A small flasher is often added to help attract fish. Their body color at sea is blue-gray with silver sides. Small irregular shaped black spots cover their back, dorsal fin and are usually on both lobes of the tail. Spawning adults lose their silvery bright coloration and take on a maroon to olive-brown color. Adults return to their natal streams in July and August.
Chinook are simply magnificent fish.
They are very powerful and hard fighting fish. I've seen many snap 60 pound test leaders of anglers not paying them proper respect or attention. They are my personal favorite. The flesh is generally red, but there are some with white meat, a local favorite. Chinook meat has the highest fat content of all the salmon, therefore it is the richest.