Here's a press release from the WDFW dated July 13, 2001: (this is from their website)

Sockeye numbers too low for fishing

OLYMPIA – State and tribal fish managers agreed today that a sockeye salmon fishery in Lake Washington will not occur this year because there are not enough returning fish.

Biologists and fish managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Muckleshoot, Tulalip and Suquamish tribes reached the decision after reviewing the number of adult sockeye which have returned to the lake through the Hiram Chittenden Locks in Ballard.

Scientists agree that at least 350,000 fish must survive to spawn so that future runs are strong enough to support fisheries. As of July 13, the number of fish was below 350,000.

Last year, a returning run of over 400,000 fish provided an early July fishery that drew some 75,000 recreational anglers to the lake over a 10-day period, and also provided a tribal net fishery.


Alot of e-mail energy went into a recent thread on this topic that Big Bob was kind enough to close out. Much of that misunderstanding could have been avoided. Perhaps next time some of the more vocal participants in that thread could get all the facts before stating their strongly held opinions. I don't mean to imply that anyone should change their views but if you're going to have an intelligent discussion, it should be supported by good information. That one wasn't.....