Baker Lake

[jeepasaurusrex]

My in-laws are coming out from Utah next week and they want to go fishing. Since Baker is full of Sockeye right now, I figured that would be the best bet to catch something. We have a boat.

My questions are:

Where to launch (Thinking panorama or swift creek)?

Where to fish?

What gear to use?

Thanks, your help is appreciated! 

[206]

The wife and I fished two mornings last year and came home with 11 fish.

Size 0 chrome dodger.  Walmart only had the dodgers with the shiny silver tape in the center and they worked fine. 

14" leader of 30 pound  test tied to 2 1/0 red gammies with a pink mini squid.  Most guys use 3/0 hooks but I tested the 1/0's because they are sharper and we outfished darn near everyone.  Leaders must be short so the dodger gives your hooks some action.  Bait hooks with about a thumb nails size piece of store bought shrimp.  I microwave them less than a minute so they are half cooked.  I think this makes them smell stronger and toughen them up so they hang on the hooks better.

Trolled a wind sock to go very slow.  Dodgers need to swing not rotate.  Wifes rod with 3 oz weight a couple feet above dodger outfished my downrigger rod early in the morning by far.  I think there's better action without a rigger.  Later in the morning the rigger worked better.

Most guys use the swift launch.  I camped a shannon and put in there which is just a dirt/gravel launch.

Be on the water ready to fish at first light.

You may be a little early fishin it as there just starting to load up the lake.

[jeepasaurusrex]

Thanks for the info.  We would fish later but they are only going to be out here that weekend.

So, when your setting up your rig, it goes: Reel--line--sinker---flasher---leader---mini squid?

[206]

That's it.

Just read some reports of fish being caught now, so you should be good.

Start with 20 pulls.

[h2ofowlr]

We fished it the last 3 days pretty slow.  Only saw a few fish caught each day.  Should be hot at months end.

[JohnVH]

My brother just got back from there yesterday, they said it was ok, they caught 3 sockeye in two days, and some kokanee.

Where is the quietest campground on the lake that you can take a travel trailer to? Ive never been there but would like to go this year.

[Kola16]

Ok, I have never caught a sockeye, but you guys made me really interested. I don't have a downrigger, or a working fish finder, sooooooooo how far from the shore should I be  About how deep do they hang out?

[jeepasaurusrex]

We're going up with the philosophy "Give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day".  I figure by the end of the day we will have it figured out. 

[BOWHUNTER45]

and do not just pull up to the launch and exspect to launch as soon as you get there.... it may be hours 

[jeepasaurusrex]

I plan on being there around 5-6am

[WSU]

I plan on being there around 5-6am

You may want to be there earlier (maybe a lot) if you plan to be fishing a first light (not sunrise, but first light).  I've also heard that parking can get almost impossible if you aren't launched prior to 6 or so.

[johnnyaustin44]

I plan on being there around 5-6am

You may want to be there earlier (maybe a lot) if you plan to be fishing a first light (not sunrise, but first light).  I've also heard that parking can get almost impossible if you aren't launched prior to 6 or so.

true. I launched at four at the dam second boat at the parking lot and there was about 40 boats fishing when we got to the spot. I've heard the other launches are a zoo.

[Ripper]

Ok, I have never caught a sockeye, but you guys made me really interested. I don't have a downrigger, or a working fish finder, sooooooooo how far from the shore should I be  About how deep do they hang out?

Just go where everyone else is and start asking how deep they're fishing. Most people will tell you that. Try to troll in same direction as everyone else also. You don't want to be the one idiot trolling opposite of the rest of the Armada pissing everyone off.  Good luck

[h2ofowlr]

Caught 3 this morning.  Watch out, the crowd is starting to gather at Holiday Market buying stuff.  Expect this weekend, Friday-Sunday to be a zoo.  Last season there were times when it took you 45 min. to get your boat in the water due to the line.

If you don't have a down rigger or a depth finder do a poor man's down rigger set up.  Get a heavy weight, down rigger ball, fill a can with lead, etc.  Mark your rope at 5' or 10' intervals.  Tie it to the side of the boat, but make sure you at least purchase a Scott down rigger release as they are cheap and go that route.  Ask around and see what depth the other guys are catching them on.  Probably 17'-25' range right now.

Best of luck.

[Kola16]

If you don't have a down rigger or a depth finder do a poor man's down rigger set up.  Get a heavy weight, down rigger ball, fill a can with lead, etc.  Mark your rope at 5' or 10' intervals.  Tie it to the side of the boat, but make sure you at least purchase a Scott down rigger release as they are cheap and go that route.  Ask around and see what depth the other guys are catching them on.  Probably 17'-25' range right now.

Best of luck.

I am totally going to try that. It sounds awesome, and funny  Hopefully, people will be willing to give up the depth because my fish finder is broken