Chum flies ?

[chum77]

Just wondering since the chums are just around the corner i was wondering if there are any better flies to use for them then other then a blue and pink egg sucking leech pattern, thats what i used last year and i caught them but i saw other fly fishermen catch way more then me so i was just wondering what are some of your ideas ? and no I'm not too proud to target chums like some other upturn nose people are......there fun what can i say. anyways help would be aw some.

[Strike Rite Tackle Co.]

I haven't targeted chum on the fly, but I know a few that do. From what I know clousers cast and retrived work well, as do flash flies. Marabou streamers swung produc to. As for colors its hard to beat cerise, chartruse, and what you have mentioned. I have even heard of people swining small hootchies.

[chum77]

ya i have heard of the hoochies befor, but they look kinda hard to cast ? im rockin a 9 foot 8 wt so that might be tough but i can give it a shot.

[queets guy]

Les Johnson's fly fishing for Pacific Salmon II would be a major help with fly fishing for all salmon, fresh and salt.  That being said I tie my fresh water chum flies with barbells or heavy cones to get them down.  Mostly cerise bunny leeches with some chartruse flies as well.  When in the salt I tie mine pretty small and sparse and that seems to be more effective with just a dry line.  Hope this helps, avoid the hootchie on the bug rod, been there, done that...casting is a pain in the ass.

[chum77]

lol ya i hear that i was trying to avoid that. Ill try more bunny patterns maybe with some weighted heads.

[Finfollower]

So this may seem like a dumb question, but what's you most common weight for the dumbells and cone heads? I grabbed some, but being new to it I think I got my hands on some that are too heavy.

[chum77]

I'm not sure really i don't really use weighted flies at all i have sink tips to take em down, and if you don't have a sink tip system you should look into em, rio versi tip system rocks !

[queets guy]

I usually run a sink tip and a weighted fly...weight of tip and fly depending on the conditions.  3/15" is a basic good all around size for barbells.

[Finfollower]

Thanks for the help guys. I have the Rio Versi fo my 8# but just didn't feel like I'm getting the fight sink without wrapping the rocks. I have a pretty steep laerning curve in front of me since I don't really have much experience with this. The river I'm fishing is pretty grabby. I took a shot in the dark for some more dumbells and I'm glad I got the size you recommended Queets.

With a whole lot of luck and some divine intervention I might even hook up with something other than the bottom.

[Bren]

I have got them on popsicles tied weighted eyes

[bugnuts]

Now let's make a distinction between flossing and flyfishing...a fly that is unweighted (other than the weight of the Mustad #4 or #6) fished on a floating line where the chum gather is cool.  Weighting them too much means your fishing just like the guy next to you with a corkie & yarn.

My opinion:  take a hook and tie some fluorescent green/yellow tape or chenille on it, add a few strands of flashabou and I guarantee they'll take it if fished slow and in the middle of the pod.  I've used a strike indicator and fished it still as well with some success, but the slow retrieve with fish in front of you works.

Good luck! 

[queets guy]

Bugs thats a great idea for salt and very slow moving parts of the river, however I try to swing for the fresh fish in the runs and good moving water so a weighted fly and sink tip is almost required for a decent presentation.  Iv'e found the fish in slow "froggy" type water a little less respondant to those in in the moving stuff.  As for salt though, floating line and light fly is all you need. 

[chum77]

ya i use a pretty heavy sink tip in about walking speed water but instead of a split shot or anything of that nature i just use no more then 4 feet of leader so the sink tip gets it down wear it needs to be. at least thats what works for me.

[Finfollower]

So what's the common length of leader when fishing this fly? Maybe my problem is that I'm fishing too long of one. I'm coming from a bait casting background, so a lot of things are still coming across in a different language.

[chum77]

well i pretty much only fish with a sink tip and i dont go over 4 feet of leader when i do, its just so the fly sinks down with the leader instead of the leader sinking first and having the fly still be at the surfice. when I'm not using a sink tip i use a 10 foot peace of tapperd leader and seems to work ok for me.