erratic to draw reaction strikes. Estuary chum on fly is one of the best-kept secrets of Pacific Northwest saltwater fly fishing.
Streamer
Swing or strip bright streamers (Popsicle, Egg-Sucking Leech, Comet) through river pools and tailouts during the run. Chum respond best to purple, pink, and chartreuse with plenty of flash. Slow deep swings through holding water outproduce quick retrieves. Fresh-entry fish in the lower river are the most willing.
