Northwest Fishing Reports

The Chum are starting to run through Chico Creek. I was out yesterday and walked away empty handed. I looked at the rules and can find very little on requirements for that area. I know normally for all other species of salmon it has to be a single point barbless but does that remain the same for Chum? Do the limits change? I have watched some videos and people recommend using quick fish with treble hooks on them...my set up yesterday consisted of a barbless hook with pink yarn and salmon oil and these guys would just swim right past it. What is the best setup? I have less than 5 months left in Washington and I wanted to mark the Salmon off my checklist of things to accomplish in Washington State. I was skunked at the Skok, skunked out at Pt. No Pt. and Skunked yesterday at Chico. What am I doing wrong?

it's Marine Area 10 at Chico Creek.

Single-point barbless hooks required (no trebles) in MA 10. Bait and scent OK.

Limit of 2 chums for retention.

Also per the regs:

River Mouth Closures in Areas 10 and 12 – At the mouth of Dewatto,
Dosewallips, Duckabush, Hamma Hamma and Skokomish rivers (see page
124) from July 1–October 15, and at the mouth of Gorst and Chico creeks
(see page 120) year-round, all waters within channels created by exposed
tidelands will be closed to fishing for finfish to protect returning salmon
exposed during low tides.

Thank you. What is the best method for catching these?

For starters, the Chum runs are not in great shape. 10-12 years ago there was some great Chum fishing in the Sky and Nisqually. The S rivers are all closed to Chums now. The link below shows the Chum escapement for Puget Sound rivers. Not all the rivers have escapement statistics, I'm not sure why. But if you click on rivers like the Sky and Puyallup, you'll get the idea.

https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/score/score ... ecies=Chum" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

sooo since the beating and then following link didnt answer your ? but left a guilt trip .... normally people fish an anchovy thats brined green under a float out in the tidal water you can fish the exposed creeks ... or you can do a jig under bobber tipped with shrimp . but your better bet would be hoodsport

luv2boutdoors wrote:...What is the best method for catching these?

i've had success out there with #3 vibrax spinners (in green, pink, purple, and purple bodies). also 2" chartruese/green buzzbobs with a pink hootchie works well. if neither of those work try casting & retrieving a spin glo & hootchie combo.

if you dont wanna throw lures you can use a sardine or anchovy under a float. 1/8th oz steelhead jigs tipped with shrimp works pretty good there too.

be sure to cast about 10 ft or more in front of the schools or you'll risk spooking them. hope that helps.

if you dont get a fish at chico, try minter creek by purdy. when the chum show there, a jig & float (with or without tipping with shrimp) is almost a gimme for a couple fish.