To help biologists better understand the migratory behavior of spring run Chinook salmon, Feather River anglers should report any salmon caught with a tag on the dorsal fin. Personnel from the California Department of Fish and Game and Department of Water Resources recently tagged and released back into the river more than 10,000 spring run Chinook salmon adults in an effort to learn more about this species.

Spring run Chinook salmon differ from their more populous fall run Chinook relatives by starting their spawning migration in the spring. After arriving, spring run hold over in deep, cold pools until the fall, when they reproduce around the same time as the fall run salmon. Once the fall run Chinook enter the system, it becomes difficult to distinguish them from spring run. In similar studies conducted in recent years, thousands of spring run Chinook have been tagged but only a small fraction (less than 2 percent) have been reported as caught by anglers.

A slim, colored tag was attached near the dorsal fin and will be easily recognized. Text printed on the tag includes a tag number and directions for reporting. ??If tagged fish are caught, anglers are asked to report it by calling the number printed on the tag. Please be prepared to report the tag number, date and location where the fish was caught. The fish itself does not need to be turned in. Information from tagged fish may also be reported in person or by mail to:

Feather River Hatchery?Į5 Table Mountain Blvd ?ĮOroville CA 95965.