Puget Sound

BriGuy said:
Here's a stupid question: How hard will a chum bite if they do manage to get a hold of your finger? Minor annoyancewith a little blood, or someting uglier?
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Based on what they eat - things small enough to swallow whole (i.e. they don't bite chunks off things) you might get gashed badly but I don't think they'd sever a finger or anything like that.

Not like these guys!
 
Northern said:
Based on what they eat - things small enough to swallow whole (i.e. they don't bite chunks off things) you might get gashed badly but I don't think they'd sever a finger or anything like that.

Not like these guys!
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I didn't think they could exert a lot of biting force, but those teeth look wicked, especially if it can thrash about while biting.
 
jasmillo said:
I do have a new release technique I’ve deployed for foul hooked fish this year though. Pull them close with your tip pointed directly at them. When they get close slide the rod tip down to the fly, give it a quick pop and 95% of the time the hooks pop right out. Now, I’m using. GLoomis IMX Pro which a beast of a fly rod durability wise. Great chum tool! I also have a spare tip as well…..not something I’d do with many other rods I own.
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To each its own, but it seems we covered this almost exactly a year ago, both the technique and the broken rods. I don't use a net, rod nor my hands on chums. At least for me, the quickest way to release them with less risk to fish, rod, leader or fingers (nasty, big, pointy teeth on those bucks!) without beaching them is to use a short stick with a hook screwed in one end (see below). You just run the stick hook on the leader till you reach the barbless fish hook bend and a little pull is all it takes. I use a similar but longer stick for the boat and the short one for kayak/wading.
see thread below:

1730054717586.png
Post in thread 'Puget Sound' https://pnwflyfishing.com/forum/index.php?threads/puget-sound.50/post-207176
 
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VMP said:
To each its own, but it seems we covered this almost exactly a year ago, both the technique and the broken rods. I don't use a net, rod nor my hands on chums. At least for me, the quickest way to release them with less risk to fish, rod, leader or fingers (nasty, big, pointy teeth on those bucks!) without beaching them is to use a short stick with a hook screwed in one end (see below). You just run the stick hook on the leader till you reach the barbless fish hook bend and a little pull is all it takes. I use a similar but longer stick for the boat and the short one for kayak/wading.
see thread below:

View attachment 172215
Post in thread 'Puget Sound' https://pnwflyfishing.com/forum/index.php?threads/puget-sound.50/post-207176
Click to expand...

Thanks for the dehooker picture. I'll make one to have on hand. May never need it. 🤐
 
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VMP said:
To each its own, but it seems we covered this almost exactly a year ago, both the technique and the broken rods. I don't use a net, rod nor my hands on chums. At least for me, the quickest way to release them with less risk to fish, rod, leader or fingers (nasty, big, pointy teeth on those bucks!) without beaching them is to use a short stick with a hook screwed in one end (see below). You just run the stick hook on the leader till you reach the barbless fish hook bend and a little pull is all it takes. I use a similar but longer stick for the boat and the short one for kayak/wading.
see thread below:

View attachment 172215
Post in thread 'Puget Sound' https://pnwflyfishing.com/forum/index.php?threads/puget-sound.50/post-207176
Click to expand...
One evening sitting in a cabin in BC I made a couple like yours using a green willow stick and a piece of coat hanger bent in a circle. I think I used electrical tape to fasten the two pieces together. Worked like champ until I let go over the water; sank like a rock. I'm afraid to use this one as I'm sure it will sink but it's very pretty:

IMG_6478.jpg

Darc (Desert Fly Angler) made it and gifted it to me.
 
BriGuy said:
Here's a stupid question: How hard will a chum bite if they do manage to get a hold of your finger? Minor annoyancewith a little blood, or someting uglier?
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There will be blood.
 
_WW_ said:
There will be blood.
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But not much. I've never had one actually try to bite me, but I have accidentally had chum teeth rake me while trying to remove a hook. The bigger concern is infection. Try to keep the "wounds" clean, then wash those little cuts with soap and water when you get home, and you should be good to go. Forget to do that or keep sticking your hands in bacterial soup, and things can get nasty.

My BIL got a little cut from a toothy fish in Florida a couple years ago, then proceeded to stick his hand in the live well to get another shrimp. Soapy water would have been a much better choice of solution with hindsight; he got an infection that messed with him for months!
 
I have dozens of memories of bleeding after unhooking fish, but those are all from coho. Those bastards have lot of little, but very sharp teeth that can scratch up your finger pretty good.

Never got infected, even though I usually just rinse the wound in water and keep fishing.
 
VMP said:
To each its own, but it seems we covered this almost exactly a year ago, both the technique and the broken rods. I don't use a net, rod nor my hands on chums. At least for me, the quickest way to release them with less risk to fish, rod, leader or fingers (nasty, big, pointy teeth on those bucks!) without beaching them is to use a short stick with a hook screwed in one end (see below). You just run the stick hook on the leader till you reach the barbless fish hook bend and a little pull is all it takes. I use a similar but longer stick for the boat and the short one for kayak/wading.
see thread below:

View attachment 172215
Post in thread 'Puget Sound' https://pnwflyfishing.com/forum/index.php?threads/puget-sound.50/post-207176
Click to expand...

I wish I recalled that thread because it’s a great idea. I’ll remember for next year.

I never use the rod to pop the hook out unless it’s foul hooked. Would never use the technique on a fair hooked fish. Too many teeth to get a tip top caught on along with a thrashing head. Foul hooked though…if you have properly de-barbed and are using a stout rod, it works. Maybe not smart…but it works.
 
johnnyboy said:
I have dozens of memories of bleeding after unhooking fish, but those are all from coho. Those bastards have lot of little, but very sharp teeth that can scratch up your finger pretty good.

Never got infected, even though I usually just rinse the wound in water and keep fishing.
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Ya I had a two week course of antibiotics back in 2023 from an infected cut on my hand. Coho teeth dont go deep but they are sharp.
 
Stonedfish said:
It’s my understanding they shed them once they enter freshwater in the spring to spawn. If I’m incorrect on that, hopefully someone will chime in on it.
What I find interesting is you can catch one with quite a few parasites on it and the next one you catch won’t have any.
SF
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Since SRC fishing is usually good where some source of fresh water(creek,river,stormwater drainage,etc),empties into the salt I speculated it might have something to do with parasites. A few years back I ran into a Coastal Cutthrout Coalition guy in a local fly shop and posed the question as to fresh water affecting sea lice. He said definitely and that they had experimented putting lice ridden Cutts in a tank of fresh water. He stated within 15 minutes the sea lice were no more.
 
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