Lake Wenatchee Sockey?

[deadyote]

Has anyone heard if there is going to be a season this year yet?  It seems that the numbers over the Bonneville dam are way up and usually the season is in a week or so.  I just haven't heard if it's open or not and when.  Anybody hear anything or am I still too early?

[Jburke]

Have you checked the WDFW site?  If you check the emergency rule changes it will show you any new info.

[remington300mag]

No word yet. Also, they have not been posting the counts to dart yet...... Then again I do not trust the counts they post for Tumwater Dam anyway! After years of them messing with the actually counts, it would not surprise me one bit if they find a way not to open it.....
We need 23K escapement before they will consider opening it.....right now the difference between Rock Island and Rocky Reach is 57,574.

[deadyote]

OK thanks.  It always seems to be a last minute opening anyways.

[remington300mag]

They updated the counts on dart today......the difference between Rock Island and Rocky Reach is now over 58,000....yet the Tumwater count is 0! This is updated as of the 18th. Going to make a drive up there tomorrow and give the counter an eye exam.....lol

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Eye examine for sure!

[Naches Nightmare]

Any word on the eye exam?

[winshooter88]

Right now they don't expect to have a fishery on Lake Wenatchee. Almost all of the fish are expected to go up the Okanogan River and into Canada. there are still almost 200,000 sockeye below Priest Rapids according to the fish counts.

[remington300mag]

Right now they don't expect to have a fishery on Lake Wenatchee. Almost all of the fish are expected to go up the Okanogan River and into Canada. there are still almost 200,000 sockeye below Priest Rapids according to the fish counts.

I would say your numbers are off by just a couple hundred thousand!!! LOL If there are really 200K still below priest rapids, that would mean we would be getting over 600K sockeye over that dam....which would be 100K more than Bonneville! Is that possible....NOPE!
As of today there has been 392,750 sockeye over priest rapids.....and that is with missing 5 days of the count. The numbers are dropping off at this point.
Now, who ever told you the sockeye are all going up the Okanogan is full of crap, just look at the fish counts between Rocky Reach and Rock Island...... What happened to the 50,000 fish.....Guess they just evaporated like a fart in the wind.....It is a scam....Plain and simple!

[remington300mag]

Any word on the eye exam?

Got up there too late yesterday....waiting on my little lady to get home before we drove up. By the time I got there, nobody to be found and ladder was shut down.......Will be trying again tomorrow

[Jburke]

No need to get worked up about it. Lol.

[remington300mag]

Stopped into Tumwater Dam today at 3pm....No one counting, ladder shut, and the sockeye were absolutely stacked up right in front of the ladder door.......

[eastside boy]

Stopped into Tumwater Dam today at 3pm....No one counting, ladder shut, and the sockeye were absolutely stacked up right in front of the ladder door.......

300...how's it going?  I just wanted to put your mind at ease on this topic.  The fish are in fact being counted 24/7 there at Tumwater.  When the crews are not there actively trapping and counting at the chute, the fish are still being counted.  There is actually a small viewing room (window in the ladder) in which video equipment is in place and also counting fish.  Gates are swithched so that the fish will travel past the camera.  I have noticed that there has been this misunderstanding here in the last couple of years...since there has been a few changes in the way that trapping facility has been operated, which is understandable.  The public has become acustom to seeing the facility being staffed more often.  The counts taken here actually pretty darn accurate relatively speaking. Anyway, hope this gives you a bit more insight on how the data is collected at this site.

later

[UBA]

Is there anywhere to see the current tumwater counts. Curious to see the numbers

[fishnate]

I am one of the counters and my eyes are great. Everyone thinks they know whats up relax.

[CP]

I am one of the counters and my eyes are great. Everyone thinks they know whats up relax.

So what's the count?

[fishnate]

Alot 6000+ a day

[Ripper]

Do you think there will be a season fishnate?

[doyourtime89]

https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=1215

[remington300mag]

I am one of the counters and my eyes are great. Everyone thinks they know whats up relax.

Fishnate, I only know what I have seen with my own 2 eyes....that isn't even taking into account conversations I have had with with a local Bio who also questioned the counting that took place there.....

So, are you a pud counter or one of the research counters??? This is a message I got from a very reliable source on another forum.....A few other guys got the same message that I know of....."The WDFW has a research project at Tumwater that severely restricts the number of fish that can pass while the research is being conducted. That can be 3 days a week. On the other days the fish ladder is open but the counting has been suspect. The PUD is going to count on the non-research days and the numbers should be posted soon."   

Also, I see they posted an opening today......Now time to start bitching about the lack of launches and parking!!! LOL

[fishnate]

I have ran that trap for nine years and the count is very accurate be it video or a person sitting there passing the fish. I hope everyone gets out and hammers the sockeye!

[eastside boy]

300....which local Bio did you talk to?

[winshooter88]

300, get as upset as you want, just going by the count numbers I saw. Glad that it is going to open as I like it better than the the Brewster fishery. If you look at the WDFW announcement, it says a three fish a day limit.  Also the announcement said they expect at least 30,000 fish to return to the lake, which makes about 7000 fish available to the sportsmen.

[deadyote]

Where are you seeing that there is going to be a fishery this year?  I just looked at the WDFW site and didn't see it?

[winshooter88]

I get all the E-mail updates and got one today that says that it opens on the 4th. It is there on the WDFW website under the fishing page where it shows fishing rule updates.

[deadyote]

Found it thanks.  I should have noticed that the web site was posted earlier.  I'm almost off of work and really tired

[CP]

August 1, 2012

Lake Wenatchee sockeye fishery opens Aug. 4

Action: Lake Wenatchee opens for sockeye salmon fishing.

Effective date: One hour before official sunrise Aug. 4 through Aug. 31, 2012.

Species affected: Sockeye salmon.

Daily limit: The daily limit per angler is three sockeye, 12 inches in length or greater.

Location: Lake Wenatchee (Chelan Co.).

Reason for action: More than 30,000 fish are expected to migrate past Tumwater Dam on the Wenatchee River. At least 7,000 fish are estimated to be available for harvest above the natural spawning escapement goal of 23,000 fish.

Other information: Selective gear rules are in effect (single barbless lures or flies, no bait or scent allowed, knotless nets required). Bull trout, steelhead, and chinook salmon must be released unharmed without removing the fish from the water. Two-pole endorsement is not valid for this fishery. A night closure will be in effect. Legal angling hours are one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license as well as a Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement (CRSSE).

NOTE: The Lake Wenatchee sockeye fishery may be closed on short notice depending on participation and catch rates. Anglers are advised to check the fishing hotline at 360-902-2500 or WDFW’s website daily.

Important angler note: All sockeye with a floy (anchor) tag attached and/or one or more round ¼ inch in diameter holes punched in the caudal (tail) fin must be released. These fish are essential to ongoing studies being conducted by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Information contact: Travis Maitland, District 7 fish biologist, (509) 665-3337 (Wenatchee District Office); Jeff Korth, Region 2 Fish Program manager (509) 754-4624.