adult salmon spawning.

[wistraindriver]

it is my understanding that a adult salmon is likely to spawn at age 4. In 2007 no salmon fry
were released in the east twin river (wisconsin). In 2008 20,000 fry were released.

here is my question.....what age will the fry released in 2008 be considered to be in the fall of 2011.

[REG]

That is a good question, insomuch as it's very basic but not typically explained. There is alot of terms (and gray area). The chinook salmon smolts (not fry) from 2008 were from eggs laid in the fall of 2007. Soooo....when does the clock start ticking on age? My guess will be on the safe side; adults from the 2008 smolt stocking running this fall would be 3 lake-year fish, or 3 year olds.

Large mature chinook are generally referred to as 4 year olds, but the truth of the matter is virtually all the mature chinook caught are 2 or 3 year old fish, sometimes regardless of size.