Northwest Fishing Reports

sockeye(AKA Red Salmon) the smallest of the 5 northwest salmon species. normally averaging 2 to 4 pounds with some in the 5-9 lbs range. tail is covered with small black spots. rivers that hold good runs of them are the baker-skagit and the columbia- okanogan, wenatchee rivers. when spawning males turn bright red and heads are green. mouths are completely white. when urning into spawning colors look grey. there is now here in about 5 to 6 years going to be 3 hatcheries for sockeye salmon: 1 on baker, lake wenatchee, and the cedar river

Sure wish we could get a great population returning every year to Lake Washington. Your post reminded me of all the great days I've had out on the big lake a few years back when they had those great returns. It was often great fishing and those fish were all very bright and were some of the tastiest salmon I've eaten.

the last 2 pics are lake wenatchee sockeye. this year was the longest it has ever been open

It would be nice to see a month long season in the summer on the big lake. If you think that Lake Washington is crowded during Seafair, go check opening day of a Sockeye season on that lake. You'll never see so many boats fishing and the thing is, everyone who knows what they are doing catches fish. The guys in the wakeboarding boats and kayaks don't get much, but anyone with downriggers usually get limits...

The contributions to the local economy are also well worth considering, between gas/launching fees/tackle/food...

let's keep these threads focused on fish IDs... and starte new threads for new topics. thx.