Spring Chinook, summer steelhead, and bull trout spawn in the waters of the Methow basin and are protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Spring Chinook and steelhead trout are anadromous. Anadromous fishes are those that are born in freshwater, spend all or part of their adult lives at sea, then return to freshwater streams and rivers to spawn and often die. Their carcasses provide nutrients for insects, vegetation, animals and young salmon. These fish migrate down the Columbia to the Pacific and back up to the Methow River Basin–a 1200 mile round trip.
SPRING CHINOOK
Chinook salmon live up to eight years: one year in fresh water and two to six years at sea. In August and September, salmon can be seen using their bodies to dig redds. Males will often aggressively defend their spawning areas from other males.
STEELHEAD TROUT
Steelhead can live up to nine years. They spend one to three years in freshwater before entering to the ocean. Some steelhead repeat their ocean journey more than once.
BULL TROUT
Bull trout can grow to be very large, up to 36 inches, and live up to twelve years. They migrate from larger rivers upstream to small streams to spawn in the fall. They prefer cold, unpolluted water and clean gravel. Large adult bull trout feed mainly on smaller fish.
Guide to Adult Spawning & Migration Times in the Methow
For fish species thriving in the Methow River system, timing is everything. Below are some average spawn and migration dates ranges for each protected species.
SPRING CHINOOK |
STEELHEAD TROUT |
BULL TROUT |
|
| Spawning | Late July- Early Oct. |
Late Feb. – Early June | Sept. – Early Nov. |
Migration |
Early May – Late Aug. |
Early Jan. – Early June | May – Late July |
