RESEARCH SUMMARY 



Fish populations in 23 tributaries of the South Fork Salmon River 

 were sampled in 1971, 1972, and 1974. Juvenile chinook salmon were 

 found in one secondary and 11 primary tributaries. The first 400 m 

 reach of stream adjacent to the river was the most important area for 

 rearing and supported 58 percent of the total tributary chinook salmon 

 population. Only three tributaries had chinook salmon more than 

 1.6 km from the river. The tributary chinook salmon standing crop 

 ranged from 0.01 to 0.38/m^ and averaged 0.06/m2 for all streams. 



Chinook salmon were rearing with rainbow trout and sculpin over 

 most of their tributary range and occasionally with brook trout, Dolly 

 Varden, mountain whitefish, mountain suckers, and dace. Cutthroat 

 trout and chinook salmon were not found together. Chinook salmon 

 preferred the larger, lower gradient, grassy-banked streams having 

 deep pools. Chinook salmon were found in the fluvial and depositional 

 landtype associations but mainly in the alluvial and alluvial fan landtype 



