Baker or Wenatchee for sockeye

[Bmcox86]

I have a four day weekend next week and was wondering where my chances would be better. Plan on camping with the wife and kid and dog. Going to be using a small aluminum boat with electric motor. Did baker last year with no luck.
 Any help is appreciated.

[bowguy]

Go to lake wenatchee.

[Bmcox86]

Why? Is it easier fishing? Less crowded? Better fishing? This is my last summer in washington before I transfer next summer and I really want to catch some sockeye

[ckr]

Tag.  I am heading to baker next week
  Wondering how fishing has been

[Kola16]

The numbers haven't been anything to boast about at Baker It is starting to pick up, but who knows....

[762Armo]

http://www.washingtonlakes.com/ReportComment.aspx?id=69234&lid=97&t=1

Good review of baker lake.

[quadrafire]

My FIL that lives on Lake Wenatchee is fishing the Columbia at Brewster this week. I don't think the numbers have made it into the lake yet. I haven't checked, but it may not even be open for sockeye yet?? When it does open just follow the boats. I think most fish the north end.

[Whitpirate]

It opens the 19th.

I'll be hitting it mid-week next week.  Camping at Fish Lake for the kids for a few days prior.

[WSU]

I've fished Lake Wenatchee a fair amount.  Not sure how many fish will be there when you go, but PM me if you want how-to info.

[h2ofowlr]

Hmmm!  O'Dark 30 fishery on Baker and 2 fish limit vs. 6 fish limit on the CR in Wenatchee and the possibility of catching 2 kings for a 8 fish limit.  Hmm.  As of today they have only placed 1,180 fish in Baker Lake.  Rock Island dam count for Sockeye is over 375,000.  Your are slightly higher.   

[h2ofowlr]

FISHING — The record run of sockeye up the Columbia River has made way for a salmon season on Lake Wenatchee starting Saturday, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has just announced.


Action:   Lake Wenatchee opens for sockeye salmon fishing.

Effective date: July 19, 2014 (one hour before official sunrise).

Species affected:   Sockeye salmon

Daily limit: The daily limit per angler is 6 sockeye, 12 inches in length or greater. 

Location:   Lake Wenatchee (Chelan Co.)

Reason for action:   Based on current sockeye passage at both Tumwater Dam and mainstem Columbia River Dams, at least 65,000 total sockeye are projected to be destined for Lake Wenatchee. This provides an estimated 42,000 sockeye to be available for harvest above the natural spawning escapement goal of 23,000 fish. 

Other information: Selective gear rules (up to three single barbless hooks per line, no bait or scent allowed, knotless nets required) in effect. Anglers may fish with 2 poles as long as they possess a valid two-pole endorsement.  A night closure will be in effect.  Legal angling hours are one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.  Bull trout, steelhead, and chinook salmon must be released unharmed without removing the fish from the water.

NOTE:   The Lake Wenatchee sockeye fishery may be closed on short notice depending on participation and catch rates.  Anglers are advised to check daily the fishing hotline at 360-902-2500 or WDFW’s website at https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/rules_all_freshwater.j

Anglers are required to possess a Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement as part of their valid fishing license.  Revenue from the endorsement supports salmon or steelhead seasons on many rivers in the Columbia River system, including enforcing fishery regulations and monitoring the Columbia River fisheries.  The endorsement has generated more than $1 million annually for WDFW to maintain and increase fishing opportunities throughout the Columbia River basin.

[bowguy]

Halfway down the lake and the opposite end of lake Wenatchee we always slam them. It usually opens the first weekend of August so this shows how many are on the way. I looked at tumwater dam count yesterday and it was already at 14k this is just the beginning of the run. They are cataloging for 65k. Pm me if you need some info.

[MtnMuley]

I'd choose Wenatchee without a doubt.  They have great genetics and are always the largest of the sockeye to come up the Columbia. Jumbo ' s as far as Columbia sockeye go. 

[ckr]

With the fires burning, can you even get to lake Wenatchee?   Hwy 2 is closed from stevens pass east to levenworth

[winshooter88]

It's going to be hard for anyone to fish Lake Wenatchee unless they get the  fires up there controlled. Highway 2 has been closed most of the day from the summit of Stevens Pass to Leavenworth, and the Chumstick Highway is closed as well as part of the fire is moving that way. If you can get to the lake it could be pretty smokie with all the fires burning now. I live in the general area and right now I couldn't get to Lake Wenatchee.

[Bullkllr]

It's going to be hard for anyone to fish Lake Wenatchee unless they get the  fires up there controlled. Highway 2 has been closed most of the day from the summit of Stevens Pass to Leavenworth, and the Chumstick Highway is closed as well as part of the fire is moving that way. If you can get to the lake it could be pretty smokie with all the fires burning now. I live in the general area and right now I couldn't get to Lake Wenatchee.

 
July 17, 2014
Contact: Craig Bartlett, (360) 902-2259
   
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Road closures may block access to
Lake Wenatchee sockeye opener

OLYMPIA - Anglers are advised that all roads are currently closed to Lake Wenatchee, where a popular sockeye salmon fishery is set to open Saturday (July 19).

With several wildfires burning in the area, state officials have closed U.S. Highway 2 east of Stevens Pass as well as Old State Route 209 ("Chumstick Road") between Leavenworth and the lake.

Washington State Parks has also closed entry to Lake Wenatchee State Park, the site of the primary boat launch on the lake.

"The sockeye fishery will open as scheduled, but anglers may have to wait for a few days to get to it," said Jeff Korth, regional fish manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. "We strongly advise they check reports on fire and road conditions before they head out."

Sources of that information include:

    Fire Status: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3937/
    Road Closures: http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/trafficalerts/default.aspx
    Lake Wenatchee State Park: http://www.parks.wa.gov/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=167

Information on the upcoming sockeye fishery is available on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/.

[quadrafire]

Well if you can get to it, you likely won't be fishing in a crowd

[Stein]

Baker hasn't turned on and the trap numbers the last couple days are bleak.  I'm going to try to hit it on Wednesday if the lightning doesn't happen.  If I could muster the drive, Wenatchee would be hands-down the better bet.  Even better than that would be Wells or Brewster.