Chum on a fly!

10-15-2003, 11:50 PM

Talk about fun! These fish are great fighters will readily take a fly.
There is a definate closure date on these fish on the north coast sometime in November but not sure exactly when it is.
Back in the old days when you could keep these fish(why would you want to?) the banks of the Miami and Kilchis was lined with fishermen fishing for these pre-smoked chums.

Bubzilla · 10-16-2003, 12:30 AM

Stew,

The catch-and-release season has ended November 15 for many years (don't think they've changed it?). Most of the reason for the closure is to prevent snagging--as the fish tend to be stacked on their redds pretty thick by then.

They are truly an awesome fish. Very aggressive and will hammer a fly. The hardest fighting salmon--pound for pound--in my opinion. In fact, I've seen more broken fly rods resulting from chum than any other fish. Watched a seven weight Sage literally explode on one about ten or eleven years ago on the Kilches. The guy's buddy warned him the rod was too small. Should have seen his face! :blush: I know, it's not funny. :depressed: Sounded like a rife shot. I think the guy had to clean out his waders--if you know what I mean. Okay, it was a little funny.

Believe it or not, they're not all equally ugly either. I've got into them on the Miami--many years ago--real close to T-Bay, and caught them chrome bright. When I hooked the first one, a hen about eight or nine pounds, I thought it was a coho. But when I got it in, you could see the very faint purple markings beginning to develop. A few casts later I hooked a big, chrome buck--probably about fifteen pounds--that just tore me up. What a blast! Probably the hardest fighting fish I've ever hooked--anywere. I've heard guys refer to them as "holographic" chum when they're that bright.

Catching them is simple too. They like chartreuse and hot pink flies. Nothing fancy. Just about any sink-tip system will do, and the down-and-across presentation most use for steelhead works great. The trick is to fish for salmon that are below you--not in front of you. Cast down at a forty-five degree angle or so, depending on water depth and current speed, swing the fly in, controlling presentation speed with mends, and hang on! Just remember that if you're fishing directly in front of you, you're generally going to be lining fish--a.k.a. "flossing"--even if you're getting them "in the mouth."

The biggest problem here in Oregon is that our runs--limited to the Miami and Kilches--are pretty severly depressed. They are a shadow of their former selves, and I'm not sure even a limited catch-and-release season can be completely justified anymore. Also, a lot of guys, unfortunately a lot of fly guys too, focus on the fish on their redds (mostly on the Kilches), or in VERY shallow water. As a result, there's a lot of snagging. Which, given how aggressive chum can be, isn't necessary at all, and only serves to give anlgers a bad name among other river users who observe the activity. As a result, I haven't fished for chum in Oregon for a few years.

But you're right, what a fish! :grin: I for one got nothin' but love for the lowly "dog salmon."

Slow and Low · 10-16-2003, 06:04 AM

Budzilla is right. Fun as it is they should close both rivers to all. Fisherman of all types target fish on the reds and snagging occours. I don't know about you guys but I thought it was standard procedure to break off fish that are foul hooked. Never see anyone else do it anymore. Back to Chum, they fight hard before they are caught ten times. You will foul hook fish on either river. Make sure you aren't jerking your rod. Slowly lift your rod to determine if you have the fish in the chops. I see guys kick the fish onto the bank as well. If you aren't man enough to tail your fish stay off the river. Makes me sick to see somebody kick a fish that isn't going to be kept. That's just me.

10-16-2003, 09:51 AM

Yes Bub you're right! The only two chums I ever kept were twenty years ago on the Miami and were mint bright! Just out of salt.
I know the place you are talking about where they spawn and it's a darn shame that people will not leave these fish alone.
Years ago I saw a renowned northwest flyfisherman, who will remain nameless, with his camera crew and entourage pulling chums off of their redds.

garyk · 10-16-2003, 10:25 AM

For timing, the Sunday before Thanksgiving used to be the peak time. However, little known was that pods of bright fish would move into the rivers well into December. In fact, my best fishing ever for bright Kilches chums was about Dec.8th one year.

I think we guit fishing for them back around 1993 or so when the Tillamook runs really crashed.

I've believe the last couple years have seen increased numbers - anyone heard of any return estimates. The last two years have been very good for Lower Columbia chum too, turning up in good numbers in many places.

While I don't miss hearing that 'rifle shot' sound of my SAGE 7100 breaking (twice) - I sure would like to fish for those bad dogs again.

I guess WA. is the place to go, but I'm not tuned into or familiar with their chum rivers and fisheries.

Ramstrong · 10-16-2003, 01:23 PM

Yep Washington is where it's at. But if you want to drive a bit further. BC is just plain silly.

I don't think I agree with the flossing statement though. If you've got the right color and right presentation. Chums go out of their way to hammer your offering. I don't know how easy it is to floss with a bobber and jig. But I know of some spots in BC where you're lucky if your bobber travels 15-20 feet before taking a dive. You can do just about as well on a fly rod too.

It's been a couple of years since I've tried for chums on the Kilches. But the brightest Chums I ever hooked came from my one trip there. My 15# gear was no match for them. I was quite the happy camper. Oh, and they love kwikfish too.

Bubzilla · 10-16-2003, 02:04 PM

Ramstrong,

"Flossing" is a refrence to the act of swinging a wet fly into a fish's mouth by sliding the leader thru and/or over their open mouth and face--a MAJOR problem when fly fishing to salmon directly in front and in shallow, fairly quick water, e.g., redds. I've never heard the term applied to bobber fishing--or indicator techniques with a fly rod either for that matter--and we were only talking about fly fishing.

foxer · 10-16-2003, 03:07 PM

I was fishing onthe Kilchis last year after the closure (for chinook) and there were Chum everywhere. Many spawning(that was neat to watch)and many still hanging around. Lots of spawned out fish in the water as well. One even took my pink jig, and it was really dark and ugly.

Streetwalker · 10-16-2003, 05:19 PM

Fished the Kilches in late Nov For Chinook a few times over the years. Each time the chums just hammered the Kwickfish all day, they love that chartruese butt

Steelie28 · 10-16-2003, 11:46 PM

You can also hook them topside with pink pollywogs. I got into a couple in Alaska and it was a blast. 15 lb dogfish hitting the surface for a big pollywog, now that's a good time!

Steelie28

ESL · 11-13-2003, 01:03 PM

Have any of you been fishing the Chum in the last week or so? Was thinking of going down tomorrow (Friday) or Saturday.

Thanks

Bubzilla · 11-13-2003, 10:20 PM

Haven't been, but everything I've heard indicates it's not worth the trip, e.g., not enough water, not many fish, lots of snagging.

[ 11-13-2003, 11:20 PM: Message edited by: Bubzilla ]

Riverkeeper · 11-14-2003, 06:03 PM

In between not getting any bites on our flies today, we watched several individuals pulling soreback chums off their redds by the tail in 8 inches of water. It's done. Go steelhead fishing.

lilnorthfork · 11-16-2003, 04:59 PM

This was my first year flyfishing for Chum and I'm here to tell you, it was a HOOT! No question they attack the fly. With Riverkeeper as my witness, one snatched my fly and proceeded into a double cartwheel. :shocked: What a rush.

Was out on the Miami Friday and the fish were getting old so we packed it in for the year. Sad to see a guy with a belly-hooked fish in a foot of water. :whazzup: Guess it takes all kinds. lnf

Steelheader69 · 11-16-2003, 11:47 PM

Maybe done for you guys, but still coming in hot and fresh here. :grin: Yes, some dark one's, but fresh one's coming in hot and heavy (we have fresh chums come in up into mid/late december here). Caught some mint fresh chrome chums on the fly a couple days ago. Not flossed, they came up out of their lies and hit my fly as it barely went wet at the surface. So, fishing is good. And NO, I don't fish hoodsport. :grin: