Fishing | Chum numbers up

More chum salmon are showing up in Puget Sound, and the preseason forecast and catches of late are decent.

The Puget Sound preseason return is about 1.88 million chum, and the South Sound is expecting 467,000, compared with 375,000 last year.

"On a historical basis, that is considered a really solid chum forecast, but we've had a couple years of run sizes closer to 3 million," said Kyle Adicks, a state Fish and Wildlife chum biologist. "We typically see a stronger chum return in even years versus odd years."

A creel check at Kennedy Creek in Totten Inlet on Saturday showed 14 anglers with three chum.

"We've already heard of early returning chum in southern and central Sound streams, and [next month] fishing should really heat up," Adicks said.

Another place where early chum show up is the Johns Creek estuary in Oakland Bay.

The preseason forecast for Hood Canal is 668,000, slightly higher than last year's forecast of 655,000.

The most popular place to target chum in Hood Canal is off the Hoodsport Hatchery just north of Potlatch. Others will also try south of Potlatch State Park, and the public-access shores off Highway 101 from Eldon to Hoodsport.

Closer to Seattle, the Snohomish-river system is expecting a chum return of 249,000, which is much stronger than last year's preseason run of 149,000.

"The four-letter word of the week is C-H-U-M, and there are lots of those critters around," said Mike Chamberlain at Ted's Sports Center in Lynnwood. "We've seen some great fishing in the Stillaguamish and Snohomish river systems, and I know a person who caught and released 30 chums."

Estuarial spots that get the attention of chum anglers are Perry Creek in Eld Inlet, Whatcom Creek in Bellingham, Chico Creek in Bremerton, McLane Creek and Eagle Creek.

"The Wynoochee River has fish down in the lower portion, and most are chum," said Scott Barbour, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "The Satsop is almost barren except for lots of chums."

Other rivers worth checking out for chum are Skagit, Nisqually, Chehalis, Satsop, Nooksack, Skokomish and Green.

Top spots of the week

1. Salmon in Puget Sound: "I've been staying at Saratoga Passage and we've been getting one legal-sized hatchery blackmouth [chinook] per trip," said Gary Krein, owner of All-Star Charters in Everett. "Still releasing about 25 to 30 shakers [chinook under the 22-inch minimum size limit] per trip."

Salmon fishing in Central Puget Sound was slow to fair.

"Fast action in [Elliott Bay] for shakers up to 20 inches, but only one keeper and one chum weighed in for the derby," said Doug Hanada, president of the Tengu Derby. "Large amounts of bait marked inside off Harbor Island."

Other places worth a try are Jefferson Head, Allen Bank off Blake Island, Southworth, Manchester, Tacoma area, West Point, Yeomalt Point and Point Monroe.

Northern Puget Sound [Area 9] opens for chinook Nov. 1, and places to target are Point No Point, Possession Bar and Midchannel Bank.

The San Juan Islands are open through Oct. 31 for chinook, then Nov. 1-30 for coho and chum only.

Hood Canal (open through Dec. 31) and the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca (closes after Oct. 31) were slow to fair for chinook or coho. The western Strait of Juan de Fuca (Area 5) opens Nov. 1-30 for chinook.

2. Squid and smelt in Puget Sound: "Squidding has been kind of spotty in Elliott Bay, but the Bremerton area is super good and guys who have never tried it are getting limits," said Jerry Beppu, owner of Linc's Tackle Shop in Seattle.

The Cornet Bay pier on North Whidbey Island has been good for smelt jigging.

3. Salmon, steelhead or trout in statewide rivers and bays: "Hatchery coho are being caught throughout the [Cowlitz River], although Blue Creek and Camelot have been among the best catch locations," said Joe Hymer, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "Lots of chinook being released, and anglers near Blue Creek continue to catch good numbers of summer-run steelhead."

The Reiter Ponds area of the Skykomish River is fair for steelhead.

Fair in the Lower Columbia near the Camas-Washougal area for coho and sturgeon; areas from Beacon Rock to Bonneville Dam closes for salmon Nov. 1. Fair in the Lewis River for chinook and steelhead near the salmon hatchery. Slow in the Humptulips River for chinook and coho. Fair in the Kalama River for coho and steelhead.

4. Trout and perch in lakes: "The Lake Washington perch fishery has been pretty decent with fish in the 8- to 9-inch range, and a few up to 14 inches," Chamberlain said. "Point Edwards has been a good spot in 40 to 45 feet of water."

Other perch holes worth looking at are Sand Point and the Madison Park areas, and along Lake Washington Boulevard to Seward Park.

Lakes McMurray, Pass (fly-fishing only) and Goodwin are fairly decent for trout. Lake Scanewa is fair to good for coho.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com