On the Nushagak River, we are lucky to have great numbers of salmon return each year. Kings begin to arrive in June, followed closely by sockeye, and then silvers.
While these three salmon species certainly get the most attention from anglers, there is another salmon that perhaps does not get the recognition it deserves. Chum salmon (or sometimes called dog salmon) also return in great numbers to the Nush. In fact, in 2025 nearly 270,000 were counted by the in-river sonar counter.
Chums are a medium sized salmon – not as large as kings but bigger than sockeye. They average between 10-15 pounds. They are easily recognizable from the distinctive “tiger stripes” they develop upon entering the freshwater. On the Nushagak, they begin to arrive in June and are found throughout the entirety of the season.
While chums are not as good of table fare as our “main 3” salmon species, they make up for it with their aggressive nature and hard fighting abilities. I have personally seen chums move 20 plus feet to chase down a fly or spinner. Once hooked, they do everything in their power to get free. Blistering runs and acrobatic jumps are common.
As far as lure or fly selection goes, they are not very picky. Like the silvers, they seem to favor bright flashy patterns in pink, purple, and chartreuse. Spinners, spoons, jigs and plugs all work well. For the fly angler, streamer patterns like the dolly llama, alaskabou, and egg sucking leeches are great choices. Just remember – pink, purple, and chartreuse.
While we do not target chums specifically, they provide fun and exciting by-catch during both of our king and silver seasons. As they often share the same water, you just never