What Kind of Fish is This?

What species of fish is this?

I'm going to go with coho salmon.

My vote is female Coho

My vote is female Coho

That's what I was thinking, but it's kind of gray and there are a few spots on the lower tail.  This fish was pretty far up a tributary of the Columbia, more likely to catch steelhead or king salmon in this spot.
Not complaining though. I caught it on a lightweight spinning rod with 12lb. test line. If I hooked this fish in a lake or the ocean, it would have spooled me. Just as I dragged it on to the rocks, the hook broke. Quite the fun battle.

Coho.  White gums and forked tail.  Spots not consistent through the entire tail.

Coho.  White gums and forked tail.  Spots not consistent through the entire tail.

Ummm ... I can't see the lower gums.  Can you?

First glance, nookie.  Because of the coloration and the large spots.  But, the lack of spots on the lower lobe concerns me.  Really need to see the base of the teeth of the jaw ...

-Allen

First glance, nookie.  Because of the coloration and the large spots.  But, the lack of spots on the lower lobe concerns me.  Really need to see the base of the teeth of the jaw ...

If I recall correctly, the lips were kind of dark but the teeth and mouth were white. I thought it was a chinook when I first looked at it because it was so dark and had a few spots on the lower tail. By the time these salmon swim 10-15 miles off the Columbia, they can turn all kinds of colors, so it's hard to say. I wish I would have taken a couple more photos, but I wanted to get it back in the water as quickly as possible. It's legal to keep native salmon on this river, but I feel it's better fishing karma to throw them back, especially if it looks like a female.
Turns out I was luckier than I thought. I respooled my reel that I caught the fish with. turns out it was 8 lb. test, not 12 lb. Think I'll go a little heavier tomorrow...

Looks to be a Hatchery Coho to me.

My guess spring Chinook.

Narrow caudal peduncal<sic>
Large spots on back
Spots visible on the lowre lobe of the tail
Smooth tail rays


-Spot-

Looks to be a Hatchery Coho to me.

Can't see in the photo, but no clipped fin, it's a native. First thing you look for. If it was a hatchery salmon, I would have kept it, native salmon this far upstream; good karma to let it swim on.

My guess spring Chinook.

Then the fish has not checked the calendar lately. Right now there are chinook, coho and steelhead jumping all over the place. Water levels around here have been really low, the recent rain has got them moving big time. Water is kind of cloudy, normally that's not a great situation, but not stopping the fish from biting.
Here's another photo

There is no way thats a coho, how could you look at those big spots and call it a coho? not even close..   Chinook (most likely a Springer) all the way.  They are just chilling in the upper tribs waiting to spawn, should happen shortly. 

Chinook or coho, it's a salmon for sure. I'm headed back tomorrow, the big ones are biting.
Fishing sure does give you something to talk about nearly every time you go out. Did you hear the one about the one armed fisherman? He caught one this big.

White sturgeon. Looks oversized too.


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Crap - comdeian RR beat me to the punch... I was gonna go with a Koi.

Definitely a Jack Spring no doubt about that