Lesson Three ~ Identification of Salmon Continued
Salmon Fishing

Pink (Humpy) Salmon

Pink salmon are commonly called "humpies," because of the large hump on the back of mature males. Both males and females can be identified by the large, oblong or oval spots on both the upper and lower portion of their tail and by their very small scales. Trolling with herring or any of the standard salmon offerings will take pinks from salt water, but hot colors tend to work best. The same general rule seems to apply when fishing for pinks in fresh water.
 

Chum (Dog) Salmon

The chum salmon's nickname "dog salmon" is not deserved, especially when you consider its fighting ability. It's a tough customer for both salt and freshwater anglers. Chum are the second-largest of the Pacific salmon, and Washington anglers catch many of them in the high-teens and low-20-pound range. They are the last of the salmon to return each fall, usually arriving at their stream of origin from November to January.

Although chum are fast swimmers, they are not good jumpers, and they do not migrate far inland to spawn.Chum fry migrate to the sea soon after they emerge from the gravel. They spend up to 7 years at sea, but 4 years is typical.

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