Will there be a Lk Washington Sockeye fishery this year?

The number of fish through the locks is getting close.  It's better run than the forecast.  I was at at the locks on Sunday afternoon.  If you've never seen the schools come through, well, you should go see for yourself.  Hundreds (thousands) of fish are stacking up.  They've been getting 10K+ per day going through.

I'm going to guess that if there is a season, it will open up for 1 day on the weekend of the derby.  Darn!

-Allen

Since they measure run size till the end of the month, I'm going to guess they won't open till the next week, if they open it at all. There has to be enough of a run above the escapement goal, that a season (even one day) won't take them below the escapement goal.

WDFW sockeye pages- http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/fish/sockeye/counts.htm#counts

Good eye, Polepole.  If Pisco is right and the season doesn't coinside with our derby weekend then I'll definitely put in at least one morning trying the sockeye thing.  I tried it from a canoe maybe 10 years ago and it didn't work at all.  Too many motor boats and the wind had it's way with me.  A kayak ought to be just the thing.

If you go, you need to remember that you're going to want to troll a bare red hook behind a flasher (not a spinner) at 60' to 90' deep.  That's not easy without a down-rigger but I'm convinced that it CAN be done.  You can forget the dipsy-diver blade, it'll never get you deep enough.  I plan to use a good amount of lead well in front of my flasher so the flasher has the slack to do the big radius spiral that it's made to do.  That's a lot of hardware flopping around if you get a hook-up, but without the down-rigger what else are you gonna do?

Fishin-T

#0 dodger, 10-15 inches of leader to a bare red 3/0 hook.  Troll dead slow ... which shouldn't be a problem in a yak.  As a kid, we used to target them with 4-6 opunces of lead.  That was back when the U20 flatfish was the lure of choice.

Unfortunately, I really think it will be derby weekend.  The weekend after that is Seafair.  I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm going to guess Friday and Saturday.  I heard they are meeting on Monday and may decide then.  If they do open it on Friday, it's going to be tough for me not to "detour" on my way to Neah Bay.

-Allen

I've done pretty well from my kayak on Lake Washington sockeye.  Paddle very slowly with an 8 oz mooching sinker, small flasher and 2 red hooks on 80 pulls of line.  Just follow all the boats to stay on the fish and avoid traffic issues.  It's really crowded out there and many people are drunk and/or don't have a clue. 

I've launched from the small launch at the mouth of the Cedar.  It's a "hand carry only" boat launch, but it's mobbed with trailered boats on sockeye days anyway. 

I carry a dry bag filled with ice in the cockpit of the boat to keep the fish cool.  It's generally pretty hot and the meat quality will degrade quickly if you don't cool them down quickly.  Sockeye fishing isn't very sporting but they taste great on the grill. 

Keep your fingers crossed on getting a season!

Rumor mill is saying a Sat-Mon opening.  Drats!!!  There is no way I can make this fishery now as I'm on an early Monday flight to London.

-Allen

It's official ... Sat-Mon.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003148967_websockeye24.html

Good luck to those of you that can make it.

-Allen

BTW, welcome to the site davew!

-Allen

OK.  My business trip to London got cancelled.  I'd like to hit up the sockeyes on Monday either first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon.  Who's game?

-Allen

I plan to be out there Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings from dawn to ~8:00 or so.  I'll be launching from the small ramp at the mouth of the Cedar River.  Look for me in my Chesapeake 17 (green hull, varnished wood deck).  It would be great to see some other kayak guys out there. 

Good luck!

If I can get my butt out of bed first thing Monday morning after a weekend of fishing hard, I just might see you there.

-Allen

I could get up.  Alarm went off at 5.  I thought to myself I'd close my eyes for a couple more minutes and get up.  Next thing you know it's 8:00.  So how did you do this weekend davew?

BTW, there are rumors of a 3 days extension ... Tuesday through Thursday.  D'oh!  I'll be back down in San Jose those 3 days.

-Allen

I got out for a couple hours each on Saturday and Sunday mornings.  The wind and chop made fishing difficult.  I hooked multiple fish both days but lost all but one on Saturday.  That one went on the BBQ last night YUM!

I lost most of the fish while simultaneously getting the bouncing rod out of the holder and keeping the boat steady in the confused seas/boat wakes.  I never really have this problem in the salt, but it definitely was an issue this weekend on the lake. 

I think the marginal weather kept most of the "interesting" boats off the water.  I was the only kayaker at the south end of the lake Saturday morning.  I did see one double putting in when I was leaving on Sunday.  There were a few canoes out there on Saturday, but no pontoon boats or inflatable pool toys either day. 

The extension is real.  It will be Wednesday and Thursday this week.  Good luck to those of you that can make it.

-Allen

Rumors of another opening next Monday and Tuesday.  I'll be back in town and am planning to hit it up one or both of those days if it indeed opens up.  Anyone game?

-Allen