Lake Washington Sockeye

[lokidog]

What's to prevent people from catching sockeye in Area 10 outside of the entrance to Lake WA?  I got one out by San Juan two years ago.  The regs don't say you cannot do so.   

Perfectly legal, but not easy to do.

We put 8 or ten into the boat last summer, including one over ten pounds, off of San Juan. These fish were probably heading for the Fraser though.

What's the ticket for getting them in the salt?

Being out  there fishing....   

Seriously, I rig basically for Kings and catch Kings, Pinks, and Sockeye, no Coho last year though. The Sockeye hit off downriggers and even the dive plane (set up with small dodger and short leader for pinks), they hit Coho Killers and Hoochies, no rhyme or reason, unfortunately.

If it wasn't for the Indians netting the living piss out of these fish before we can get a count on them, we could have a fishery every year. How does the 50/50 thing work with this fishery Indians get to catch as much as they want literally nets in front of the fish latter.  White man hasn't be able to fish it in over a decade.

I've always wondered this as well.  Throw in the fact that they get to keep EVERY SINGLE FISH they catch in the purse seines and gillnets right next to where we have to release at least 30% of the fish we catch.   

[huntnphool]

Lake Washington and Columbia sockeye update http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/lake-washington-sockeye-still-returning-in-decent-numbers/

[bassquatch]

What months is this fishery usually open? Thought the lake was to close again Sept 1st?

Here's a pic from 1988, talk about chaos lol

[hunthard]

July- August, just depends when they get the fish counted up and agree on opening it up, really hope it happens this year.

[huntnphool]

What months is this fishery usually open? Thought the lake was to close again Sept 1st?

Here's a pic from 1988, talk about chaos lol

 Here are some pics for you Bass. http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,100116.msg1301554.html#msg1301554

 End of July and into August were typical.

[hunthard]

Coulon, 8 ramps and it still takes forever, I would launch early and then go take a nap.

[h20hunter]

Last time I fished it I launched  the night before and slept on the boat.

[cavemann]

I've done the same thing as H2O, it was a blast..  However, getting back out will test your patience.  It was a fun trip though for quality fish.  Especially if you fill your boat with people, plenty of fish to take home 

[Widgeondeke]

Combat fishing at its best 

Escapement goal is 350,000 fish, currently sitting just under 120,000

  is we will come up just short @ 320,000   

[CP]

My  - the tribes will do a "test fishery" and take 10,000 or more fish to check the health of the run, then it won't open to the rest of us.

[huntnphool]

Combat fishing at its best 

Escapement goal is 350,000 fish, currently sitting just under 120,000

  is we will come up just short @ 320,000   

 They are negotiating a fishery if the run hits 200k, this years run estimate is 119k. The current count is 24,763. http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/counts/sockeye/

[Widgeondeke]

Combat fishing at its best 

Escapement goal is 350,000 fish, currently sitting just under 120,000

  is we will come up just short @ 320,000   

 They are negotiating a fishery if the run hits 200k, this years run estimate is 119k. The current count is 24,763. http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/counts/sockeye/

oops  you are correct.. I put in the run estimate amount instead of current count         I had checked the counts, last 3 days. just shy of 8k

[doyourtime89]

Don't get me wrong I would LOVE to fish Lake Wa again for some sockeye but giving the state of all the salmon runs around here.  Why in the hell would we want to lower the number of fish to 200k from 350k to allow fishing. 

[huntnphool]

Don't get me wrong I would LOVE to fish Lake Wa again for some sockeye but giving the state of all the salmon runs around here.  Why in the hell would we want to lower the number of fish to 200k from 350k to allow fishing.

 With the new hatchery I believe they process the fish better and have less mortality with the eggs/smolt?

[skidynastar33]

Don't get me wrong I would LOVE to fish Lake Wa again for some sockeye but giving the state of all the salmon runs around here.  Why in the hell would we want to lower the number of fish to 200k from 350k to allow fishing.

Because 350000 is an extremely rediculas number. 200000 even seems high. Plus you have hatchery fish coming back every year now. There should be a hatchery season every year. This is not a native run any ways... As far as I have learned. Plus imagine the $$$ put into the economy from this fishery!