One noteworthy aspect of the autumn salmon season is the focus on silver chum salmon as they migrate into the river during high tide. We took full advantage of the limited time available due to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ early closure of the 2023 Chum fishery.

Jessica is helping Dad with a safe catch and release

We do catch a lot, so we must handle the salmon to ensure they survive catch-and-release. The most important thing is to use a flat rubber web net to minimize the removal of scales, mucous, and abrasion.

The Chum salmon are known as rod breakers, as there is no hesitation on them; once hooked, they power down the river using the river flow to their advantage.

A nice bonus Coho salmon

We use the Amundson Outdoors Kudos Strategy X KSP13-2 casting rods. Action: M. Fast, Length: 11′, Line Wt/Lb: 15-25, Piece: 2, Power: Medium Heavy.

Using 25 grams floats drifting with pencil lead, 24″ leader and with the BnR soft Beads and/or their new Burr Bead.

BnR Beads and their Burr beads

Leaders are pre-tied and individually kept in a leader container, RigRap Yellow #8512. This allows us to re-gear quickly when we lose a leader on snagged structures or salmon. The salmon are constantly moving, so it’s important to be fishing as they swim through the river.

RigRap Yellow leader storage for quick change

For the salmon we keep, it’s important to keep them cool and bleed them.

Silver Chum Salmon

With the increase in closures on other salmon species every season, it is time to show respect to the Chum Salmon.