Salmon Spawn

Sockeye salmon are running.  Last week there were none in the Russian River.  Now they are everywhere.  The river is red with sockeye.

Those of us in the Lower 48 who do not know about salmon see pictures of the red ones and think they would be good to eat.  Apparently not.  No one eats them, though they are a dime a dozen and easy to catch.  The reason is because by the time they have come this far up the stream, they are mushy, bruised and beaten up.  Initially, we were told they are red because the trip was so hard on them.  False.  Their red is an attempt to attract a mate, much like colorful birds.  They are beautiful in the water.

The rainbow, dolly varden, and silver salmon get below the sockeye and feed on the eggs of the sockeye.  If you are adept, you can see them in the sea of red.  More often, however, the fishermen are trying to keep their balance against the red salmon that run into them.  It is a little disconcerting to have your legs hit over and over as they swim across the stream or jump in front.  

As we were leaving the river, we saw many very small minnows.  A man told us that usually the little ones in the river are of the same species of those that are currently spawning; in other words, last year's eggs are now the minnows that are headed to the sea.  Hard to imagine how many of them actually make it, but apparently, a lot do.

It is a rather sad ritual, knowing the salmon are swimming to their death, but they have been doing it for eternity.  I am just glad I had the opportunity to see it.