Females Take the Lead

In the river at Katmai National Park, it’s the female salmon that take the lead for those lucky fish who make it to the breeding grounds.

When the female salmon arrive the spawning process begins. It is the female that initiates spawning by digging a shallow nest for her eggs in the gravel. She does this by turning slightly on one side and fanning her tail. The depression in the gravel … will be the nest for the salmon eggs.

After the redd (nest) is ready the female signals that she is ready to lay her eggs by touching her anal fin to the gravel. (marinebio)