Hey, folks, I'm looking for ideas. With 1.5 million chums headed back to Puget Sound, it seems like a good idea to try to whack on some when they're in the salt and still bright.

Has anyone had any success on chums as they're migrating? I'm trying to avoid the whole Hoodsport/Canal scene when the fish are stacked up and starting to look pretty ragged.

I have read the STS article from a year or two ago about a guy who catches chum using slip bobbers and whole herring. I've heard of a guy who catches chum in the northern Sound using very smallplug -cut herring.

But that is it-- all the other info I've come across talk about terminal fisheries, and that's not exactly what I'm after. I do know a couple of spots where bright chums can be found in the salt, but I don't know if they hold there for any length of time or just move through quickly. I'd like to find out how to catch the buggers when they're in those areas.

Other than that, I'd be interested in hearing about rivers where the chums enter in good shape.

Thanks,

Keith

I have had best success with a 20 to 24 inch leader trolling a single 5/0 blute hook ( bare or with a little hoochie purple and blue in color). It does not seem tomatter what color hotspot you pull it behind as long as it is trolled real slow (~1.5 knots). Look for jumpers and set your gear on top of them.

I was out with Mike (editor for WashingtonLakes.com website) two weeks ago and we caught a couple of nice native chums. 14 and 16 lbs. We were using Green hotspot ( large) and magnum green hoochie with herring strip. We were targeting coho out of Shilshole and caught these at around 50 ft. depth. We limited our boat - 8 fish. We were surprised to see the chum but was told they were coming in now. I don't know when they start to come into Hood Canal in any numbers though. That is the best run from what I have been told.

I've heard alot of people say you can't catch chums in the salt. I tell them they're crazy. We used to live at Pt-No-Pt,and we caught chums all through the late summer and fall. All we ever use is standard mooching gear and a cut-plug herring. At No-Pt they run pretty shallow along the point in 25-50 ft of water.

Don't waste your time though...chums won't bite a herring in the saltwater

Caught and released two Chum in area nine this weekend at sixty feet with a medium sized cut plug. Area nine is closed to retention of Chum.

I think you must fish the top water to get them. We were fishing last Sat and the guy next to us go one at 10 feet

bobber and herring along the shoreline, usually get about 10 or so everyyear using this around where hbp said. between eglon and point no point on that eel grass flat is a great spot to drift with a bobber and herring. here in port orchard can also catch them also but not as consistant. make sure you keep that rod in a holder. I dont think I've ever seen a salmon pulling so much line off and jump so much while its still in the holder than these fish. good luck Ben