How deep for chums?

[HoochieMama]

What's the normal depth when trolling for chums?

 

[salmonkiller01]

In campbell we fish 45-90 feet, slow slow slow, then slow down some more. Double up on the riggers. O then slow down a little more.

 

[HoochieMama]

Thanks killer. I'm up on Malcolm, and will give it a shot tomorrow. Dusting off the chrome and red dodgers for this...

 

[Lipripper]

74.33 feet.... Only up around Malcolm though............A little to the west of that I'd run 67.42 feet

 

[cohochinook]

I have been wanting to try for some of the Chums coming back to Howe Sound, but never given it a shot. What kind of set up should you be running?

 

[Sharphooks]

3 oz. of lead and a cut-plug herring. Flat lined behind your boat = about 5 to 10 feet under the surface. If that doesn't get them, I'd go for Lipripper's formula of 67.42 feet off a DR.

FWIW---I once tried to second-guess him by dropping to 68 feet but after too many water-hauls, I had a quick snack of humble pie and warmed-over crow, backed off by .58 feet, then promptly got back into chumster money... that's what this forum is all about-- fishing info honed on precision and exactitude....

 

[Olde School]

If they really won't bite, pull your line out of the release and strip a bunch of line out, no hits after 20 pulls? Try again. Really.
Would I lie to you?
;-)

 

[seadna]

A lot of guys down here fish for them with fire cracker size herring or anchovy (e.g. small baits) under a bobber in the shallow water near the terminal areas. They look for schools cruising in the shallows of the salt water near a creek or river entrance and just cast the bobber in front of the school and let it drift.

 

[Cuba Libre]

Hey-- Seasdna, where is "down here" ???? Hood Canal??? I love the idea of bobber fishing for them..do you know if there are any uTube vids of this?

 

[Cuba Libre]

Thanks for the info Seasdna--- found it!!!! http://www.pugetsoundanglers.org/fishing/hood_canal_chums.htm I am going to give it a try this fall-- sounds like fun!

 

[cammer]

sounds like an expensive(25 herring) way to catch prisoner clad salmon, no thanks

 

[c.askin]

chum fishing

hey lippripper my old down riggers dont have a setting for fractions.. what can i do??????????????????????

 

[Lipripper]

Drop it to the foot then measure from the pulley with a ruler. Not exact but it works

 

[seadna]

Drop it to the foot then measure from the pulley with a ruler. Not exact but it works

Probably should also multiply by the square root of pi to account for blow back.

 

[Lipripper]

Now we are just getting complicated..

 

[Peahead]

I have been wanting to try for some of the Chums coming back to Howe Sound, but never given it a shot. What kind of set up should you be running?

At times I have had quite good chum fishing off west van and as well out at North Arm/QA trolling with flasher and herring strip or chovy. They are often not biting too actively but a slow troll with the right presentation you can get them to bite . I have found depths similar to sockeye 30-80 ft generally. Off west van they are often mid column however they can also be on bottom in shallow water- a few years ago I hit a big school of biters right in the mud dragging bottom in 60 feet near Lawson. It was pretty fast action hitting about 8 before action slowed. They were chrome bright chums as well. All on flasher /chovy slow trolled. They are amazing fighters. I have had some success also with Sockeye hootchies slowly trolled - Purple hootchies are also a good choice and I have a particular one that does reasonably well ....i do however prefer bait because I like to fish bait for other species and am rarely targeting chum specifically.

 

[c.askin]

chum salmon

Probably should also multiply by the square root of pi to account for blow back.

That does it for me ....just too complicated Im giving up fishing all together

 

[fishspoon]

had chum taken on a hootchie at 50 ft near Secretary Island years ago.

 

[Islandgirl]

Browns Bay area most people use squirt hootchies Pink/black or Pink/blue or all pink
It is really important to run 4 lines and stack gear. They are like sockeye and like all the flash.
I have found top rod at about 30 feet and the rest of the gear stacked below works very well. Once you find the depth they are at then you can adjust accordingly.

Leader length does vary especially according to your trolling speed. What works on one boat may not work for you and sometimes you need to experiment.
I have used leaders from about 40 inches up to 55 inches and it varies by the year. ALL have caught fish.

Good Luck : )

 

[Lipripper]

had chum taken on a hootchie at 50 ft near Secretary Island years ago.

50 feet hey? I am out next weekend fishing Secretary.. I am going to catch me a chum.

Fishspoon... I apologize for being the sarcastic arse that I am.....