L. Washington Sockeyes

[Steelie28]

Read Bill's column in the paper today and noticed that there could be a season this year for sox up north. Have any of you ever fished Lake Washington or the Ballard Locks area for sox? My mouth is watering just thinking about some fresh sockeye on the grill. Don't know the area up there real well but would be interested in giving it a shot. I assume any potential season would be mid-summer. Thanks in advance for any info.

Steelie28

[Predator Dawg]

If it happens, it will ususally go down in July. Watch www.piscatorialpursuits.com as there will be alot of chatter over there regarding the potential season and what to use.

[timinthegorge]

I agree with PD. Used to fish it years ago when I had webs between my toes.

If it does open, use 245/75/16's for bumpers, and get to the boat ramp by 3:30am.

There WILL be a crowd..... Yikes! :grin:

[Dragfreedrift]

Should be a season given the rosy forecasts I've seen. Watch the WDFW website starting in June and you will see sockeye counts as they come through the Ballard locks into the lake. The ironic thing is that I heard someone from the state was trying to explain that they may not be able to afford a fish counter this year to monitor the run!!!


The fishing itself is straighforward. Watch your depthsounder for schools of fish and set your depth accordingly. My magic depths in the past seasons have been 60, 75, and 90 ft.

Oddly enough, I always caught more when there were fewer fish on the screen as opposed to a huge school under the boat.

Rigging is simple....a dodger and a bare hook.

It used to be that people used a flatfish in U20 size, but it was found that a bare 1/0 or 2/0 hook worked better.

Some scent (smelly jelly on the leader/hook) really helps.

[Steelie28]

Is it strictly a lake fishery, or is there also a river fishery. Isn't it the Sammammish that drains the lake. I've only caught sockeyes in Alaska, and they are one of the best fish lb for lb up there in my opinion. I'm sure catching them in a lake is just as fun. Thanks for the info, I'll keep an eye on both sites.

Steelie28

[pijondon]

Some notes on the sockeye fishery in lake washington. The season opens when they figure they have more than 350000 fish to reach escapement goals. I am guessing about 4th 0f july or sooner. The last season only lasted 3 days with 10000 fisherman each day the 30000something sportsmans qouta was over. Lake sammamish drains into the north end of lake wash via the sammamish slough. The cedar river drains into the south end of of the lake and that is where the majority of the sockeye will be headed. It is usually closed north of the I-90 bridge. Coulon park in renton is one of the best launches you will see but it does get crowded after 3 am and the parks dept personnel only seem to make it worse. Be very early and patient. If you take out after about 10 am, expect an hour or so wait in line. I run downriggers with 6 lb balls. I set two rods on each, 10 feet apart. 45 and 55 feet on one and 50 and 60 feet on the other. I set the dodgers only about 10-15 feet from the balls. Remember, the entire south end of the lake will look like bouy 10. Just a lot slower pace! After the first hour I may start going deeper if the sun comes out. I have caught them at 95 feet but usually shallower. Overcast days keep the fish biting longer. The best set up is a chrome size o dodger with about 9 inches of leader and a bare 2/0-3/0 gamagatsu red hook. I will set some with a very small piece of red or chartreuse yarn wrapped on the shank, mainly to hold some shrimp oil scent. Craft store chenille works very well also. I will sometimes use a size 00 dodger with a 6-8 inch leader on the shallower rods. The short leader is because you MUST be trolling very SLOWLY and the dodger won't inpart any action to the hook if the leader is any longer. This method also works very well on the coho in the north end of the lake in the fall. I highly reccommend an electric trolling motor. I use a pinpoint which also has side scanning sonar so I can follow the highest concentrations of fish. It also has a remote foot control so I can drive the boat from any position. I use 25-30 pound mainline and 30 lb leaders. The fish average only 4-6 lbs but seem to roll themselves around everything. On the dodgers the smooth ones work much better than hammered finish, I believe it is the lesser water resistance of the smoth finish, gives it more action for the slow speed. You could catch them on U-20 flatfish or qwikfish but the bare hook will out fish you at least 10 to 1. WARNING!!! The fisheries people will be on the lake in mass! THEY WILL TICKET YOU if you put your rod back into the water before you PUNCH YOUR CARD! $170.00 I believe was the fine. I always keep everyones punchcard on a clipboard in the glovebox with a pen or two attached. It is convenient and quick and I also do the same fishing out of ilwaco. The lake is closed within 100 yds of the mouth of the cedar river. I have been warned when I was 500 yds off the mouth. The fisheries people have no clue about estimating distance. I may write to them and ask them to anchor a marker out there so thier own people can tell distance.

[snit]

Wow! Now that's some information!! Great post!!!

[Canyon Man]

My boat is moored in the lake and will have plenty of open seat opportunities when in comes time!!!

[Steelie28]

pijondon,

That's what I was looking for, great post. Sounds like combat fishing, but I'm there. I just got some new tires so I'll keep the old ones for bumbers. Hopefully there will be enough fish to warrant a season. Thanks again.

Steelie28

[Troller]

I have been fishing the sockeye in the lake since the 70's . It is combat fishing at its best. The recomendation to get their by 3:30 am is good but probably the latest. Be prepared to walk a mile back and forth to your rig and lots of waiting in line. Limits are the norm. bare hooks and a flasher or dodger works great. I use 50 pound mono 3 feet above the flasher and then foot back to the bare hooks. Fish the south end below the the 520 bridge or even further below the I 90 bridge. Avoid the crowds they dont do any better than us that are floating around by ourselves . Their allway is someone that will cut right in front of everyone that is why is use downrigger to avoid the mess. and the long liners with 200 yards of line behind their boats. Slow and I mean slow is the word for speed you dont want your flasher or dodger to turn over just sway back and forth a little. Thats why a dodger is probably a better pick. You better have all the proper licences also and pfd's . Their are alot of them out checking. Great eating fish . I wouldnt fish it if I had to launch. Luckly I have a friend that lives on the lake that lets me moore my boat.