First I want to respond to Preston's reply by saying that YES, I would go out of my way to fish for Chum if Steelie's and Coho's are in the river, and HAVE. Lately with all the C & R restrictions, if I'm gonna have a fish fight, I want Mike Tyson not Soprano of the Vienna Boys Choir. And, last year should've been a bad year for most fish. If you remember, three years ago was a MAJOR flood year. Most rivers dramatically blew out of shape AS the fish were spawning. Since most fish run a three salt cycle around here would make good sense things were a bit slow. I know my Dad's cabin on the Nooch took over 3 ft of water in it and it's base is 3 1/3 feet off the ground. An occasional flood is ok, but constant high water doesn't help the egg layers make it to the gravel beds or keep their young ones down in the gravel since it's being shifted around.

Well, onto chum. I LOVE them. My Dad and I have PURPOSELY made our week long vacations on the Olympics to fish for them. I would rather fight 10-20 chums in a day then 100 other salmon (not that it would be possible by oneself). I have caught alot of chum, and have a picture of a 24 lb chum I've caught off the Nooch in full warrior colors. They make a fun fight and will test your tackle (and yourself) to the limits.

Someone said that they're a bit "dry". I would love to see the chum he caught. Of all the chums I've kept, they've been the oilest fish I've encountered (that I've kept mind you, there probably are much oiler fish out there). If I bake or smoke them I usually have to drain/scape off the excess fat coming to the surface. YES, chums make good eating if you cook them right and take them from the river in decent shape. If the fish isn't firm, it isn't fit I always say. You get from a fish what you take from it. But, I'd never compare a chum to a sucker. Sucker's are worthless and steal bait. You get a chum, and no matter what the outcome is, you've had an experience you'll never forget. It's nice to have the pics of the 50+ lb kings, but the fight no where compares to a 15lb chum on the line.

tight lines..............

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