Todd,

Whew! Almost redemption. Wish you had gotten more hookups. Mind you, that's not my secret weapon. I first learned about the red and black hooks during the 1988 Lake WA sockeye fishery, when only a few thousand anglers knew about it - a real secret! Didn't understand it then and still don't. I wonder if the red hook looks and moves like the euphasids that sockeye feed on. But that hook works. Trailed off a Muddler Minnow, the sockeye will grab the hook and never the fly. Yet Dolly Varden and Jack chinook and steelhead will all grab the fly and never the red hook. One of life's sweet puzzles.

Over 9500 sockeyes have returned to Baker, projected to finish at between 10 to 11,000, almost twice the preseason estimate. Wish the Lk WA fish had done the same. I hope this little fishery continues to grow; they're great eating.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.