Chum flies

[C-lice]

I've flyfished for chums in the Miami / Kilchis for the past several years. I've had varying luck with patterns I've tied. I mainly stick to fairly simple flies in chartreuse, pink, orange, or purple (or purple/black).

I am interested strictly in fishing for FRESH chums, not spawners.

Are there any particular patterns that anyone would recommend? Also, any input re: technique would be welcome.

[Mojo]

I have 2 patterns that work really well for me in B.C. One is a heavily weighted bunny leech. Wrap the shank with the biggest lead you can find, then put big lead hour-glass eyes on it. cherise or chartreuse work well.

The other is a pattern I made up. It is basically Marabou tail, silver braid body (over lead wraps) and a zonker strip tied in at the head (so it flap when you strip the fly in). then a wrap of ahckle around the head, and either a con head or hourglass eyes. Same colors cherise, hot pink, and chartreuse

Woolly Buggers also work well, are easy to tie, and come in whatever color you want to tie them up in...

I fish pretty swift water up there. If the water is slower where you usually fish, use less weight.

[Grantspastor]

In Alaska I had good success with many patterns, including most Steelhead paterns. I generally tied them in in larger sizes however, like 2 or 4

[drbfish]

my best fly is basically a chartereuse woolly bugger with chartereuse rubber legs. I have also had fun with orange flies.

It seems to me fresh fish will take just about anything.

[Slow and Low]

C-
I have fished both for a long time and here's the deal. They bite anything as long as it's on the bottom. If you want to avoid spawners stay in the deaper runs. Teqnique varies on the run but success rates go up if you use some big lead.

More important than what you fish is when. Be prepared to travel to the Miami and fish the NFork instead for Silvers. If the water is low on the Miami and you don't see a lot of fish drive on.

Slow and Low graemlins/program.gif

[C-lice]

Slow,

I've never fished the north fork. Truth is I don't even know which north fork you're talking about. But if there are silvers to be caught as an alternative to stale chums I'm interested. Tell me more..????

[Ramstrong]

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the north fork nehalem. I've only fished the Kilches for chums once. Most people were targeting the spawning fish in the shallower 3-5' water. I found a pod of fresh "hologram" chums in some deeper 8' or so water. They're called hologram chums because they look chrome until you move them to the right angle to see the bars. I warn you though, I was fishing a heavy casting rod and the fish were taking me for 70-100 yd rides.

As far as patterns go, I'd suggest tying up some marabou streamers in purple/cherise. Something like a showgirl. In the last 3 years up in canada, I've found that when the water is clear. Chums are suckers for cherise/purple. At times I've been able to catch chums on almost every cast with those colors.

If you really want to catch chums, head north. The runs are much more healthy up there and the extra drive is definately worth it.

[Mojo]

SHHHH! Ryan don't tell. There are already too many people fishing at "that bridge"... :grin: .


(Just kidding everyone. I'm not too zipperlipped about fishing spots that are 12 hours from home.)

[C-lice]

Thanks to all. I look forward to trying some of these ideas around Veterans' Day weekend.

[Bubzilla]

I used to fish both the Miami and Kilches a lot for chums, but the snagging that goes on has become a real issue for me. I wish more fly anglers would realize that if they're fishing in two feet of water to fish that are directly in front of them, not downsteam in the least, they are more than likely snagging--even if the fly is in the fish's face. Also, and I don't mean to cast accusations at anyone in particular, but using heavily weighted flies increases snagging as well. After all, there's a reason treble hooks wrapped in lead are great snagger's tools, right?

What I've found to be both a great way to avoid snagging and to really increase fair hook-ups is using tube flies. Tie them with lots of flash, and in fluorescent colors--chartreuse and hot pinks work well for chum. By using a smaller octopus style hook--1 or 2 Owners are great--with the tube, I've almost eliminated foul hooking completely. Part of this, I think, is because of how the hook rides in a tube--bend lifted up and point directly in line with tube, as opposed to down below like a traditional fly.

At any rate, have a good time. They are truly an awesome fish on a fly rod. Just respect what is a dwindling resource.

[Mojo]

Bubzilla,
Good points. I learned in B.C. that you don't set the hook on a fish till he's fighting you. You can tell the difference between a line bump and a strike. I think if a fishery is that depleted, no one should target those fish. Chums are my favorite salmon, and I only fish them in places like British Columbia, in rivers that have literally millions of fish returning.

As for weighting my flies, the places I fish in B.C. have very strong currents, and are quite deep. If you aren't weighting the fly, you won't get to the fish.

I like fishing off gravel bars, and casting almost straight down river. When a fish strikes you know it. It is viscious. I cast down and across, let the fly swing, and then slowly strip it in. Works well for me, and the foul hook rate is minimal...

[GutshotApe]

I've caught just one chum salmon...it was while fishing for searun cutts in a lower Columbia tributary, in tidewater, on a #6 Spruce fly, 3 lb. test leader, no added weights. That 10 pounder took nearly an hour to land on my light flyrod...