Chum - Skykomish

We are finally starting to hear of some fairly good chum fishing on the Skykomish this week. Though the numbers are not like they were a few years back I would still have to say that it is better than it has been the past couple of years. We have definitely heard better results coming from the boat anglers but the bankies are doing alright. For the bank anglers, the guys that have been fishing floats and jigs tipped with either a piece of sand shrimp or prawn have been catching fish. Pick a 3/8 - 1/2 ounce jig tied of either rabbit fur or marabou in Black/Purple, Purple/Cerise, Cerise/Hot Pink or Lime Green/Chartreuse color combinations with a little additional mylar flash incorporated into the jig are good choices. Fish the jig under an appropriate float that will suspend the jig. Try to fish the jig about 12 - 18 inches off the bottom. The float and jig method is one of the most productive methods of fishing as you can fish the slower seam water that the chums have an affinity for where conventional drift fishing methods tend to be a little harder to fish. One can also drift fish with corkies and yarn with the sand shrimp or shrimp, stick to the same color combinations as the jigs. This method is productive when the fish are holding in water that has a little faster flow. You might find it difficult to drift in the fish are holding in the slower frog type water - then fish the float method. Boaters are doing best backtrolling flatfish or kwickfish plugs with a sardine wraps, though many are fishing floats and jigs in the softer water area. The plunkers are doing well fishing Spin-N-Glows in size 2-4-6's depending on the clarity of the water with sand shrimp or shrimp. As far as colors go stick with the same colors combinations as the jigs etc. . If you are not doing well make sure to change your lure colors until you get it figures out. The next two to there weeks should see the best fishing in our northern Puget Sound streams.