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Chum Fishing

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2016 11:26 am
by Big Chinook
This will be my first year Chum trolling, but have some questions I hope you guys can help me with.
1). What is the general flasher and color of choice?
2). What style, size and color of hook do most run?
3). Leader length from flasher to chum bug?
4). Lb. leader most run?
5). Leader length to flasher?
I know trolling speed is very slow around 1 kt. Anything else you could point out would be much lay appreciated. Thanks is advance!

Re: Chum Fishing

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2016 2:43 pm
by Once and Future
BC: I knew this had been discussed some before. See if this link works: http://www.salmontrolling.com/viewtopic ... ar+#p13078

That should take you to a discussion of chum gear. If it doesn't work, try typing "Chum Gear" or "Oregon Twine" in the search bar at the upper right of the screen inside the forum.

Re: Chum Fishing

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2016 9:30 am
by Big Chinook
Is there a go to color for flashers?

Re: Chum Fishing

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2016 1:58 pm
by Once and Future
I would prefer that someone who knows better than me would answer you, but the forum is so quiet that it may not happen. So here goes: I know a guy who bought a bunch of purple flashers with crackly mother-of-pearl finish specifically for chums. But another fellow said buy blue flashers, 'cause kings will bite on them too; so you can get double duty out of them.

You could ask at the gear store and see if they steer you in the same direction. But if they try to sell you something else, be suspicious that they are trying to unload useless stock on you.

Re: Chum Fishing

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2016 11:25 am
by Big Chinook
Thank you Once and Future. Sure seems like no one has been using the site for a couple of months.

Re: Chum Fishing

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2017 11:12 am
by Salty
Hello, Big Chinook,
I have been dealing with a medical issue and not on here for some time.

I will try and answer some of your questions:
1). What is the general flasher and color of choice? It is constantly evolving. Blue hotspots were the hot item for years. Then chrome plated Gibbs, then holographic stickers on Gibbs. The latest seem to be purple haze jellyfish. In my experience running all the same, in particular on each line, makes a difference.
2). What style, size and color of hook do most run? What most run and what works best can be different. I run # 6 blued over stainless qi hooks now.
3). Leader length from flasher to chum bug? The most important thing here is what works best for your system of handling gear. Anywhere from 12-36 inches works fine.
4). Lb. leader most run? It depends. What you want is a tough leader that holds up. You can get more bites with lighter leader. I have used as light as 50 lb. But, because we fish a variety of sizes in chums and move a lot of gear I like a tough abrazion resistent leader that doesn't absorb water or deteriorate rapidly in the sun. I also change tail leaders as I work to find the bug working best that season for a particular stock. I don't want crinkled up leaders after one soak. So, without going into specifics that others have helped me with I never use Jinkai or Yama leader or lighter than 80 lb. test anymore.
5). Leader length to flasher? Depends on your leader spacing, your speed, your flasher, whether you have a gear setter, how far from removing snap position to water, your distance from rail to water, the arm length of deckhands etc. 4-6 feet works fine. I think I get less bites as I shorten up when scratching.
I know trolling speed is very slow around 1 kt. Anything else you could point out would be much lay appreciated. Thanks is advance! I fish chums at 1.3 to 2.2 knots. Every stock, every year is unique. Most years you start losing bites above 1.7 or so depending on your leader and tail leader length. Below 1.3 with big chums you start dealing with too many tangles..

You are welcome. PM me sometimes if you land on them and this helped.