Baker Lake Sockeye

[Anonymous]

The following is from a WDFW News Release dated July 16th. It should be an interesting fishery. We visited the PSE collection facility on Sunday afternoon and the fish they are trucking from the Baker river collection facility to Baker Lake are very bright and I would say 3 to 7 or 8 pounds.

For the first time, Baker Lake
will open for sockeye fishing

OLYMPIA - For the first time, anglers will be able to fish for sockeye salmon in Baker Lake, where the fish are returning in significantly higher numbers than expected. From July 22 until further notice, anglers can retain up to two adult sockeye salmon that exceed 18 inches in length from Baker Dam upstream to the mouth of the Baker River. All other salmon must be released, and no fishing will be allowed between the dam and the log boom at the lower end of the lake. More than 10,000 sockeye have returned to hatchery facilities and artificial spawning beaches on the lake, exceeding this year’s 6,300-fish escapement goal, said Brett Barkdull, a fish biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

"People have been waiting a long time to be able to fish for sockeye salmon in Baker Lake," Barkdull said. "This year’s run isn’t huge by historical standards, but we’ve exceeded our goals for both hatchery-reared sockeye and naturally spawning fish needed for production." Harvest opportunities for returning fish will be shared by recreational and tribal fisheries, he said. Barkdull said improving ocean conditions have helped to boost survival rates for young sockeye returning to the watershed. Meanwhile, the installation of a juvenile-collection facility at the upper Baker Dam has improved the transfer of out-migrating smolts downstream to Puget Sound, he said. But the biggest boon to area sockeye fishing may be the completion of a new hatchery facility on Baker Lake, Barkdull said. Starting next year, smolt production in the watershed is expected to increase significantly at the new facility built by Puget Sound Energy as part of a 2008 hydroelectric licensing agreement. "We hope to eventually produce enough sockeye fry to bring 75,000 adult fish back to the watershed," Barkdull said. "We’ve been working toward that goal for a long time and we know what it would mean for sockeye fishing in the watershed."

[dave g]

right on. that is good news. it's not too far of a drive for me to fish up there, but i've never had alot of luck . unfortunately i have to go back east for a week then back to work overseas for 3 months or so. i'll be keeping my eye out for the reports tho...

[soulfishhawk]

sounds pretty cool

[Matt]

I already have a camping/fishing overnight trip planned for next week. Monday and Tuesday sounds like it is a go. Hopefully there are some fish around!!

[racfish]

Hey Matt. What kind of Lake is Baker Lake. Are motors allowed? should I think more dingy or pontoon better then a 17 footer. Any ideas ? You can pm me ifin you like. You too rseas.

[bcalvert]

What kind of Lake is Baker Lake. Are motors allowed?

It is a large lake, motors are ok. Bring the largest boat you have and give those recreational users a run for their money.

[BentRod]

Big lake, see comparison to Sammamish.

[saltyseadog]

I already have a camping/fishing overnight trip planned for next week. Monday and Tuesday sounds like it is a go. Hopefully there are some fish around!!

hey matt where you campin up there? i was just wonderin

[Bruce Nelson]

We are heading up tommorow morning, should get there around noon. My wife got us a cabin in Rockport so we will fish Friday AM also. I'm going to rig up like I would for Lake Washington or Wenatchee, 0 dodger and bare red hook.

[Anonymous]

nice, wish I could go. Go with those bare red hooks and dodgers and you should do good, once you find the schools. Let us know how it goes. BTW, don't be afraid if the fish are reddened up a bit, we ate fish from lake Wenatchee years ago that had colored up and they tasted great!

[Matt]

I have also heard that adding a cured coon stripe shrimp tail to the hooks works well. That's what they have been using over in EWa for the Columbia Sockeye. Let us know how you do tomorrow!!

As for camping, not sure, think we will most likely be boat camping on the far side of the lake.

[rseas]

Please note that if you catch sockeye while participating in the Baker Lake fishery you are required to immediately record your catch and WDFW created a new catch code for the Baker Lake fishery, the code is 825. Multiple game wardens were going from boat to boat conducting on the water checks.

[Matt]

Is it a selective gear fishery or can you use barbs? I can't wait to try it out, seems the fish just keep coming! They just reopened the river for more fishing.

[racfish]

In the first days of Lk Wa sockeye we used L-9 or a M-2 Flatfish.or even a U-20. They worked real well till we discovered the bare hook deal. Flatfish may be the way too. This is a first for Baker. Isnt there mass stumps in there to use riggers and trolling deep?

[BentRod]

In the first days of Lk Wa sockeye we used L-9 or a M-2 Flatfish.or even a U-20. They worked real well till we discovered the bare hook deal. Flatfish may be the way too. This is a first for Baker. Isnt there mass stumps in there to use riggers and trolling deep?

rac, what's the "bare hook deal" ?

[racfish]

Using a bare red Gomakatsu hook behind the Dodger.The red , blue and black hooks resemble the Quill and plankton Sockeye eat.Thats the bare hook deal.

[curado]

i was up there today. landed 3 lost another 4 so they are in there

[TomD]

Where's the best place to launch??? The Horseshoe Cove campground looks like it would work... Is there a simpler, easier place??? I'd like a dock so I don't have to beach if possible!!!

[Matt]

Using a bare red Gomakatsu hook behind the Dodger.The red , blue and black hooks resemble the Quill and plankton Sockeye eat.Thats the bare hook deal.

I'd hate to say it but I really do not think the fish are striking the bare hooks.... they are taking a swing at the dodger out of aggression and incidentally hooking themselves on the trailing hooks. Flossing.

Check out this video:
http://muttleycrewfishing.com/web_media ... erring.wmv

Notice the frequent strikes at the dodger, as well as the frequent erratic movements around the bait that could have easily resulted in a hookup. Right at 34 seconds is where you watch the fish floss himself. The fish takes the herring, then comes back and smacks the flasher resulting in a hookup. Neat stuff.

[fear_no_fish]

Using a bare red Gomakatsu hook behind the Dodger.The red , blue and black hooks resemble the Quill and plankton Sockeye eat.Thats the bare hook deal.

I'd hate to say it but I really do not think the fish are striking the bare hooks.... they are taking a swing at the dodger out of aggression and incidentally hooking themselves on the trailing hooks. Flossing.

Check out this video:
http://muttleycrewfishing.com/web_media ... erring.wmv

Notice the frequent strikes at the dodger, as well as the frequent erratic movements around the bait that could have easily resulted in a hookup. Right at 34 seconds is where you watch the fish floss himself. The fish takes the herring, then comes back and smacks the flasher resulting in a hookup. Neat stuff.

you bring up a good point here, if sockeye are attacking the flasher and then getting hooked like that fish then would it make sense that you can catch them on a lure or bait?