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Fishing for chum salmon
Chum salmon has a fairly large distribution area for salmon fish of the Pacific region. In sea waters, without a “marriage dress”, it is quite difficult to distinguish it from pink salmon. The main sign is that the chum salmon is a larger fish, sizes can reach 16 kg. In the river, the fish acquires purple and or dark crimson stripes, moreover, the sex differences in this fish are less noticeable than in pink salmon. It enters many rivers of the Far East, the American coast and is an object of sport fishing.
Ways to catch chum salmon
In coastal sea fishing, chum salmon use trolling, using imitations of squid, wobblers and other things. Float fishing is popular with locals. They use natural baits, as well as original gear using artificial baits. In sports fishing, as well as for catching other salmon, spinning and fly fishing gear is used.
Chum salmon trolling
It should be noted right away that chum is not the easiest prey when trolling. Many experts consider the slowest possible wiring of the bait to be the main recommendation. Fleshcher imitates another salmon moving towards the spawning river. The keta attaches itself to follow him from behind, and the bait is an irritant that the fish grabs. In coastal waters, chum salmon stands in the upper layers of the water, the boat can scare away fish, so for successful trolling of this fish, you need to gain experience and skill.
Fly fishing
Many lovers of Pacific salmon fishing believe that chum salmon is an excellent object for fly fishing and distinguish it from other salmon. Despite the relatively small size of the fish (5-6kg), experienced anglers advise using high-class rods. The fish can be very impulsive during the fight, unwind the backing and even a class 10 rod will not seem too powerful. After entering the river, the fish takes on a scary look: crooked fangs, dark color, modified jaws. Americans call such fish – dog salmon (dog salmon), in addition, the color of the meat becomes whitish. But fish respond well to fly fishing lures. Slowly passing flies cause chum salmon activity, which pleases lovers of this type of fishing. The baits are traditional, as for other salmon of the region, most often, large and weighted, up to 15 cm: leeches, intruders, and so on. The use of high-class rods, including two-handed ones, will make it easier to cast large lures. Chum salmon is an excellent object of fishing for real fly fishermen.
Catching chum with spinning
The reaction of fish in the river to spinning and fly fishing lures is primarily protective. However, many locals successfully fish for imitation squid or pieces of squid, suggesting residual feeding reflexes. The choice of spinning gear does not differ in special criteria. Reliability of the tackle should correspond to the conditions for catching large fish, as well as when fishing for other Pacific salmon of the appropriate size. Before fishing, it is worth clarifying the features of being on the reservoir. The choice of rod, its length and test may depend on this. Long rods are more comfortable when playing big fish, but they can be uncomfortable when fishing from overgrown banks or from small inflatable boats. The spinning test depends on the choice of weight of spinners. Chum salmon may respond more actively to artificial baits if pieces of fish or squid meat are planted.
Baits
Among the lures used for catching chum salmon and other salmon, it is worth highlighting the Nakazima rig. This combination rig is considered traditional in Japan. It is used for fishing, both from the shore and from boats. The peculiarity of the bait is that with the help of a float the depth of immersion of the bait is set, usually 1-1.5 m. The bait is a large lure, additionally equipped with a bright-colored silicone octopus. Fish meat can be planted on hooks. After casting, very slow wiring is done. This equipment perfectly rescues anglers at the time of pre-spawning without pecking.
Places of fishing and habitat
Keta is a fish of the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean. Widely distributed from Korea, along the entire coast of the Russian Far East, the Bering Strait and up to the Monterey Strait (California, USA). The fish is not territorially tied to the coastal zone, it moves deep into the ocean, where it actively feeds. In rivers, it prefers to settle in pre-rolling pits, on slow, deep reaches and in channel gullies with a slow current. Keta, like all salmonids, prefers flowing, cold water, but its accumulations most often occur in calm sections of the river. Also, fish can be found in places with a reverse flow and at obstacles – snags or boulders.
Spawning
Chum salmon enters the rivers to spawn en masse. Depending on the region, spawning begins in July, about two weeks after the start of pink salmon spawning. The spawning period is very extended, it can last up to 4 months. Depending on the approach time, the fish are divided into summer and autumn. The caviar is quite large, about 7 mm, the fecundity is 2-4 thousand eggs. At the end of spawning, the chum salmon dies.