Has anyone heard if there is going to be a season on the lake this year? I was fishing for small mouth on Sunday and saw what I believe were Sockeye rolling in pretty good numbers. ( yes I'm ashamed to admit to bass fishing )

You probably saw the first few fish to enter the lake. The state doesn't keep track of the counts until mid-june. Check out the following site to follow the counts:
http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/fish/sockeye/counts.htm

If they equal last years counts, you can probably guess there will be a fishery.

I was so dead wrong on last years predictions, so I'm not the one to answer this question. My sources told me last year that there was no way there was going to be a fishery. Ooops. They couldn't have been more wrong.

it's possible it might of been suckers if you were in close to shore when they get in there spawning mode they tend to roll around next time flip a spoon or just about anything at them if it is suckers they will hit just about anything doug

Hey Craig,

Don't be too embarassed to be out chasing bronzebacks. How'd you do? Those can be some fun little buggers on light gear. I might be out poking around myself very soon. I can think of worse ways to spend a little time after or before work.

Bruce

I've never bass fished Lk. Washington but would love to learn how/where. Any tips would be great

Rumor is there will be a sockeye fishery this year.Look for any flats on the big lake and throw cranks or spinnerbaits until you locate some fish then work them with grubs or tubes.

The state is saying there could well be a sockeye fishery this summer, and it will depend on the counts at the locks beginning in June. If the return rate of adults relative to smolt counts is anything like last year's, there should be a fishery. Two years ago, apparently lots of smolts were counted going out...

Mr. Gray, We only got one fish all day and it was a small one. Maybe 1lb. My fishing partner , who owns the boat wants to keep the boat moving at warp speed instead of slowing down and giving the fish a chance to see the bait. At weigh in I witnessed a 5.98lb small mouth!!!! It was a toad! (can I call it that? Or is that not politically correct?) Funny thing is, the day before I went down and fished off one of my favorite docks and got 2 smallies in about 15 minutes. Thought I had a pattern figured out for the next day. Oh well! They are a fun fish to catch!

I was down at the Locks yesterday and checked out the viewing windows. It was high tide and there weren't any fish in the window. Still a little early...Keep your fingers crossed!

The Mrs. and myself were at the locks today, saw a couple fish in the window and tons of smolts flying out of the "smolt flinger". It looked like a minus tide.