Kokanee salmon are firing up the streams

Scenic autumn color drives are one of Utah's most popular family traditions, as crimson and gold colors temporarily replace the lush green vegetation that blankets the mountainsides in summer. Before leaves reach the ground in late October and the first snowflakes fall, many will pack their vehicles and ride though the popular canyons for their fill of colors. Unbeknownst to many, however, spectacular fall colors can also be viewed under water.

During the next few weeks Kokanee salmon will be making their annual spawning runs.

Scott Root, information and education specialist for the Division of Wildlife Resources, said fish are now migrating up the Strawberry River. Other migrations will soon be underway in tributaries of other state waters, including Flaming Gorge and Porcupine Reservoir.

"Kokanee, a subspecies of the sockeye salmon, live primarily in freshwater lakes," said Ron Stewart, DWR education and information manager for the Northeastern Region, "but are found in tributaries twice during their lifetime — just after birth and just before death." Spawning fish change to a brilliant red color in August as these fish gather near the tributaries. Males develop a humped back and a hooked jaw and all of them stop eating prior to the spawn. Their fat reserves are utilized as they begin to burn up oils in their muscle. At this stage, the muscle becomes mushy and develops a poor flavor.

People can view kokanee salmon anytime during the next few weeks. Viewers are asked to approach and move quietly near the spawning areas to avoid disturbing the fish and stay on the banks to avoid destroying the redds (egg nests). Stewart said, "Please keep pets and children out of the water. Studies have documented the fish are sensitive to bank disturbances, and wading in the stream can disrupt the run, destroy the redds and cover the eggs with silt."

Thousands of fluorescent red kokanee salmon can be seen at Strawberry Reservoir right now. More than 4,000 salmon are currently in the DWR's fish trap and egg-taking facility. Roger Wilson, project leader, said this is the third-best year at the fish trap for kokanee salmon in the 15 years salmon have been in the reservoir.

Studies indicate good kokanee numbers in Strawberry and natural reproduction seems to be establishing itself. These fish were introduced in 1991 after Strawberry's chemical treatment to remove Utah chubs and suckers. Although the treatment did not eliminate all unwanted fish, kokanee play an important role by competing with chubs for zoo plankton, their major food source.

Kokanee are easy to view in the clear stream water, and this opportunity to enjoy nature's fireworks is becoming another growing autumn tradition for many.