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This photo shows CDFG staff releasing steelhead (left) and adult Chinook salmon back into the Klamath River estuary after they were captured in a seine net. Photo courtesy of Mike Wallace, CDFG, Arcata, CA. Press F1 for help in use of Picture tools.


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Brown trout are not native to the Klamath River but have been planted in mountain lakes, the upper Klamath and in the Trinity River below Lewiston. They are not common in estuary samples and no anadromous life history of this species in the Klamath-Trinity has been documented. Photo courtesy of Mike Wallace, CDFG, Arcata, CA.


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The juvenile Chinook salmon pictured above was captured in the Klamath River estuary as part of California Department of Fish and Game studies. The fish is just under 50 mm, far below optimum size for survival in the ocean. Fish that reach the estuary at a small size later in the summer are more likely to remain in the estuary grow larger before ocean entry. Photo courtesy of Mike Wallace, CDFG, Arcata, CA.


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This Chinook juvenile is just under 80 mm. Its bright silver color indicates smolting. The greater girth of this fish indicates better fitness than the fish in Picture #3. Photo courtesy of Mike Wallace, CDFG, Arcata, CA.


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This juvenile coho salmon measuring 20 cm is in a bright silver smolting condition. The fish has a right maxillary clip on its jaw, identifying it as of hatchery origin. Photo courtesy of Mike Wallace, CDFG, Arcata, CA.


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Wild coho salmon, also in smolting condition, measuring about 12.5 cm. Coho juveniles have larger eyes than steelhead and a more strongly forked tail. Photo courtesy of Mike Wallace, CDFG, Arcata, CA.


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This photo shows a juvenile steelhead of approximately 12.5 cm, captured as part of CDFG estuary studies. This fish is likely a yearling. See Info Links for access to estuary studies. Photo courtesy of Mike Wallace, CDFG, Arcata, CA.