Lake Washington Sockeye

[Stein]

I still have a ziploc with the killer gear from the last time it was open.  I remember driving down from Arlington, whacking a limit and being back home in time for work.

[skidynastar33]

Not at 350,000. That just sounds insane saying. Should be 150,000 escapement. The river system cant spawn 350,000. And shouldn't there be a hatchery fishery???

[Stein]

If it were up to me, take enough to run the hatchery and then split the rest tribe/recreational.  It's in the middle of a metropolis, manage it for maximum participation.

[WAcoueshunter]

Through 6/22, we've nearly matched the entire 2016 run and have 10x the number from 2015 year to date.  Maybe?

If not a crazy big run, still interesting to see so many so early.  We're ahead of pace from 2006, the last season we had, finishing with 418K.  But in 2013, we had twice this many by 6/22, and finished with 178K.   

[huntnphool]

I'm betting they give us a short season if they get 100k+

[jmscon]

Ok, ok, ok.....why do you guys have to go and get me so excited?!

[Stein]

I'm betting they give us a short season if they get 100k+

Can't, it's already set in stone at 350k fish before we get a crack.

[huntnphool]

I'm betting they give us a short season if they get 100k+

Can't, it's already set in stone at 350k fish before we get a crack.

 They've talked about changing it and allowing a fishery if it reached 150k the last couple years, if it gets there this year I'll bet they give us something.

[Jake Dogfish]

As a environmentalist, I always try to side with the fish.
I agree the 350k number is not realistic.
I'm not sure our current wdfw leadership will be able to do anything about it.
There was talk on the radio of changing our hatcheries to coho, if they won't let us fish for sockeye.

[huntnphool]

 Numbers are pretty steady, hoping they continue.

 Reading the WDFW sockeye page I couldn't help but laugh at this...

2017 Pre-season Sockeye Forecast

The pre-season forecast for the 2017 sockeye return is 77,292. The estimate is based primarily upon sibling relationships in recent years (2012-2014). Since lake and marine survival rates are highly variable from year to year, the actual return to Lake Washington could be higher or lower than 77,292.

 So basically they are saying they have no freakin clue!

[huntnphool]

 Time to look for new "experts"

[Rainier10]

Looks like the experts were right when they said it could be higher or lower. 

[huntnphool]

Looks like the experts were right when they said it could be higher or lower. 

 Yeah, they really went out on a limb with that forecast didn't they.

[Rainier10]

Looks like the experts were right when they said it could be higher or lower. 

 Yeah, they really went out on a limb with that forecast didn't they.

The estimated number, 77,292 , made me think wow they really put some thought into this.  Why not 70,000, 75,000 or 70-80,000?  77,292?  Okay.  But the old "could be higher or lower" sounds right on the money/ "we really have no clue".

Hopefully we have a season, that is always a good time and really fun if you have little kids.

[huntnphool]

Looks like the experts were right when they said it could be higher or lower. 

 Yeah, they really went out on a limb with that forecast didn't they.

The estimated number, 77,292 , made me think wow they really put some thought into this.  Why not 70,000, 75,000 or 70-80,000?  77,292?  Okay.  But the old "could be higher or lower" sounds right on the money/ "we really have no clue".

Hopefully we have a season, that is always a good time and really fun if you have little kids.

 Exactly, they are so accurate with their forecast they can predict it right down to the lack of 8 fish that would have rounded it to 77,300, or the 2 that would have had it at 77,290, yet hedge their "expert analysis" with "could be higher/could be lower"