They're
the most underrated game fish in North America "Not even steelhead
have their endurance, and
no trout or salmon takes a fly so freely."
Chum
salmon spawn in the lowermost reaches of rivers and streams, typically
within 60 miles (100 km) of the ocean. They migrate almost immediately
after hatching to estuarine and ocean waters, in contrast to coho,
Chinook, sockeye and pink salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout, which
migrate to sea after months or even years in fresh water. Another
behavioral difference between chum salmon and most species that rear
extensively in fresh water is that chum salmon form schools, presumably
to reduce predation. Age at maturity appears to follow a latitudinal
trend in which a greater number of older fish occur in the northern
portion of the species' range. Most chum salmon mature
between 3 and 5 years of age, with 60 to 90 percent of the fish maturing
at 4 years of age. The species has only a single form (sea-run) and does
not reside in fresh water.
Ranging
in size from 8 to 20 pounds in Alexander Creek, the tenacious chum
salmon, or dog salmon as they are commonly called, are the "water
buffaloes" of the river. The chum will color up when it enters the
freshwater in mid July, but that does not
deter it from attacking anything in its path! A very strong salmon, most
anglers will agree that the
chum is hard on tackle and provides a worthy challenge when taken on fly
tackle. The chum is
easily identified by the purple reddish vertical bars on its sides and
on the bucks the rather large teeth, hence the nickname dog salmon.
Occurring in good numbers, chum can be found almost anywhere in
Alexander Creek and its tributaries.
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