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Chambers Creek
 Chart courtesy of Captn. Jack's www.capjack.com Click on chart for bigger view
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Chambers Creek summer Chinook
Steilacoom - They're coming! The cookie cutter kings of the South Puget Sound are on their way, due to arrive at Chambers Creek the first week of August. We call them cookies because they're all 12-15 pound range, as if made from the same mold.
Chambers Creek is located just north of Steilacoom. The Railroad Bridge crossing the creek mouth easily identifies it. Fishing takes place in front of the Railroad Bridge and to the north of it.
Water depth at the creek mouth can run as little as 8-10 feet. As you move 50 yards off the creek mouth the water depth increases to 20-25 ft. This is the prime trolling area.
My best producing setup is to run a 2-3-oz. cannon ball sinker on a dropper 8-10 in. long off the main line. Then attach a 6-7 ft leader with 2/3-3/0 razor sharp Mustad hooks to a Fish Flash. Bait up with a cut plug herring and you're ready to troll. Let the setup down until the dropper makes steady contact with the bottom. The 10 in dropper will keep the thick cover of eelgrass from fouling your bait. Troll slowly; just keep the cutplug spinning.
The nice thing about a Fish Flash flasher it has zero drag in the water, great for light tackle work.
Troll parallel to the beach moving in and out until you hit concentrations of fish. Best fishing will be first light, not early morning first light, but the kind you find at 4:30 am. Dusk and then flood tide are the next best times. Jigging takes place 100 yards north of the creek mouth. There is a serious drop off here from 25-125 ft. The kings will concentrate on this drop off. The kings will stack at different depths along this drop off depending on the tide and the amount of sunlight each day.
Pt. Wilson Darts in the herring and candlefish patterns rule here. Try the 2-3oz. white and green & yellow color; they were hot last year.
Start jigging by setting up on the drop off, watch for concentrations of fish and stay on top of them. Most of the time lifting your rod 2-3 inches and allowing the jig to flutter down will produce strikes.
Chambers Creek can remain good through August into early September.
Call Narrows Marina Tackle Shop 253-564-4222 for more information.
Ramps: Closest ramp is in Steilacoom, it's just a driveway to the water, and Narrows Marina has one lane ramp with a dock and good parking.
Salmon University Staff