Back in the 60’s, early 70’s we used to start fishing the Chilliwack for it’s indigenous chinooks as soon as the freshet was over, usually mid June. Even then these fish were not plentiful but because so few anglers targeted them we were always able to hook a few each year. Landing these fish was another story however as they were extremely powerful and they liked to hold in water just above rapids, ie. Tamihi, Boulder Hole.
The largest I landed was only about 16 pounds but I saw many fish lost that were in the mid 20’s and one monster in the Boulder Hole that was a good 35. Interestingly, these fish we caught in June and July and even into August were never silver bright like the 2 pictured … they were a dull pewter colour. Remember, back then most of the die hard local Chilliwack anglers stopped fishing in March, mainly because they were loggers and went back to work. As there was so little angling pressure during March and April it is possible these Chinooks did come in to the Chilliwack much earlier. Along with these chinooks there was a fabulous run of char – we called them Dolly Varden and maybe they were as they were silver bright and red fleshed … and tremendous table fare. Largest of these I saw was about 8 pounds with the average about 3-4 lbs.
Now, this indigenous Chinook stock is almost gone but a few do remain. The Chilliwack hatchery people make an effort to capture these few fish for broodstock, and have spawned a few over the years but finding and capturing them is difficult and not cost effective. They tend to spawn about a month later than the transplanted summer reds now in the system, meaning their progeny emerge later ( when water temperatures are warmer and food is more plentiful) than those of the transplants. That extra month is probably the reason the transplants will never become self sustaining.
It’s a shame the DFO - SEP officials at the time didn’t do their homework on this issue and enhance the stock that was specifically adapted to the Chilliwack River, rather than a hodge podge of up country stocks.