Chum Salmon - 'Dogs'
Chum or dog salmon are the second largest of the Pacific salmon. Ocean caught chum are silvery bluish-green, with black speckles, and white bellies. As chum near freshwater they darken with dark green bars and purple blotches. Spawning males grow a drawn out hooked snout and enlarged teeth. Chum average in length from 20-30 inches and weigh from 8-20 pounds.
Light to medium-action spinning and fly rods offer the best angling. These salmon will readily hit spinners, spoons, streamers, and jigs. Casting and retrieving directly in front of a chum's nose will usually trigger a strike. Chum can be ocean caught year round and edible if eaten fresh from the ocean. The meat deteriorates quickly once it has entered freshwater.
Check local regulations prior to fishing for accurate and up to date information. To learn more about fishing each species in Valdez please visit the following pages:
Arctic Grayling | Chinook Salmon | Coho Salmon | Chum Salmon | Dolly Varden Char | Halibut | Lingcod | Pink Salmon | Rainbow Trout | Rockfish | Salmon Shark | Sockeye Salmon |