Similarities And Differences Among New York's Salmon

Similiarities and differences among New York's salmon species
Description	Habitat	Reproduction	Feeding	Fishing Information	Comments
Atlantic (Landlocked) Salmon
12-30' long Silvery with few dark spots on sides - spots often x-shaped Tall at least slightly forked, no spots on tail 12 or less anal fin rays	Open waters of cold, deep lakes Found near tributary mouths in spring Enters streams in fall and sometimes spring	Spawns in fall (Oct. - Nov.) Migrates into streams and rivers Digs nest (redd) in gravel areas, covers eggs Often survive to spawn again	Eats rainbow smelt, alewife, other fish Young eat aquatic insects	Prized sportfish, sought mainly during open water periods - some ice fishing available Trolling streamer flies, spoons or plugs is popular	New York's only native salmon Found in about 30 waters
Chinook Salmon
24-44" long Silvery, with spots on top and bottom of tail Flesh is dark at base of teeth 15-17 anal fin rays	Open waters of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario Enter tributaries in fall	Spawns in fall (Sept. - Oct.) Migrates into streams and rivers Digs nest in coarse gravel, covers eggs Always dies after spawning	Eats fish, mainly alewife and rainbow smelt	Very important Great Lakes sportfish Trolling plugs and spoons are effective Downriggers useful to get lures deep Will take eggs and lures while in rivers	Largest of the Pacific salmon Found only in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, and their tributaries
Coho Salmon
20-34" long Silvery, with spots on top half of tail only Flesh is white at base of teeth 13-15 anal fin rays	Similar to chinook	Spawns in fall (late Sept. - Oct.) Always dies after spawning	Similar to chinook	Important Greats Lakes sportfish Use methods listed for chinook	Found only in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and their tributaries
Kokanee (Sockeye) Salmon
8-15" long Silvery, with no spots on tail Bright red and green spawning colors 13-18 anal fin rays	Found in a few small ponds and lakes	Spawns in fall (Oct. - Nov.) Selects small streams or seepage areas along shoreline Always dies after spawning	Eats zooplankton and aquatic insects	Not easy to catch Delicate "bite" Small spoons, flies, or worm-baited hooks work	Very limited distribution in New York State Exceptionally tasty
Pink Salmon
15-21" long Silvery, with large oval spots on back and tail Males develop hump back when on spawning run 13-19 anal fin rays	Open waters of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario Enters some tributaries in fall	Spawns in fall (late Sept. - Nov.) Usually spawns in tributaries, but may spawn on beaches near stream mouth Always dies after spawning	Eats zooplankton, fish and crustacean	Not actively sought due to low abundance and small size in New York waters Will hit spoons or plugs	Has maintained low population abundance in Great