The first Chinnok of the season was spotted in Issaquah Creek on Monday.

The Executive Director of Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH) Gestin Suttle told The Reporter on Monday that one Chinook, a 25-pound hen, was seen, escorted by five large trout.

“Last year we saw our first chinook of the season on August 4, which is about a month earlier than usual,” she said. “Today’s sighting is more on target with when we typically see our first chinook of the season. With the prediction of cooler temps and some rain, we expect to see more Chinook soon.”

Suttle said that the Muckleshoot Tribe, which conducts the Ballard Locks fish counts, was anticipating an average chinook return this year.

“So far 3,062 chinook have been counted coming through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard,” she said. “Most of those fish are bound for Issaquah.”

For more on FISH, go to www.issaquahfish.org/