Life History Patterns

[Last updated February 12, 2009.]

Where are the salmon?

There is much variation in life history patterns within a species and run of anadromous fish. Each stream system has fish populations with their own unique timing and patterns of spawning, growth, and migration. However, the table below provides a good summary of the most common timing for the fish listed. Chinook, coho, chum, pink, and sockeye salmon die soon after spawning. Steelhead and cutthroat trout, unlike the species we call “salmon” on the west coast of North America, may not die after spawning. They can migrate back out to sea and return in later years to spawn again.
A circular depiction of the salmon lifecycle starting with an image of salmon eggs with an arrow flowing towards an image of a fry. This is followed by 3 parr of different ages, with age 1 precocious parr and age 2 mini-jack parr are heading straight to the ocean, versus the parr continues the regular path of smolting. The regular aged parr is followed by a juvenile fish that has finished smolting and is heading to the ocean. Then the circle completes by showing jacks and 3-different adult age groups (3-years, 4-years, and 5years old) returning to spawn.
Image: NOAA Fisheries


Generalized Life History Patterns of Salmon, Steelhead, and Trout in the Pacific Northwest

Species Spawning Location Eggs in gravel Young in Stream Fresh-water rearing
Young Migrate Downstream Time in Estuary Time in Ocean Adults Return to Streams from Ocean Adult Weight in lbs. (Avg)
Coho salmon coastal streams, shallow tributaries October to May 1+ years tributaries, main stem side channels, and slack water
March to July
(of 2nd year)		 a few days to one month 2 years October to January 5-20
(8)
Chum salmon coastal rivers and streams, lower reaches September to March days to weeks little time spent in freshwater
shortly after young leave gravel 7-14 days 2.5-3 years September to January 8-12
(10)
Chinook salmon
(spring run)		 large and small rivers July to January 1+ year mainstem of large and small rivers
March to July (of 2nd year) days to months 2-5 years January to July 10-20
(15)
Chinook salmon
(summer run)		 large and small rivers September to November 1+ year large and small rivers
spring
(of 2nd year)		 days to months 2-5 years June to mid-August 10-30
(14)
Chinook salmon
(fall run)		 large and small rivers September to March 3-7 months large and small rivers
April to June
(of 2nd year)		 days to months 2-5 years August to March 15-40
Coastal cutthroat trout (sea-run) tiny tributaries of coastal streams December to July 1-3 years (2 avg) tributaries
March to June
(of 2nd to 4th year)		 less than a month 0.5-1 year July to December 0.5-4
(1)
Pink salmon mainstem of streams, tributaries, and lower reaches August to January days to weeks little time spent in freshwater
December to May few days 1.5 years July to October 3-10
(4)
Sockeye salmon streams, usually near lakes August to April 1-3 years lakes
April to June
(of 2nd to 4th year)		 few days 1-4 years July to August 3-8
(6)
Steelhead
(winter run)		 tributaries and small streams and rivers February to July 1-3 years tributaries
March to June
(of 2nd to 5th year)		 less than a month 1-4 years November to June 5-28
(8)
Steelhead
(spring run)		 tributaries and small streams and rivers December to May 1-2 years tributaries
Spring & summer
(of 3rd to 4th year)		 less than a month 1-4 years February to June 5-20
Steelhead
(summer run)		 tributaries and small streams and rivers February to June
February to July		 1-2 years
1-3 years		 tributaries
March to June
(of 3rd to 5th year)
March to June
(of 2nd to 5th year)		 less than a month 1-4 years June to October
(Columbia)
April to November
(coastal)		 5-30
(8)
Table content is adapted by Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission from the following sources:
  • Pearcy, William G. 1992. Ocean Ecology of North Pacific Salmonids. University of Washington Press, Seattle, WA. 179 p.
  • Bell, Milo. 1986. Fisheries Handbook of Engineering Requirements and Biological Criteria. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland, OR. 290 p.
  • Yates, Steve. 1988. Adopting A Stream; A Northwest Handbook. Adopt-A Stream Foundation, distributed by University of Washington Press. 11 p.

Additional resources:

  • Willson, Mary F. 1997. Variation in salmonid life histories: patterns and perspectives.
    Res. Pap. PNW-RP-498. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest
    Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 50 p (view here) 
  • Bottom, D. L, 2008. Salmon life histories, habitat, and food webs in the Columbia River Estuary: an overview of research results, 2002-2006. Fish Ecology and Conservation Biology Divisions – Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington. (view here) 
  • Western Fisheries Research Center-USGS. Life History of Pacific Northwest Fishes through Age and Growth Structures webpage (view here)