If anyone is still interested, the Chum fishing in the green is still pretty good. Jumping in just below the park and walking halfway through, my buddy and I saw fish everywhere. A few ghost fish but most were rotless. River was a tad high and emerald clear green. Our biggest was a rotfree 15lb horse with a mouth full of daggers that just would not come in. Run after run. Green jig on a float and wigglewarts did the trick. Lots of fun if your still thinking of going out. Metzler was packed, strawberry patch was packed and most of Flaming Geyser was packed with people. Anywhere below the bridge hole to the first take out was pretty wide open. We actually couldn't see anyone around us at one time. So if your bored...

I second that motion! There are a ton of fish every where. Nothing like catching 10-15 lb. salmon at will. Take your kids, if you got'em, for a good time.

I was there saturday, and the only action I saw around the bridge hole (the one next to the model airplane field / parking lot) was a snaggfest. Espesially in and below the tailout where the salmon are spawning on their redds. Out of about 10 fish I saw landed, not one of them was fair hooked. Only fun I had was seeing the guy next to me fishing the deep pool break his pole on his 3rd consecutive (intentional) snag. Then watching him try to pull the line/fish in by hand!! At least most of them were letting the snagged fish go.
If you go - don't harass the fish on the redds!!

What time were you guys fishing? I was there at sun up and did not get a hit for a few hours. Do these fish bite better later in the day normally? I was there early in the week and legally caught fish after fish around noon.

Ya, you can't help but snag about 75% of the fish you catch. That is just because there are so many of them. There are as many fish as there are rocks on the river bed. The trick is getting the Chums to take it in the mouth. I have found the lime green corky/yarn combo and the clown colored corky/yarn combo work paricularly well. Also, presentation (slow drift)is everything when it comes to getting the fish to take a swipe at a corky and yarn.

75%?? Sounds a bit high (unless you don't really care wether you snag one or not - and from reading some of your posts in the past - I can tell that you try to be an ethical sportsman). Personally, once I snag my second fish in a spot, I change tactics or switch spots. I'd rather catch 1 mouth hooked fish than 10 snagged fish any day. Using a float really cuts down on the snags - and yet an aggressive chum will nail it hard. Makes it more of a sport than a slaughter.

[ 12-09-2001: Message edited by: Fishnbuddee ]

I am not saying that I enjoy snagging because I don't! It is a real hassle trying to reel in a fish that does not know it is hooked. Especially when the fish gets turned sideways in the water and you have to fight the fish and the current.

When there are a bunch of fish schooled up in one area and the water is only two or three feet deep you can't help but SNAG. When I fished for Chums in Hood Canal, from the shore or from my boat, I snagged more fish than I hooked in the mouth. The odds are against you when there are a large concentration of fish.

Yesterday morning at Flaming Geyser, my first two fish were hooked squarely in the mouth. Part of the challenge and where skill comes into play is trying to present the lure (corky and yarn) so you get more fish in the mouth. The Chums or any other fish will take a swipe at your lure if it is presented properly.

You should consider using a float and jig type approach. When fish are stacked, you spend more time fighting fish that actually wanted to strike (no flossing or snagging) and less time wrestling and harassing non biters that are snagged in the stomach (tail or whatever).

When I was fishing for pinks and silvers stacked in the sky, and chums stacked in both hood canal and flaming geyser - and only snagged 1 out of 10 fish (and never when I was using a float - which was most of the time).

In fact, if you use a pink and white marabou jig (other combos work too) you have a great chance at catching any of pinks, silvers, chum, trout, and steelhead - especially if you tip it with some prawn meat.

The nice thing about floats is that your line and hook are always (95% or so) above the fish - so incidental snagging is nearly eliminated - without losing your effectiveness at catching fish.

Thanks for the tip. I will have to try your tip this weekend. I bought a bunch of jigs for Hood Canal but never used them. I have a bunch of bobbers too.

I went up there this mornin and fished below the park for an hour and had one taker in the mouth in the tailout i fished saturday. Then i moved up to the old bridge hole in the park and 10 cast and 60 minutes later i left after snagging 4. It was almost impossible not to snag them. And almost impossible to get them in so i let them do their thing. I saw fish with hooks in there backs with green yarn still attached, sad. I'm not shootin ya down Carl, thanks for the info by the way(my first fish of the day), but i think deeper water away from the beds would spell less snagups. Cuz that other tail out just below the park entrance was full of fish and we dragged corkies through it for an hour and didn't snag one. But the fish seemed to be picky and after numerous setup changes john finally hooked up on a green jig, right in the gums. And i'd guess the fish that aren't on the flats aren't spawning quite yet but i'm just guessing. Not many people in the park or the strwbry patches but lots at Metzler. Rivers down another 8 inches or so. Could there BE any more garbage on the banks??? Pathetic.

FFF, you and I will have to "hook" up this weekend and I will show the "way" of the Chum. My technique works on the river and at Hood Canal. I have proof! Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. :p

Usually I only read the steelhead/salmon board unless I see information the green on this board.I know there are tons of chum through out the upper green. I have caught my share of chums but there is not much satisifcation in catching this fish (there was at first). There are so many spots above Flaming Geyser that have chums stacked in secluded holes.I fish mostly for steelhead if I can't catch them,then go after chums as a last resort. The steelhead are out there 90% of the fish I catch are without the hordes around. I have had 8 fish on in the last week landing 7 and taking home 3 hatchery fish while releasing the natives. Was shut out last time but fortate that a chum hit my spoon so I wasn't total skunked.

Tons of Garbage on the bank?? Hmmm, sounds like time to form another cleanup group...
Much as I enjoyed catching all the chum at Hoodsport this year, the attraction of winter steelheading has me in it's grip. And it's futile to resist... but I do thank Carl for posting this info as I will store it in my memory banks for possible future use.

Hey Carl, you trying to make it out there this weekend? I was planning on heading out on Saturday afternoon or something. Maybe Sunday. Hell, maybe everyday if the fishing is that good!!

Your post makes me thing of Zen Leacher. I think you might be better known as Chum Zen or ZenDog.

Mike - haven't been out for a couple of weeks but looking for some action near Christmas or New Years. Any ideas on some good prospects for Steelhead?

I will be @ Flaming Geyser Saturday morning and Sunday morning. It is just to good to pass up right now.

If anybody wants to stop by and learn how to catch Chums in the mouth, I will be more than happy to show you. :p

See you Sunday then I guess Carl.
How will I recognize ya`?

Are ya going to the Nisqually this saturday with us Carl? Or ya hittin the green? I fished Kanaskat and hooked 2 chromies but lost both. Man it was cold up there. River looked great though.

rainycity - Carl will be the tall one catching lots of fish.....if he is not catching in 20 minutes check for a pulse!

Can't get up there in the morning so will have to work it out later.

FFF, I am going to have to pass on the Nisqually this Saturday, gotta work @ 3 pm. I don't want you guys to have to worry about getting me back to shore. If you go on Sunday, I am free for the whole day. Otherwise, I will be hanging out at Flaming Geyser.

Raincity, a brief description of myself - I will be wearing a bright blue jacket with a blue knit hat. I am 6'2" and around 230lbs. Pretty hard to miss! Look for my vehicle too. I drive a dark blue Chevy P/U with a sticker on the back window that says "GOT FISH?".

I may have to check out the green again on Thurs morning before work. Anyone else going to be around then? Apparently, I was fishing to low in the river to find any chums - and I didn't find any steelhead either. Next time I'll head up further into the park...

Here is a challenge for you chum fishers:
See who can have the best fair to foul hook ratio. If a guy hooks 20 fish in an hour, but only 10 were fair hooked, that's nothing to write home about. If another guy hooks 8 fish in the same timeframe and only 1 was snagged, that is pretty impressive.

Maybe next year we can set up a little friendly competition (not that I want fishing to be comptetive - but it seems to suit chum fishing). Ground rules would be: 3 snags and your out. No fishing over Redds. Winner is the one with the highest fair hook per hour average. We could do hood canal or the green.
This is not intended to be a 'pi$$ing competition', rather an opportunity to show others that you don't have to snag fish to be successful. Thoughts?? Winner gets ___? Losers have to pack out 1 bag of trash each??

I'd be interested in seeing the result of that little contest. But EVERYONE should pack out garbage no matter what. Biggest snagger takes it all home.

A little competition is a great idea. I think the beach just south of Potlatch SP is the perfect place. The Chums hang around the beach but they are not sitting still and spawning like they are in a river. Will have to wait till next year though. The Green would also work except for we would be fishing for them in the redds where they are just sitting there. Not good for competition.

Carl,
I may have to work Sunday, I should know by tomorrow or Friday at the latest. If not, I will see you up by Flaming Geyser, I`ll be leaving around 6:30 a.m. and I should be there by around 7:30 or so. I`ll be driving my old blue Subaru Wagon.

Carl - I'm not sure what you are stating when you say

You don't have to fish the reds to cacth river chums. Or any other salmon/trout/steelhead for that matter. I don't want to beat a dead horse, but I know for a fact that you can find more aggressive biting, strong, and fresh fish moving through slots, holding in deep pools, ect. We should not encourage fishing over redds. Or am I just smoking something here? Are chums such a 'garbage' fish that it is OK to snag them and harass them on the redds? When fish are stacked up, is it OK to snag 75% of the time just for a chance at one biting? There are other effective ways to do it. If i'm way out of line here, please let me know. I'm not trying to be argumentative or a jerk - but I really don't get it.

Thanks,
Chad

ChadK, you've got it! I am just saying that from my experience fishing for Chums on the Green I have only seen Chums in the redds.
I am drawing a comparison to fishing for Chums on Hood Canal.

MikeC. Have you been back to that lake that we cleaned up last April. Little Lake Cav. Since I can't seem to get out anymore. I was wondering how dirty it has gotten. Jim S.

Mike, If the weather craps out on us for Saturday i'm pretty sure we are going to chose the green over the nisqually and the way it looks, alot of people from here are going to go saturday also. So how bouts organizing your clean up idea. The lower end of FG park could really use it and by the looks of it, with all the cars i see at Metzler, it is probably just as trashed.

Rainycity, I will see ya there!

FFF, maybe I will see you there too!

[ 12-12-2001: Message edited by: Carl Costenbader ]

Jim,
I haven't been back to Lake Cav since the clean up. I would hope it will take a few years to get that dirty again.
FFF,
I was speaking in the abstract about organizing a clean up. I have my heart set on heading back down to the Cowlitz or over to the Sky Saturday for some steelheading. I think it's a great idea and would encourage you and the others going to bring along trash bags and spend an hour cleaning. I'll bet if you bring extra bags you could convince people there to help out. It's the kind of spontaneous activity that you can talk people into. I do want to organize a cleanup in the Spring again. I think it would make for a great yearly tradition.

Carl,
No work on Sunday, so I`ll see you up there...

Rainycity, I am all stocked up on corky and yarn for this weekend. Looks like the mother nature is going to be on her period too.
Nor rain, nor sleet, nor snow will keep me from my appointed rounds!

Hey Mike, that's cool. Wish i was going to the Cowlitz. I went up on the Green again today and i guess someone couldn't stand all the garbage cuz most of it was gone. Still lots and lots of stray line and birdnests tangled all over the place. Talk about rain sheesh. Non stop downpour the whole time. Tossed it out for steelhead for an hour or so, no takers. Hooked 1 chum and a white fish, oh boy. Still tons of chum everywhere. Have fun Cow tippin.

Just stopped by Flaming Geyser after work to check out the water conditions. WOW! was the water high, fast moving, and muddy. Caught four fish though. Fish the slow moving water or back eddys at your feet. The chums are hanging out close to shore. Hope the water drops and clears a little by tomorrow otherwise access will be really limited.

Fished FG this morning. Water was still high and muddy. The water dropped a lot since yesterday but access was still very limited. Found a stream farther back in the park where the Chums were packed in hiding from the fast water.
I hope the river gets back into shape soon!

Hey Carl, John had to work at the last minute so we didn't go. The river looked way high so maybe it wasn't that bad getting a christmas tree instead of fishing. But atleast ya found em. Anyone up there today from PP? I got those pics of johns brute up on the website if you wanna check them out. Awesome clear pics but they make it look around 9lbs not 15. Salmon page 6 then click the pics to enlarge them. Nisqually is lookin slow still.

FF, I did not see any one from PP. I think tomorrow is suppose to be the big gathering day.

Those of you planning on heading to Flaming Geyser tomorrow, don't waste your time! Access is very limited and the water is very fast and muddy.

I was thinking of heading to Kanaskat-Palmer myself to check things out there. I don't think they will be any better than FG.

Mother Nature is really on the RAG.

Fished at Kanaskat-Palmer first. I only saw three guys fishing there. I fished for a while with jig and bobber with no luck. Went up to Headworks. No public access beyond the damn now, I guess because of Sept.11th. Then I cruised down to Flaming Geyser and fished the bridge hole. Hooked into a couple of chums there and the water was a lot lower than the day before but still very muddy.
All in all a not-so-good day of fishing.

Can anybody give me directions to the bridge hole at flaming geyser? I live in Battle Ground. I don't get a chance to fish much, being 15, so when I do go I want to know I'll have a good time. What should I use to catch'em on? I was talking to my dad and he said that when he was a kid he would take a three way swivel and tie a two foot leader on one end, his line on the other, and on the third end he would have a two foot leader with some sort of a spinner at the end. I guess he fished this off of a bridge, so he didn't have to worry about it getting tangled in a cast. If anybody would like to know of any good fishing places in their area, I have sources, and might be able to help.
Thanks

FB5, for you the best way to get to Flaming Geyser is I-5 North, take exit 142 (Hwy 18) going EAST bound towards Auburn, take the Auburn-Black Diamond exit off of Hwy 18. Follow the signs to the park. The park is eight miles from Hwy 18 on Green Valley Road. Be lookin' for the park entrance on the right side of the road or you will drive right by the entrance! When you enter the park you pass over a bridge that is over the Green. Look to your left and you will see the parking area and probably see fisherman wading in the river.
It will be a long drive for ya but if the weather cooperates fishing for Chums will be worth while all the way to the end of the season for salmon Dec 31st.

P.S. If you are serious about hitting the Green I would be more than happy to show you around!

FB5,

P.S.S. I use a bullet sinker (3/8 oz) on top of a swivel with a with a lime green corky/yarn or a clown colored (pink,green,yellow,white,orange,and pink) corky/yarn. I don't use pencil lead like every one else because the bullet sinkers don't SNAG like pencil lead do. Try it! It really works!

Hey Carl, if you wondering about the headworks, yes it is closed for security reasons but also closed for good because they are putting in a fish management center by the dam and at the gate they are putting in a salmon hatchery(chated with the guy in the gate house). Which i totally disagree with. All the salmon up there are wild. Now they are going to have hatchery fish spawning in the same area as the wild fish. Dumb idea. Like there aren't enough salmon in the green already. And for what i saw up there last year i'd say the wild run is pretty strong.They said the new facilities will be up in 2 years. Kiss those sweet holes goodbye!!!

Carl, do you use a bullet sinker just in that area or other rivers too?? i havent seen anyone use that technique before but it makes sense. i use them in lakes bouncing worms along the bottom for bass and almost never hang up using them but i didnt think about bringing them to the river with me, everyone uses slinky or pencil lead out there.

KSR, I have started to use bullet sinkers fishing for chums and silvers at Hood Canal and all over the Green River. I saw a guy using them on the Green down by Boeing Field when the silvers were runnin. He did not snag half as much as guys using pencil lead and he was catching fish too.
Try'em out sometime, I am sure they will be effective on any river.

CC, I can't get up there. My parents won't drive me and I can't get up there any other way. Thanks for the offer though, I sure would like to go fishing with someone that I could learn from.
Thanks

Carl,
I headed up there early Sunday morning but the river was BLOWN, I ended up going home and picking up the wife and kids and heading up to Snoqualmie falls for the day, maybe we can get together over Christmas and fish though. I`m off from Dec. 21st till Jan 2nd. Let me know.

RC, sounds good to me! I am taking a couple of extra days off myself. Hopefully, mother nature will cooperate a little and the river will fall back into shape for Steelies and Chums.
I will be off the 22nd through the 26th and then again the 29th through the 2nd.

Carl,
Let`s try and set up a day to get together and fish..
The 24th and 25th of course would be tough days to fish, except for early in the A.M. on the 24th is a possibility. Any of the other days, no problem..

RC, how about this weekend? Looks like the weather is going to be nice the next couple of days. The Green should drop back into fishable condition by the weekend. Saturday? or Sunday? I will be there both days.

Carl,
Let me know where you`ll be and I`ll meet you up there.
I normally fish around Kanaskat-Palmer area but Flaming Geyser or anywhere else will work also..

Uh - check out the river levels... Should be pretty dang good tomorrow...

I think I will start at Flaming Geyser. How about between 8 and 830 AM on Saturday?

Carl,
Sounds good, I`ll be at Flaming Geyser between 8:00 and 8:30 Saturday..

Went and checked out Flaming Geyser after work. The water was a lot lower and was emerald green in color...PERFECT!
Fishing should be excellent this weekend.

I might see you boy's there...
Got to be home early to get the digtal cable hook up....Sunday 5:00AM off to Dalla,Tx......

How will I know you OMC? Look for my truck, dark blue Chevy with a rear window sticker that says "GOT FISH?"

Hey Carl, any news as to what is happening on the Green????? How about the steelies?

TJ, I fished the Green last Sat, Sun, Mon, and Tuesday. Didn't see very many fish caught. Saw a few fish being carried out at Kanasket-Palmer. Saw a few at Soos Creek launch too. All in all a pretty slow four days.
Might be hitting the Cowlitz this weekend with a buddy.

Sounds good, I might try hitting the Sky. Depends on how much rain we get. I am going to try jig fishing for them. Have you caught any steelies on jigs???

I hear jig and bobber fishing for steelies is a good way to go. I have tried this technique with no luck so far. Guess you have to find the fish first. Try red, purple, and orange for colors.

Carl, Me and John hit Kanaskat tossin eggs and jigs for about an hour got a few takes but no hookups. A guy walked up on the other side and threw right where i had been driftin. And third cast he hooked into and landed an 8-10 pounder on a jig. Pissed me off, dam him. We moved down to the upper strawberry patch hole and hooked up right away. First cast a chum slammed my jig 2 seconds after it hit the water and about 20 minutes later i hooked into a smaller steelhead but it got off in the fast water. Hooked up with 5-7 more chums, they were very agressive. In the mouth everytime but once. Surprisingly there were alot of them around. Saw a few nice ones mixed in with the ghost fish. Very nice hole for driftin if you ask me. I see why so many people fish it. I fish for chum, i catch steelhead, i fish for steelhead and i catch chum, when will it end?

Wow! FFF that is surprising to me. I thought all of the chums were wiped out with the flooding two weeks ago. I might have to try the strawberry patch hole sometime this weekend (got another four day'er coming up). :p

Where's the strawberry patch hole? I fish the river quite a bit, but don't know the names of all the holes... please email me if you don't want this spread on the web (:

Yeah Carl,it was really surprising to me too. I thought they were ALL gone but i was wrong. That first fish gave me a heart attack it hit so fast and pumped the rod like a psychofish, very unlike the strong consistant rod pumps from chums. Thought for sure i had a steelhead.

The chum were stacked up fairly loosely but lots of them. Some real big ones were tailing at the top of the hole. The steelhead i hooked realy caught me off guard. I tossed out but it caught the current and came off the shore pretty fast out to about 10 feet in 6-8 feet of water and instantly the bobber took off and the fight was on. Strange thing was i was rigged for chum and only had a 1 foot leader. So much for them being on bottom. I think that other guys idea about using a float to keep the jig above the fish was a godsend for preventing snagfish. And i think having the jig above the fish is a little more tempting than below or even with them. Don't most fish strike from below anyhow? Just guessing but it worked awesome. But I'd hate to hook a fat cromie there. The current is right along your side of the shore so every fish has to be pulled through that fast water. Makes every fish a nailbiter. But so what. I'll be back there tomorrow. Free shots of adrenaline....sign here! PS. John read a biologists report on Chum and it said Chum only survive 6-10 days in fresh water, so if you do the math i'd say that was and still is one hell of a run.

Fishnbudee your email don't work. Go up past the dixie mansion and look for an aluminum gate next to a huge tree,on the edge of a corn field. you'll see it. Follow the road to the trees and jump on the trail. This is private property so treat it as such. We don't want the owners to get pissed off and close it up because of garbage. So pack out a little extra if you can. GL

FFF - thanks! Not sure why my email was not working...

I've seen cars lined up at a few spots along there, but I have not stopped because I did not want to cross private property (posted on signs). But it sounds like they don't mind responsible fisherman passing through. I'll have to check it out one of these times out.

Thanks again,
Chad

I guess lightning does strike twice. I fished the strwbry patches again and drifted jigs and eggs for steelhead for 45 minutes or so with no luck so i rigged for chum with a bobber jig and a 1 foot leader. Third cast the bobber exploded from the surface and down and my heart exploded a millisecond later. I Set the hook and landed a beautiful 9-11lb summer hen native. Is this normal? 99% of my steelhead have been off bottom in pretty deep water, but a foot from surface? come on. Maybe i have to break out the long rod and whip some flies out there cuz there's definately alot of fish in the green right now. I also hooked a 20+lb Chum on the same rig a few casts later but he took me way down stream and then the hook bent and he was history. Great day though and the river looked great.

C'mon FFF, a 20+ lb Chum???? They don't make them that BIG. I have caught a lot of chums this year and the biggest I have seen is 14lbs.

Question: Is the Palmer hatchery on the same side of the river as Kanaskat/Palmer state park? I've fished the park before, but I don't know where the hatchery is. Upstream? Downstream? Is it accessible via the park?

Thanks for any help.

Fine don't believe me LOL. I swear it was an easy 20. I saw johns 15 and this was much bigger. I had no chance landing him unless he came to me. The dorsal fin was an easy 5 inches tall. It was a fatty, right in the choppers too. Like i said earlier, i'd hate to hook a big fish in that hole because of the fast water infront of your feet. I'm pretty sure me and John will be there tomorrow if not then Kanaskat if ya wanna join us or meet us there. Call me if you wanna meet up. And H.....the hatchery is on the north side or oposite the park side and you can access either side easily. I think the upper holes of Kanaskat will be on fire about now.

FFF, I (we) are going to be heading to Zoo (Blue) Creek tomorrow. It is my buddy Barry's b-day. Barry, his friend Craig (his boat), and I will be floating the river. Mauri will be there too but with his dad and brother in his dad's boat. Ya know Mauri's dad has property just above Zoo Creek. Man, that would be tough to have property on the Cowlitz right above Zoo Creek.
Maybe we can "hook" up later in the weekend. I will be off Sun, Mon, and Tues.

Carl the State record for Chums is 27.97 lbs. caught in 1997.


state records

and that record has been there for 4 years...it probably will last longer too, a fish that big is very rare indeed

Eddie L, I am not questioning the state record. Wasn't the chum you are talking about caught in a coastal river not in the Green?? I thought so. Big difference between the fish in coastal rivers and inland rivers. I just don't think FFF hooked into a 20+lb Chum. Don't you think it would be pretty rare? I would have to see some pix to believe it.

[ 12-30-2001: Message edited by: Carl Costenbader ]

I've CnR A few Chum bucks in the Snoquamie close into the 20's,big mean(fangs)lookin dudes.
How's the Green doin on Steelhead right now?

What's with the non believers? I'd question how i caught my last to steelhead more than if i hooked into a 20b chum. I did't think anything of it. I thought there were numerous 20lb chum in the green the way everyone talks about how huge they are, so it didn't surprise me but if they are rare then i would have loved to have landed it. Braging im not, i just thought i'd mention it along with the steelhead i caught. So quit attacking me carl...LOL just kidding. I'll just have to show you how it's done. I'm looking forward to hearing how many cromies you guys got.

As for the green, and what i have seen and caught this week, i'd say the green is hot right now.

OK FFF, I understand what you mean.

Question about gear size....When I was on the Cowlitz yesterday seemed as though everyone was using really small hooks with really small corkies and it was producing fish. Is that the same for the Green? What size do you use? I may be missing the boat as far as tackle goes with stuff that is to big!?

Last year we caught a couple 20+ lb chummies and had several others break us off. They are not really that rare - most people just don't land them because they are freight trains. I have a pic of my buddy with his hog that I'll try to post if I can find it.
As for the state record - well, chum and pinks are usually C&R'd by a lot of anglers. I'd be willing to bet the record as been beat several times, but folks don't think twice about it, other maybe a quick photo and some sore arms...
As far at the Green, I've seen several carcasses of fish over 15lbs and some that had to be over 20.
So FFF - keep the dream alive!! (:

PP, did you catch those chums on the Green? I caught a 15lb chrome bright chum day after Thanksgiving last year on the Green and I do have witnesses. I am not saying it is impossible just pretty rare for a fish of that size for that species. And considering most of the chum populus was wiped out by flooding two weeks ago in the area that FFF fished I think the bulk of the chum run is over in the Green. I could be wrong.

On a side note, I did see a few chums in the Green today at Flaming Geyser, really surprised me.

I should have noted that the fish I was talking about catching were not from the Green, but from the Stilly - on flies! We had several double headers and even a triple header - and not one fish snagged the whole day. But you are right, chum over 20lbs are about as common as a steelie over 20lbs i'd say.

Carl,I've fished both the big and small maribous and the crystal bead jigs in big and small and by far i believe the smaller jigs work best. And the way this year is starting out id say jigs are first on my list. I've always thought eggs were the best but i'm not so sure now. I always toss eggs first but now it seems the fish that are active take the jig right away if they see it. With the eggs it seems like 20-40 minutes pass before i get something or change. But i've had alot of few first cast fish on eggs too so i guess it all depends where you are and when. This is my simple setup. Macks slip bob on 8lb, swivel, 1-8ft 6-12lb clear leader depending on depth and clarity, #5 pinch weight 1 foot away from your jig. What jig? I like the Jigalous in solid orange, or orange/anycolor with a little shrimp oil. Work it by twitching it every few feet. BUT my last steelhead bent the hook and as i was picking her up it fell out and she kicked away and i got no picture. So i think i am going to tie up some of my own or look for a stiffer shanked jig. I tie a mean sandshrimp jig if ya wanna buy one LOL. The jigalous are a little too soft but work very well. John's jigs aren't too bad either. They have a stiffer shank and barbell head. John landed that 15 on one in a swift current so there pretty strong.

So are you saying that you didn't catch any at the Cowlitz? If so, it could be something as simple as leader size, and may not be corkie size. The guy at Shof's Tackle in kent says he often has to drop his leader weight as low as 4lb to get them to take a look at it in the Stilli because the water gets so clear. But you never know. I guess you just have to "be the ball".....na na na na na na...

The green puts out a lot of large fish I have caught plenty of chums in the 20lb range on the green. I beleive that most people are not really interested in chums.Unless it is chrome I don't want a picture of it. Here is something to make you think I caught a 20lb chrome silver in downtown kent last month. Largest steelhead on the green was 16lbs.

FFF, thanks for the info. I have definetely been going to BIG with the tackle. I think I need to down size a little.
Fished the Kalama this morning, once again no luck. Saw a couple of fish caught by drift boaters.
A little excitement on Kalama River Rd too, there was a high speed chase about nine this morning. Pretty weird seeing State Patrol and Lewis County Sheriff chasing a mid 80's Corolla in a peaceful river setting. I thought the guy was just heading up to Pritchard's for more sand shrimp.

Any one fish today? How did you do? I took the day off from fishing.

well carl I took the day off to. But I will be in the park at 8 am and fish on the bank by 8:30..........heeheeheeheeheehee

Paul, saw your post on the "other" fishing forum about hooking up sometime and sharing tactics on the Greeen.
Unfortunately, you will have to share tactics with me because I do not have any to share with you. This is my first winter steelheading. I feel like I am in kindergarten. Man, I need some cookies and milk and a nap.

Reading your last post cracked me up carl. I was in the same boat 2 years ago. Don't you almost feel uncomfortable or out of place sometimes when there are alot of people fishing around you? I did at first. Not sure really what to use or if i just looked like a bozo with my trusty roostertail. But those feelings are long gone and the way this year is starting i think you will have your cherry popped pretty soon.

I ventured up high today and walked down to the hole and to my surprise there was no one in site, except for the guy that walked down with me but he went down river. I rigged up eggs and a float and a long ass leader and third cast whammo. 3 feet out from me, thought it was a snag at first. A nice plump summer hatchery fish about 8lbs was the result. Another guy showed up a few minutes after the first fish. And before he got his line in the water,BAM my bobber was gone again. A nice fight and a big splash and then i grabbed her tail. Nice super bright summer nate i estimate around 10-11lbs. I had one other on but didn't land her. Hell of a day if you ask me. I'm heading up there tomorrow again if you wanna go Carl. I'll help ya pop that cherry if you'd like LOL Give me a call if your not workin.

I feel like a pimply faced kid just starting puberty and noticing all of the cute girls (steelhead).
I won't be able to join you until Saturday or Sunday.
Call me, you will want to hear about the worst fishing trip I have ever had fishing the Cowlitz this last Saturday.

Carl, will be on the Green on Sunday, looking at getting some Whitefish on my fly rod. Think I'll bring my float rod as well and see if maybe I can hook into a steelie......

Bobbersdown, I may see you out there. Where are you going to be?
Depending on the weather, I may fish for cutthroat on Lake WA. Gotta take the boat out a couple times this winter to run the motor.

Probably up by Soos creek. I will have my cell with me if you want to give me a ring. I would be glad to help you get some work out for your boat on Washington for Cutts if you would like! Maybe won't snow this time!

Bobbersdown, looks like the weather is not going to be cooperative tomorrow so the boat will sit yet another weekend. I will look for you down at Soos.

Hey boys,
I lost my internet over the holidays,(modem went out)but I should be back up and running on the 8th, at least there is supossed to be someone coming out then, sucks I have to be at work to get online..but at least they pay me then,,*L*
Carl, we still need to try and hook-up for a little fishin`, I`ll get in touch with you when I get back online at home,,I try not to use the internet to much at work, after all, I am supossed to be working..

rainycity, I know what that is like. I normally have DSL access. I have not had it since the beginning of November. I am in this big cluster f*** between MSN and QWEST. So, I am suffering with AOL for now. I hate dial up. I should have my DSL back on the 17th.

Ya, we can hook up sometime! There has not been any reports on the Green this weekend. I don't know if guys are out there fishing it or not. I haven't been.

Carl, thought you were meeting BobbersDown at Soos this mornin. I was looking forward to what you both caught or didn't catch. I fished the upper green wed thurs and friday but only got those 3 fish on wednesday. Saw 1 caught thursday, and 3 friday on everything from just a corkie to corkie yarn and sandshrimp.

FFF, got kind of a late start this morning. I made it down there, at about noon. Ran into one guy at Soos who I see fishing every where on the Green. We know each others faces but we don't know each others names. Kind of weird! We chatted for a bit.
Reports were not good. I also ran the gammet...FG, KP, Metzler's, and so on. Lots of effort today.
I could not believe how much the water dropped since last week. The rain we get today should help out.

I stopped by the whitney today real late and I talked to 5 PPl they said that they had been there pretty much all day and didn't even see a fish.
WHAT IS THE DEAL.......did the chums chase the steelies out???????
I can not wait till the last week of the month....That is the hot season right???? end of Jan. to all of Feb????

Carl,
Yeah, that`s what started this whole ordeal, Qwest and MSN. Trying to abide by thier letter they sent.

Anyone fished the Green in the past few days? Are there still hatchery fish pushing through in numbers, or is the run dwindling down?

Thanks for any feedback. Tight lines.

bump

Anyone getting any nates out of the Green yet?

The Green had been pretty hot these last 3 weeks. Been catching natives for over 2 months now. Mostly on jigs. Orange/yellow and pink/white under a float has worked well. Have seen no big Nats yet. Now whos lake fishing???

you have been catching natives out of the green since mid december????

Yes, since early December. Same as last year. Most of my fish had been nats. This year it's been 50-50. I hooked 2 nates on back to back days fishing jigs for Chum. That was sweet.

Me and my fishin buddy went up high again on the Green. No one in sight, no wind and clear sunny skys. The water was crystal clear with a med/low flow. We drifted eggs, shrimp,and yellow,orange,pink,white jigs for almost 3 hours with nothing. I changed leader weight and color and tied on a tiny 1/32oz jig. Fourth cast in the same spot i had fished for a good hour and whammo. A beautiful 12+lb Nate chomped it. A nice battle and a few pics and i let her go. Saaawweeeeeet. Only a few days left in the season, time to skip work for some big Nates. I have pics of a few of them at [url=Http://hometown.aol.com/NWNatives][url=Http://hometown.aol.com/NWNatives][url=Http://hometown.aol.com/NWNatives]Http://hometown.aol.com/NWNatives[/url][/url][/url]

Hey FFF, thanks for the link on your site
Be sure to add your site to the Readers Links section.

No problem Mike. I finally got those pics up of that nice nate from saturday. Went up yesterday, no wind but it did rain,snow,sleet, and ice pellet my azz for a good 3 hours and i loved every bit of it. Most of it was light though and not a soul in site. The water was a tad lower and just as clear. Saw lots of fish surprizingly, but none of them or any others wanted to smile for the camera. Hope this rain/snow thing holds off to a minimum.

I see this topic is on large chums over 20 pounds.

I managed to catch a couple of chums in saltwater on fly gear that were larger than the state record at the time. Caught some that were pushing 23 pounds and back then the saltwater record was 14 pounds. Didn't find out until a couple of months afterwards that the record was that low.

Key thing to handling big chums is use a rod at least a 7 weight... 8 is preferrable and also use a good drag. I ended up using an SA 2 just for the drag.

One of the biggies I hooked, but didn't land, took the whole fly line out... an additional 100 yards of backing before I got it stopped... and then was showing major signs of taking even more backing out. I broke it off at that point. That time I was using a big Pfleuger reel... and switched to the SA the next trip as the Pfleuger drag wasn't up to the task. I had that puppy screwed down all the way.. and still needed more. SA.. you can tighten them up enough to where it can break the tippet.

I saw guys over at Hood Canal fly fishing for Chums. I could not believe it, looked like a lot of fun. I was having a hard time taming those beast with a spinning rod. I could not imagine using a fly rod.

Hey Zen, thinking about those powerhouses on a fly makes my mouth water. That would kickass. Just green yarn? Gotta be something different than yarn. This thread originally started out as chum but has kinda turned toward steelhead since people have asked how the Green has been for chromies. Or i'm really just a lone poster on a thread that was dead 2 months ago. SO Zen, if you throw the long rod as steelhead, what choice of fly would you pick? Riverwise, i feel naked without a muddler, but i have never hooked a chromie on the fly. And catching them on eggs and jigs isn't much of a challenge anymore. Can ya help? I tied up a few purple/purpleblack flies on 6 and 4 hooks, but have yet to use them. Any suggestions on color and size would be great. Also, would you suggest putting eyes on my flies like for Salmon? Any help would be great.

Lime green chum candies work best on the 34007 hooks. They're tough enough to where they won't bend on you.

Check your email for a longer response.

[img]http://hometown.aol.com/NWNatives2/D12lbSteelGRK.html[/img]

just seeing how this turns out

Thanks Zen, i look forward to it later this year. I may have to upgrade my 6wt, it's a stiff 6 but not that stiff. oooooooooohhhhhhmmmmmmm