Chrome -
The Quinault sockeye seem to be pretty unique. Typcially sockeye return to their home rivers in the summer, June, July, August, etc. While I'm certainly not an expert on sockeye (or any other fish for that matter) I know of no other sockeye that returns in the winter/spring period. Have to wonder what there is about the Quinault system that has selected for such unique behavior. Any idea when those fish spawn?

While it is true that generally sockeye populations are associated with rivers with large lake systems there seems to a river form (juveniles don't rear in a lake) as well. All the north Puget Sound rivers have small runs (dozens to a few hundred) of river sockeye. Some folks believe that this form is a coast wide population that is the pioneering form of sockeye. That is they are continually probing rivers look for new habitats (river with lake systems) in which new populations can become established. Another interesting aspect of the river form is their earlier spawning; typically August/September while most our lake populations spawn later. The Lake Washington fish for example spawn mostly in October, November and December.

Tight lines
Smalma