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 Chumlove
by Steve Konen
Inside Angler
For SEATTLE INSIDER
I swore as I barked my shin on a rock, slipped on an ice covered stick and almost fell in the floodwater swollen Stillaguamish river. My knuckles were getting rapped by the handle of a screaming fly reel and my 8 weight fly rod was making an ominous whining sound I had never heard before. All this took place while I was attempting to put the brakes on a runaway dog.
That would be "dog" salmon, otherwise known as the mighty Chum. This rather comical scene took place last year on the banks of the North Fork of the 'Stilly' and is repeated by anglers all over the Northwest every November.
Chum Salmon
Oncorhynchus Keta
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In the piscatorial pecking order of Pacific salmon, I suppose none ranks lower then the lowly Chum. With it's rust and olive coloring after entering their natal streams and rivers, and their huge fangs and kyped jaws, the mighty Chum can be a bit of a 'paper bagger' if you catch one that's a bit ripe.
After all, Chum salmon's nickname is 'Dog' salmon, supposedly because that's what the native tribes in the northwest used to feed their dogs. Or is it because of their huge fangs that will about tear your fingers off if you're not careful. I can never remember. But fly-fishermen know better, and some like myself, look forward to the rains and foul weather of November as prime time, Chum time.
No salmon takes a fly more readily then the Chum. They'll take a fly in the saltwater and in the rivers. They can be finicky, but when they turn on they will hit your fly with abandon and do some serious damage to your fly tackle and your knuckles if you're not prepared. And their size is pretty formidable for the fly rod with the fish averaging 10 to 15 pounds with many fish around 20.
The dog salmon begin entering Puget Sound and Hood Canal rivers and streams in late October and early November. The run usually peaks around late November, but some rivers, such as the Skagit boast a healthy December run. Seattle anglers can take a short drive to any gravel bar on the Skykomish, Wallace, or Stillaguamish rivers in November and you will likely encounter some holding or moving Chums.
The best rods to use are stout 8wts to 10wts with big reels and a minimum of a 150 yards of backing. For some reason, Chums prefer bright Chartreuse flies, but sometimes hot pink, white or red flies can be equally effective. Be prepared, I've seen days where they only took purple or red flys as well. In general, Chums in saltwater prefer smallish, sparsely tied patterns, and in the rivers they will take bigger flies tied spey style or with marabou.
What better way to spend a nasty, spitting, dark November day then wrestling a Chum salmon on the banks of a Puget Sound river? Okay, there's a few, but we need to keep it clean here.
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