Johns Creek or Hoodsport Chums?

Think the early chums are in? Anyone interested in a trip this weekend? 10/14 or 10/15 or 10/16?

All indications is that the fish are not in early but there are always a few ahead of the pack. The Area 7 test fishery was a bust and the Area 10 test fishery will be happening shortly.

Heard from Pix there were none in @ Oak Bay yet.

I'm down when the chum start coming in...

Need to get my kayak wet again, haven't been out since Hobuck. I've been bank fishing at Barrier Dam...The Cohos are in and they are big! Before that, it was the Puke and Carbon.

Heard from Pix there were none in @ Oak Bay yet.

I was down there on Oct 1st. Did not see any. I talked with a few bankers and one boater and they confirmed the same. I'm not sure whether they will be in this weekend or not. It seems like they should, but every other salmonoids have been late this year.

Btw, I'll be using anchovies or small herring under a bobber/float. Brine them in the usual herring brine to make them last a little longer...but not required.

I'm wanting to fish the chums but where does one park and launch there?  Right at the Hatchery?

For Hoodsport there is a beach just south of the hatchery with a boat dock. You can park there and launch there. It is very close but far enough away that it isn't crowded even when the crowds are there.

For Johns Creek/Oakland Bay, others have posted the spot before, but here you go:

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Seattle,+WA&daddr=47.249764,-123.041807&hl=en&sll=47.25027,-123.042879&sspn=0.001788,0.004528&geocode=FcJp1gIdWVy1-ClVM-iTLBCQVDGa1URpRmUlEA%3B&vpsrc=0&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=18&t=h&z=18

So I am planning on fishing Sunday during the day here...

By the way the google map satellite photo is for a loooowww tide!

Thanks, that's helpful, I know there was ph # you could call and they would let you know if the chums had  arrived at Hoodsport, found it on-line once then couldn't find it again.  I'm hoping to hit it on a weekday when the fish are thick.

Fish are definitely not in yet. The south Puget Sound Test Fishery at Apple Cove had 50 fish for 6 sets last year this time they were getting 1000+ per 6 sets. Fish are expected to be late and light this year.

Landed 3 so far! Report to follow. Chum are on!

Silverbrite!

Great job Matt. You are always first on them chum.. er I mean Keta, uh, Silverbrite salmon. The Chants are pretty awesome as well.

The Japanese obviously eat a lot of fish and 95% of their hatchery/ranching effort is focused on chums. It can't be that bad then...right?

 I prefer bright chums to cohos. Not sure why but I don't like cohos. 

Not all chums are equal.... some chum will blow the doors off of coho when eaten side by side. Varies from fishery to fishery and even fish to fish. Just get to them before they turn. A dark pale chum is barely even good enough for smoking....
Reports are that the fish are starting to show but that this year my be light again. Don't wait if you want to target chum go sooner rather than later!