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[mbowers]

Didn't see this posted previously and found it interesting after looking up subdominant male coloration.  Sounds like you might turn a dominant male at hookup into a subdominant by the time you land him if you whoop his bars off with 20lb tippet and a 10wt.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/salmon/chum/chum_colors.html

[Dave]

Great read and thanks for sharing   Gawd, another site to check out ....

[milo]

That's an absolutely priceless read. Thanks for sharing the link.

[JPW]

That's very interesting, thanks for posting.  It makes me wonder if there is any way to quantify the negative effect of C&R on chum salmon. It's not clear if after the chum has been stressed, how long it will take to return to the colours of its unstressed state or if it ever will.  It also makes me wonder if by catching a chum with good genetics it could be stressed to the point that when released it no longer exhibits the same dominant coloration that would have previously given it a choice of the best mates.  Further to that it, I've got to conclude that the poor chum that get dragged onto the rocks and kicked back in the water at the Stave are doomed.  Even if they survive I suspect their coloration will tell the story of their ordeal and result in an inability to find a mate.

[Matt]

Interesting link.  Thanks for posting.

[Sandman]

That's very interesting, thanks for posting.  It makes me wonder if there is any way to quantify the negative effect of C&R on chum salmon. It's not clear if after the chum has been stressed, how long it will take to return to the colours of its unstressed state or if it ever will.  It also makes me wonder if by catching a chum with good genetics it could be stressed to the point that when released it no longer exhibits the same dominant coloration that would have previously given it a choice of the best mates.  Further to that it, I've got to conclude that the poor chum that get dragged onto the rocks and kicked back in the water at the Stave are doomed.  Even if they survive I suspect their coloration will tell the story of their ordeal and result in an inability to find a mate.

I would suspect that after release, the chum would maintain the subdued coloration until it returned to aggressively seek a mate, at which time the dominant coloration would return.

[JPW]

I would suspect that after release, the chum would maintain the subdued coloration until it returned to aggressively seek a mate, at which time the dominant coloration would return.

Given that the colour change is caused by a huge release of adrenaline I wonder if the fish ever fully recovers from that after being landed?  I've been googling, but I haven't found much information beyond the original article.  Either way, very interesting and I think it highlights how stressful landing a fish can be and the need for careful C&R technique.

[Sandman]

Given that the colour change is caused by a huge release of adrenaline I wonder if the fish ever fully recovers from that after being landed?  I've been googling, but I haven't found much information beyond the original article.  Either way, very interesting and I think it highlights how stressful landing a fish can be and the need for careful C&R technique.

That is curious, as I would have suspected that the competition with other males during spawning would have involved a release of adrenaline, albeit not as large as during a life/death struggle against a fisherman (or seal).  Yet the aggressiveness and corresponding stress of competition results in a completely different colour change.  All very fascinating. I must get out and do some field testing.