Yep. That's the way to smoke salmon. Depending on where you live, salmon is mostly "previously-frozen". Even though it appears that it is not frozen at Costco where I live (too far from the coasts), it is not "fresh" salmon from Costco, it is "thawed", though it looks "fresh" in the fish case. I'd be surprised if you were able to get fresh salmon at your Costco in ND Laura. Colorado too. Land-locked, and too far from the source of Costco salmon.