Lake Washington Sockeye

[Button Nubbs]

20k below '06. not lookin good unless we get a major push.

[doyourtime89]

20k below '06. not lookin good unless we get a major push.

 

I am starting to get worried 

[huntnphool]

I posted this in the wrong lake thread yesterday so I thought I would fix it. Huge numbers through the locks for this time of year already, lets hop they keep increasing.

[Holg3107]

The counts dropped a little since the 23rd but we are at over 70,000 (70,206 to be exact) as of yesterday. Hope this isn't just an early fluke. Only one year have we not had a season with over 60K through by the 25th!!!!!

[cohoho]

I recently got offered dock space for my use on the lake , so launch once  -ahead of time and just tie up and leave.  Hmmmmm, lets go fish, let's go...  Time to do the fisherman dance  ----- make it come true, as I could some fix of Sockeyes... 

[_TONY_]

I live on the lake, right up from the mouth of the cedar... Boats docked and ready to go!!

[Cap.Silver]

Would love to have sockeye fishing again on Lk.Washington ....... I always did good with black nickel hooks rather than red .... I hope I haven't spilled the secret 

[cohoho]

I live on the lake, right up from the mouth of the cedar... Boats docked and ready to go!!

Even better...  Perfect if it goes down, thoughts on that?

[huntnphool]

Early Lake Washington sockeye counts strongest since 2005


Through Thursday, 5,202 sockeye have been counted that are headed for tributaries such as the Cedar River and other smaller creeks in Lake Washington.

You can almost reach out and touch the sockeye at the Ballard Locks fish ladder, they're so close. Jay Wells, program director of visitor services, discusses the return of sockeye salmon to people who gathered Friday afternoon.
 The first two days of Lake Washington sockeye counts have started off strong at the Ballard Locks fish ladder.

Through Thursday, 5,202 sockeye have been counted that are headed for tributaries such as the Cedar River and other smaller creeks in Lake Washington.

“I’m optimistic there might be more sockeye than predicted,” said Pat Pattillo, the state Fish and Wildlife salmon policy coordinator. “It is such a dynamic run, and we can’t make anything of the first two days of counting.”

This summer’s forecast of 96,866 sockeye falls well short of the 350,000 spawning escapement needed before any fisheries can be considered.

“We are off to a good start, the best since 2005,” said Frank Urabeck, a member of the Cedar River Council and sport fishing advocate. “Sockeye could be early, although what we have seen so far is encouraging.”

Only 17 million sockeye fry entered the lake from Cedar River in 2010, survivors of which would be 4-year-old adults coming back this summer.

The last time Lake Washington was open for sport sockeye fishing was 2006 when 453,543 fish returned. In 2009, the actual return dipped to 22,166 sockeye.

Other years a fishery was held include 2004, 2002, 2000 and 1996. Last summer, 145,815 returned compared to a preseason forecast of 45,871. More than 20 million fry were released into the lake earlier this spring.

[Wacenturion]

Fingers crossed.

[singleshot12]

It'll open! but they like to keep us guessing till then

[Dustin07]

looks like it is actually below the 16yr avg?

[Rainier10]

But we seem to be on pace with the counts in 06,04 and 02, when we got a season.

Open, open, open....please.

[snowpack]

the graph says Chinook

[HUNTINCOUPLE]