Ok, I've done my research on this board and several others on this bare hook method.
My dad and I have fished Lk. Washington since I was a kid but we used red flatfish , I think they were flatfish- red plastic plug with hooks. Anyhow, last time we went we got skunked while others up North were getting easy limits. He always did the rigging, so bear with me with a few questions before I hit the store.
First, I've read all the way from 9 inch leaders to 36 inch ones. So, does this just matter on trolling speed or depth too?
Second, I read very heavy leaders. One report said 50# another said 30# mainline and heavier leader. I really don't remember using real heavy line, but if this is the way....
Third, does everyone use a fish finder and depth finder? We never used either and always caught fish until the last season.

The season is so short now that I want to get it right . Dad is fairly stubborn in his ways, but I figure if I rig one line this way and get bites that he'll listen.

Gosh, I remember uttering my first bad word on Lk. WA. I got the sockeye all the way to the boat before he super freaked and got off. "Damnit"!!!!! Ooops, I waited for my Dad to get mad at my language but I think he understood.

Best method for Lake Washington Sockeye:

Troll just above the schools (five feet max.) and keep your speed at 2 to 2 1/2 mph. Because you are trolling fast, use a long leader made from matrial that is soft and low in memory. Folks that troll slow, and are over a fishless area will waste a lot time before hooking up.

Set up: one single black or red 4/0 hook tied with 10 to 12 pound leader 30 to 48 inches to a size "0" half chrome half brass dodger. If you are fishing from a large vessel that won't troll down to 2.5 mph just make your leader longer...trust me...this works.

If ya want to have some real fun, forget the dodger and tie on a size 3 white/red head needle fish spoon or 3.5 Army Truck Coyote spoon and run them about 30 plus feet behind your down rigger, still trolling at 2 1/2 mph. and staying about 5 feet above the schools. When fishing the spoon method, I use a lighter rod and reel....usually a steelhead rod and reel loaded with 10 pound test line. Don't use any swivels, tie your spoon directly to your main line. And if ya want to kick it up another notch....use 6 lb. line.

Hope this helps ya catch all the sockeye you can eat.

Cigar

Well, I'm sure everyone found methods that worked for them. My leaders tended to be about 16-20" and 20lb line. I use riggers and ran them down deep, sometimes to 85-90 ft. If you're going that deep you better have the fishfinder on just to check depth. As always, you can log on to WashingtonLakes.com and reading reports going all the way back to 1996. Good Luck!

This is what put's the sockeye in my boat.

#1 Medium-heavy rod 10-20lb / 20lb ultra green main line.
#2 Les davis "0" dodger half chrome half brass.
#3 16 - 20" 30 or 40lb ultra green leader.
#4 double 2/0 red gammi hook's.
#5 Shrimp scent on the dodger.
#6 60 to 75' down on the down rigger.
#7 Troll as slow as you can.
Leave the other rigger out while fighting the fish and you should end up with a double.
When things seem to slow down a little put some red / orange power bait on one of the hook's.Although not known for there fight as much as there table fare,I've had them break 20lb main and 25lb leaders.This is why I beef it up some,It's not fun loosing a good dodger then trying to find one during the season.Stock up on dodgers and red hook's "NOW" what you don't use this year you will have for the next time.Finding this stuff after the fact suck's.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Similar to Strike Zone---

20 lb main
size 0 dodger, I go with the chrome/flash combo
30-40 lb leader that is about 18"
single or double 2/0 red Gami
rigger down at 60 and one at 80

Search depths and area's until you find them, once you do, you can easily limit.

Also, last season we were out there, I wasn't getting any going south down the lake with the wind coming out of the south yet I was marking alot of fish. I ran down to the end of my drift and switched directions and instantly started hitting fish. The extra speed from going with the wind got the dodgers flashing and did the trick. Alot of folks firmly state dead slow troll. I have always done very well, and go about 2 mph. If I'm not hitting much, I speed up and it usually does the trick. Makes your offering different than the other 10,000 out there and that can mean all the difference.

I'll second the change direction tip from Predator Dog. We were out one evening with a good breeze going, I let the wind push us along (at a pretty good clip) using the motor for steerage - limits. A great evening of fishing. I have caught these fish at slow to moderate troll speeds. Mix it up!

same as the folks above. I use a "00" dodger, but everyting else about the same. I start at about 45' early and go to 60' to 80' pretty quick. If you get into fish, try to stay on them, and you can catch a bunch in a hurry.

I am going to try a pro troll 8" E chip flasher
Dan

Well we went a bit different last season. Being our first time out for Sockeyes we didn't want to use what "everyone else" used so we did some reading first, and talked to some people. Although Day 1,me and Easylimits hit it with just bare red hooks but we got skunked.

What worked for us Day 2 was 8lb main to a size 0 or smaller flasher or abeNal with 2 feet of 8lb leader tied to a single 1/0 red octopus hook with either red powerbait soaked in shrimp oil or we just slid a 3" hot pink or translucent pink curlytail grub on the hook. We just looked for the schools and put the downrigger right in them with our rigs about 10 feet behind the ball.

And to our amazement we hardly even had time to sit down. We hooked atleast 40 and landed about 25 of those. The powerbait worked but i hate powerbait so i used the grub instead and did just as good if not better and i didn't have to get messy. And i think the 2 hook method is faulty. We tried it with 1 and 2 and 1 hook held on much better than 2.

A Fly or jigging the grub will be the next test. Also, speed made no difference for us.

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