Scott Creek chum

When I lived against this creek in Coquitlam, I walked the trail weekly. There were fish symbols advising visitors to protect the salmon plastered along the trail. I used to peer into the clear stream and not see anything. I wasn’t aware back then that the salmon only arrived in fall.

Spawning chum heading upstream, Scott Creek

When autumn came, I counted 550 spawning salmon along a kilometre stretch of the creek that year, swishing their tails or resting at the side of the bank.

Snowberry shrub along Scott Creek

Now I’m waiting for this coming November for the First Nation salmon festival that takes place along Hoy Creek.

This male chum salmon swished over the shallow section (top photo), then, because the female with him was scared, went back to encourage her over.