I do NOT have a clue when those fish will start showing or spawning – In fact, if I were to target Marble River summer-run and wanted to know anything concerning them or when they start showing, I would be contacting local, as in Wayne Ridley. That would be some of that “local” knowledge someone needs to find out, to effectively target them! J
Will gladly share what I do know, which is only this. Marble River has two distinct races of Chinook salmon. One is the “summer-“and the other is the “fall-run”. What does that mean – absolutely nothing!
Pacific Salmon species and each Chinook salmon stock and race is different and is a genetic entity within itself, evolving over thousands of years. In general, summer Chinook are supposed to make it back starting in June ending late July (or August), spawning October through December; however, this really means nothing concerning Marble River Chinook either.
Most individual stocks migrate at similar times each year relative to overall runs, hence the terms “spring,” “summer,” “fall.” That is NOT when they spawn. They will spawn when they are ready to spawn! Chinook that migrate March through May, June through July, and August through October have been categorized as spring-, summer-, and fall-run fish, respectively; terms given by us humans. What do those terms really mean to the fish – absolutely, nothing! It is quite apparent the fish themselves do not necessarily recognize or care of the run times designated and used by any fishery managers.
Migration timing varies annually and it believed water temperature as the primary controlling factor. At stated the fish really don’t care what we call them. When they are ready to migrate, they migrate. To degree, the middle portion of the run (i.e., summer-run Chinook salmon) is overlapped early in the migration by the spring-run and later by the fall-run. Summer- and fall-run adults intermingle and spawn at the same time. Summer Chinook spawning has been observed as late as mid-December, that is at least a month later than so-called summer-run are said to spawn. Conversely, Chinook salmon designated as fall-run according to their run timing, have spawned as early as mid-September.
Run-timing differences among salmon are, at least partially, the fish adaptations to predictable thermal and flow regimes in migration corridors and spawning streams. Many time their migration to arrive at their natal streams, just prior to optimal spawning conditions, others enter earlier. Ever heard the term, they need to “ripen”? Now, other stocks time their migrations to avoid difficult passage environments. Some will migrate well before spawning periods to avoid high water temperatures. Some time migration to avoid low flows. Then some summer Chinook salmon stocks spawn in high-elevation headwaters characterized by low water temperatures, which requires longer egg incubation and therefore they have an early spawning date. An adaptation there was observed among Fraser River sockeye stocks in 1987. Some summer Chinook salmon stocks spawn in larger and warmer low-elevation rivers, more similar to that of fall Chinook, and that is later migration and arrival at spawning grounds. Most spring–summer Chinook stocks have adapted to migrate prior to peak main-stem warming and often during peak annual discharge. Local stocks evolved in an array of habitat types, based on ecological or environmental changes. Each specific stock migration will be based on its genetics created do to these different conditions.
Apply this to Marble River Chinook and it means those fish could migrate and spawn just about any time. So, was those summer- or fall-run? That can only be answered by someone who knows those fish.
So I guess the answer is - Yes, the summer-run will start entering the system in the summer months, most of the time, but not always. Yes, the summer-run can be found approaching Quatsino Sound during the spring, during the summer and even during the winter months. Yes, one can and is subject to see summer-run in the river anytime throughout January through December. Yes, they typically will spawn between October and December, but don’t be surprised to see them spawning earlier or later. J
. You cannot keep springs East of Cliff Point after 1 Aug. 
