Fishing | Early chum salmon arriving in Puget Sound rivers

While most hunters are gearing up for the statewide deer opener Saturday, others are scoring good fishing results in many local rivers.

Some early chum have arrived, as anglers can look forward to a predicted strong forecast of 1.9 million chum in the Hood Canal and Puget Sound region.

"We are starting to see a fair number of chum in catches in the [Snohomish and Skykomish] rivers, and to see such good catches early on could mean we will probably have a pretty strong run," said Mike Chamberlain at Ted's Sports Center in Lynnwood.

Some chum were averaging 13 to 15 pounds with a few pushing 20 pounds.

Other places where chum tend to show up early are the estuaries of Kennedy Creek at Totten Inlet, Johns Creek in Oakland Bay and Chico Creek in Bremerton.

The recent heavy rains also got more coho moving upstream in the Snohomish and Skykomish rivers with decent catches occurring over the weekend and into midweek.

Some of the best options for salmon are happening in the Olympic coastal rivers.

"We got some rain over the weekend, and that brought in a whole pile of silvers into the Quillayute, Sol Duc and Bogachiel, along with a reasonable number of kings," said Bob Gooding, owner of Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks.

Farther south, the Columbia River and its tributaries are a fair to good bet for coho or late kings, and sturgeon too.

"The sturgeon fishing is pretty decent, and it is best in the gorge for both boat and bank anglers," said Joe Hymer, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "It is starting to pick up for coho in the Kalama and the North Fork of the Lewis. The rain really spurred things."

The Cowlitz is good for coho with a recent check from barrier dam showing 11 bank anglers with 11 adult coho. Other spots to try are the Packwood and Cispus areas.

Those looking for a last chance at big fall chinook should head up the Columbia River and try the Hanford Reach area around Vernita. The area closes after Oct. 22.

Deer hunting statewide

• "We are not looking for anything different from last year's deer opening, although these rain storms could mean a better opener than we've had in a while," said Dave Ware, a state Fish and Wildlife game manager. "It might get the deer moving, plus knock some leaves off the trees."

Ware says places that will produce some blacktails are the St. Helens area and Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

"The private timberland areas where timber harvest is occurring and where there is good forage conditions will be the places to look," Ware said.

Fishing reports

• Coho in the Chehalis, Humptulips and Satsop rivers: "The Montesano area [of the Chehalis River] started off good for coho [when it opened Oct. 1-2], but since then it has gotten really slow," said Wendy Beeghly, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "The guys down at Morrison Park in Aberdeen have done pretty well for mainly adult coho casting spinners."

Beeghly said the gillnets went in Wednesday, and that could affect fishing in the lower river.

The Lower Humptulips River is open (no bait fishing allowed) for hatchery coho. The Satsop and Wynoochee are both open for salmon. Check the regulations on what type of species you can keep.

• Tuna off the coast: "I saw one tuna trip this past week on a Westport charter, and they just killed them, getting 250 tuna," Beeghly said.

• Smelt at Cornet Bay pier on Whidbey Island: "Smelt fishing was off a little bit, and the tides may have something to do with it," said Mike Chamberlain at Ted's Sports Center in Lynnwood. "I fished it and only got a handful of smelt."

• Salmon in Puget Sound: Blackmouth fishing in the Tacoma area is fair off the Clay Banks. Coho fishing remains very poor in Central and northern Puget Sound, and from Mukilteo south to the Shipwreck. Blackmouth fishing in Central Sound opens Oct. 16. The Port Angeles area is open for chinook and coho.

• Other fish reports: In Eastern Washington, trout fishing has been very good at Lenice, Nunnally and Chopaka lakes.

Lake Washington has been fair for cutthroat along the I-90 and 520 bridges, plus perch fishing remains good from Leschi to Seward Park and up near Kenmore.

Squid jigging is off and on at the Bremerton and Des Moines piers, and Pier 86 along the Seattle waterfront.

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