Fishing for Chum in French Creek/Nanaimo areas

Lure-washer · **Joined:** Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:46 am **Posts:** 153

I Have fished for chums in the French Creek area for years, and tried every thing in the box, and followed all the suggestions, and have yet to have even a strike.
There were occasions that, if I would have been ready, that I could have netted them as they jumped right beside the boat.
Any suggestions as how to break this jinx?
Lure-washer

Oglthorpe · **Posted:** Tue Sep 15, 2009 7:45 pm

Shermanater and I tried to fish for chums last year near the estuary of the Nanaimo when it opened up last year, and we knew there were TONNES of chums around and couldn't get one to bite either. We have caught lots up around Brown's Bay, but with 50-60,000 returning to the Nanaimo each year it would be nice to be able to fish close to home good to hear if anybody has figured out how to make them bite.

Tightlines · **Joined:** Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:20 pm **Posts:** 195

I have caught a handfull on spoons while fishing for springs around neck point in years past. Late September is when I caught them but its been a while. I think most of the local chum get lock jaw when they get into our waters and havent ever heard of anyone catching any great numbers.

Smiley · **Joined:** Fri Sep 11, 2009 11:38 pm **Posts:** 68

The kid and I have been trying to catch coho near Clark Rock in late Sept for a couple of years now.
What we have been getting instead are chum!
Just troll in about 100' of water, stack your gear, and use 4" spoons.
Nothing special about the techniques.
The fish have all been as silver as it gets.

We've never tried getting them closer to the Nanaimo River since that is a bit of a run for us.

Smiley.

Tightlines · **Joined:** Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:20 pm **Posts:** 195

What color spoons were you using Smiley? I remember getting them on 4" green/glow, nightrider coyotes.

ratherbefishing · **Joined:** Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:35 am **Posts:** 38

Hey TL...you remember getting them on those spoons as that is all you tow! (quite successfully I might add

)

Tightlines · **Joined:** Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:20 pm **Posts:** 195

Guilty as charged...

Smiley · **Joined:** Fri Sep 11, 2009 11:38 pm **Posts:** 68

TL

I think it was 4" green/silver Coyote with a cutter.
I do recall that several others worked as well.

I am notorious for throwing anything UGLY out, so probably had Wonderbread, PartyGirl, and Watermelon.
Part of the fun is laughing at myself when I see what I got tricked into buying!

Dad said they are designed to catch fishermen...

Smiley.

Moisture Missile · **Joined:** Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:53 pm **Posts:** 1195

let me know if you guys figure it out, near my house in brentwood we get 1000's of chums coming into saanich inlet. I tried once and they were so thick they almost bump into your boat but not a single biter. Very frustrating!

Interesting article on Salmon U about saltwater chum fishing: http://www.salmonuniversity.com/ol_salt ... shing.html

I never did try using bait, but pretty much everything else.

Lure-washer · **Joined:** Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:46 am **Posts:** 153

Thanks Folks.
I`ve tried the spoon trick and everything else in the book, and every depth from surface to as deep as you would ever fish for chinook
I do`nt think that I`ve ever used dodgers, but it`s worth a try.
The lures shown in the link from MM look interesting and also may be worth a try.
When the chum are around and jumping, it`s quite a sight and very frustrating when they`re everywhere you look, except in the fish tub.
Lure-washer

Fishing for Chum in French Creek/Nanaimo areas

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