Coho salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch

Although native to the west coast, coho have been extensively introduced to the Great Lakes and elsewhere. In the Pacific, this salmon is a brilliant silver colour, with small black spots on its back. When breeding, males develop a bright red stripe on their sides. The Great Lakes populations are more muted in colour. In the 1870s, thousands of fry were released into Lake Erie, but successful introduction did not take place until the 1960s. These stocks are largely maintained by stocking, although some natural reproduction has taken place.