Its a Cherry, or Masu salmon. Someone already said it, but I'll throw my two cents at it as well.

Its an escaped farmed Salmon.

It's not a chinark.

It's not a chumpy.

It's not a cochum or chumho.

Wouldn't have any idea if it was a honook.

Spotting and coloration in upriver fish is always a relatively poor way to ID fish, especially in any internet based photo.

I could tell you in a second if I got to see the anal fin.

It does have a white gum line, so I'll go with a big old ugly yo yo.

Russian Masu Cherry Salmon

Definitely a chinook

They do, and terribly so...but not anywhere where there are boot fall kings like that around.

Fish on...

Todd

Ugly Chinook

To all who said cherry or masu.... I posted these two years ago.



Cherry salmon have the overall physique of a chunky coho, esp the signature bulbous hook-nose but minus the stark white lip liner. Large calcified chum-like canines protruding from both the upper and lower kype. Also calico bars like a chum, but red-orange/brown-black in color scheme instead of the familiar maroon-purple/olive-green. Lots of black spots like a chinook, but generally finer. Opening pic certainly looks the part... except perhaps that it's missing the round bulbous nose.

BUT....

Hankster hit it with his Feather River comment.

That's where the boot king was caught.

I believe the diagnostic feature in the opening pic is the mouth. Chinook are classically taught to have black lips/gums.... except when they wash out with maturation in the river. The key is to look exactly where the teeth emerge. Those tiny islands of black from which the teeth emerge are 100% chinook.

Gawl dam, there are little black rings around those cutters. The retarted smart phone can't zoom when the touchscreen gets wet... Very interesting how salmon color up. Different rivers certainly produce their own unique monsters.

Not to mention... where exactly would a neoprene-in-hot-weather wearin', caucasian bead flosser come across a cherry salmon 'round these parts... 'specially one of that size?

It'll smoke up just fine for some of you.

Chinarly

Good one Doc.

Damnit! Todd was right...it is CA.

Hankster...how in the he!! you pegged that as the Feather River with just some weeds in the background is beyond me. I bow to you...