Salmon: Description, Species, Lifestyle, Habitat, Reproduction, and Fishing

Salmon: Description, Species, Lifestyle, Habitat, Reproduction, and Fishing. Salmon (Latin: Salmo salar ), also known as the Atlantic salmon, is one of the most prized and beautiful fish in the salmon family. It is often called the "queen of salmon" due to its tender, fatty fillet, rich in vitamins, minerals, and Omega-3 and Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. These substances help lower cholesterol, normalize metabolism, and have a positive effect on the heart and blood vessels.

Salmon are true predators, and catching one is considered a great achievement. Fishing for them requires knowledge of their habits, precise tackle selection, and the ability to read the river. Thanks to their strength, caution, and beautiful casts, salmon remain the dream of many spin- and fly-fishermen.

Appearance and structural features

The salmon's body is elongated, torpedo-shaped, and very elongated. The adipose fin is small, located close to the body, just behind the dorsal fin. The caudal fin has a small notch. The scales are medium-sized, tightly set, with approximately 120–130 scales in the lateral line.

During the marine phase of life, the coloration is bluish or greenish on the back, silvery on the sides, and light on the belly. Numerous irregular, X-shaped dark spots are scattered throughout the body, especially on the dorsal surface and gill covers. The mouth is large, with several rows of small but very sharp teeth.

Before spawning, mature males develop a characteristic hook on their lower jaw and a corresponding indentation on their upper jaw. Juveniles have a darker coloration with 8–12 large spots on their sides.

During the pre-spawning period, the body takes on a bronze sheen, the spots become reddish, and the coloring darkens. After spawning, the fish loses significant weight and its silvery sheen.

Types of salmon

Based on biochemical and genetic characteristics, two main types are distinguished, between which there is virtually no crossbreeding:

• European type
• American type

Within each type there are two main forms:

• Anadromous - lives in the sea, enters rivers only to spawn
• Lake - spends its entire life in freshwater lakes and rivers, migrating only to spawning grounds

Dimensions and weight

The maximum recorded length of salmon is 150 cm. The maximum weight is 43–50 kg (there are individual record-breaking specimens weighing up to 50 kg, but such sizes are extremely rare in fresh water).

During their marine life, where food is abundant, salmon grow very rapidly—up to 20–25 cm per year. In lakes, their size is usually more modest—from 3–5 kg to 9 kg, depending on the specific body of water and feeding conditions.

On the Putorana Plateau, anadromous and lacustrine-river salmonids (including related species and subspecies) reach good sizes thanks to the cold, oxygen-rich water and abundant food supply ( grayling, whitefish, char, and juveniles of other salmonids). Although classic Atlantic salmon are not found here in large numbers, the rivers and lakes of the Putorana Plateau provide ideal conditions for the growth of large predatory salmonids.

Salmon spawning

Spawning occurs from September to December (the timing depends heavily on the region and weather conditions).

According to the time of entry into the rivers, three groups are distinguished:

• Yarovaya - enters in June-July, spawns in the same year (the reproductive products fully mature in the sea)
• Winter fish - enter the river a year before spawning and mature in the river in winter
• Zaledka - enters before the ice forms, winters at the mouth, and can be either a spring or winter form

Females dig nests in pebbly soil with powerful blows of their tails—the nests can reach depths of up to 3 meters. They lay eggs in batches (up to 20,000 eggs per female), and males fertilize them immediately. After each batch, the female covers the nest with soil and prepares a new one.

Repeat spawning is extremely rare—single cases of up to five spawnings in a lifetime (at age 8) have been recorded. Most individuals die after spawning due to exhaustion, injury, and lack of food during migration and spawning.

There are two types of nests:

• Short-term cover - temperature up to +3 °C, fry hatch early, but develop slowly
• Stable cover - temperature around 0°C, development proceeds in the opposite direction

Habitats

The salmon's range extends from the North Atlantic Ocean to the western Arctic. In Europe, it ranges from England and Ireland to Spain and Portugal. In America, it ranges from the Connecticut River to the coast of Greenland.

In Russia, the main commercial aggregations are along the coasts of the Murmansk Region and in the White and Barents Seas. Lake forms are found in Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega. Abroad, lake populations are found in Sweden, Finland, and Norway.

Lifestyle

Salmon is a typical migratory species: juveniles spend 1–5 years in the river, then migrate to the sea, where they live until sexual maturity (3–7 years). In the sea, they inhabit depths of up to 120 meters, actively hunting crustaceans and small fish.

Adult salmon return to their natal rivers to spawn, traveling up to 50 km per day against the current. They feed almost entirely in fresh water, surviving on their stored fat.

There are dwarf river forms - they remain in the river their entire lives, growing very slowly (up to 20 cm in several years) due to the poor food supply and low temperatures.

Lake forms live in large lakes, gain weight there, and then move up to tributaries to spawn.

Methods of catching salmon

The most popular and effective methods:

• A spinning rod is a powerful, two-handed carbon rod at least 2.5 meters long, with an inertial reel, line up to 0.6 mm, and #8–10 hooks. Start with a small lure and cast upstream. If there are no bites, switch to larger lures and cast downstream. The retrieve is short jerks with pauses. The hookset is instant.
• Fly fishing (nymphing)– rod length is selected based on the conditions (long for difficult spots, short for control). Flies are selected according to the season (up to 6 cm in spring). The reel is inertial. Casting the fly, drifting with the current, short retrieves.

Nutritional value and calorie content

100 grams of salmon fillet contains approximately 50% of the daily protein requirement—easily digestible and complete. It is rich in minerals: zinc, magnesium, sodium, fluorine, potassium, sulfur, and phosphorus. Vitamins: A, B, C, H, PP, and D. Fats—primarily polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6.

Caloric value: approximately 155 kcal per 100 g. Recommended in moderation for obesity. Contraindicated in large quantities for hypertension and urinary tract diseases. Positive effects on metabolism, cardiovascular, and nervous systems.

Conclusion

Salmon is more than just a fish; it's a true symbol of northern rivers and seas. Its migrations, strength, and beauty make catching it a true adventure. In Russia, the main populations remain in the north, and in remote and pristine waters, such as the Putorana Plateau, related salmon species (including anadromous and lake forms) reach excellent sizes thanks to ideal conditions: icy water, high oxygen levels, and an abundance of natural food. It is here that nature preserves pristine populations of predatory salmon, reminiscent of the salmon's former might in pristine ecosystems.