Can someone give me a link to the Lake Washington sockeye counts? I know the WDFW site has them but they haven't posted any this year yet. I remember Sky-guy posting some daily counts and I'd like to knw were they are from. Thanks.

Nevermind. I just checked and they are up now.

http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/fish/sockeye/counts.htm

Date Daily Count Total Count Date Daily Count Total Count
June 12 1,801 1,801
June 13 1,914 3,715
June 14 1,492 5,207
June 15 2,892 8,099
June 16 2,710 10,809


Only 340,000 more to go!

So far the run seems to mirror the 2002 run, and is even slightly ahead of it. Another week or two and we should really know how strong it will be. This is a fun time to take the kids down to the locks to see the fish if you haven't done it before.

Over 5,000 on Tuesday, HERE THEY COME!!!! :p

I wouldn't bet on a sport fishery this year -- the current counts don't indicate the very strong run that was forecast:

2004 -- 34k fish by 6/22

2003 -- 16k fish by 6/22, 200k total
2002 -- 29k fish by 6/22, 380k total
2001 -- 50k fish by 6/22, 270k total
2000 -- 68k fish by 6/22, 415k total

average 2000 - 2003 -- 41k fish by 6/22, 316k total.

We need some 20,000 count days here real quick!

We need some 20,000 count days here real quick!

Selling for a 1.39 a pound at Alberstons, wonder where it comes from.

We'll get some 15k to 20k day's here real soon.The numbers don't match up to the previous seasons and or the no fishing seasons.There is more fish over then in the past when we did have a season and fewer then when we didn't get one.Go figure.Let's wait till the first week of July before we start to freak on it.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

I'm with you Strike Zone. The larger counts should be showing here in the next week or so. I bet we'll be fishing the 3rd weekend of July. That'll be kinda cool if they open it up that 3rd weekend, fish it first thing in the morning Friday than pull out early and head over to the Elliot bubble, hmmm . Come on Sockeye counts .

Remember that the springers were late this year. Could that be the trend for every run this year?

I think they decide next Tuesday/Wed based on counts as of then. Parent run was 2000 and that is where the high expectations came from if you look at those numbers...hope they come flying in soon or I wouldnt bet on a season. Hope I am wrong though...

Actually, the 2004 Columbia springer run timing was in line with the 10-year average. The run size was WAY below forecast, however -- forecast was 360,000, actual run was under 200,000.

If the season is a bit late like the 3rd week of July that is just fine, out on the lake with 5000 of my good friends!!!!!

Why are people not prdicting a season this year? There have been 10k more fish this year than at this time in 2002 and there was a season in 2002.

You can't just pick a year that fits your agenda and run with it. As a counter-example, there are 18k fewer fish so far than 2001, and there was no season in 2001. 4-year average shows 66k fish counted through June 24, and a total run of 318k fish. Some folks have pointed out that this year's run was spawned in 2000, but if you use 2000 counts as your benchmark, you will come up with a total run size of just 193k fish.

I want a season as much as everybody else (already got the extended family hyped up), but realistically the numbers to date don't bode well.

It's fun to speculate however there's just too much run variability from year to year to say there will or won't be sufficient numbers to have a sockeye fishery at this point. Generally we receive half the run by July 7th. That means we need to average more than 11K fish a day through the locks to be on track for a 400K run that would allow some fishing. More fish...more fishing. If the run peaks later just remember that the same folks that determined the escapement level of 350K will grip their crystal ball and come up with a SWAG.

1/3 of the way there:

July 1 18,359 119,681 total

Here they come!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow you aint kidding Bri.

July 1 18,359 119,681

Talk about a tidal wave of fish! I am bringing my daughter down to the locks tonight to check it out.

Talked the wife into a quick trip to the locks last night after dinner. The sockeye were entering the ladder in big numbers. Hope these numbers hold for a couple more weeks.

About 10 more days like the last one and we shall be smoking some sockeye very soon.

WDFW and Tribe meet tomorrow to set opening date. My guess. noon Wednesday or Thursday.

"Hey boss, I don't feel too good, cough, cough,cough."

Cigar

Cigar, are they meeting tommorow or Wednesday? I just want to make sure I didn't miss anything. I hope they give at least a days notice, I've got to come from east of the mountains. Already (cough) starting to (hack-cough) feel sick!!

Oops, nevermind, it's tommorow. For some reason I had it in my head that it was Wednesday.

I would be surprised if they announced an opening this early. Once they update the run today, we should still only be about half way to the escapement goal. My guess is another week and a half to two weeks before they really know how the run will shape up to be. If you look at the data from previous years, this run has done a good headfake before with early numbers.

166,250 stay tuned to be suprised.

Looks like we get to wait some more. After meeting today they say it's still too early to decide. They will reevaluate again on the 9th. We need some big cout days.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/sockeye/counts.htm

Yep we have to wait another 4 days. I'm still not sure why they are waiting, in years past there have been seasons with less fish at this time. I gusse they just want to make sure.

Here's the story:

July 6, 2004
Contact: Steve Thiesfeld, (360) 902-2715


Lake Washington sockeye counts too low for fishery;
Co-managers will meet again July 9 to review data

OLYMPIA - Washington state and tribal salmon co-managers agreed today that counts of Lake Washington sockeye salmon are still too low to set fisheries.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and treaty Indian tribes will meet again Friday (July 9) and on July 13 to review updated data and assess the likelihood of opening fisheries. No recreational sockeye fisheries in Lake Washington will occur this weekend.

Even though more than 166,000 sockeye had been counted at the Ballard Locks fish ladder through July 5, fisheries managers say it is too early to determine if this year's run will be strong enough to support recreational and treaty fisheries.

Fisheries managers agree that the run size estimate must exceed 350,000 sockeye before seasons can be set.

I am crossing my fingers for an opening the last week of July. I am going to be going on 2 weeks of nights. I won't get off until 7am. Will not try to launch my boat that late and find a parking spot. Hopefully I don't miss another opening. I missed it last time because I could not find anyone to go.

This even made the news last night on King 5. It was a short blurb, but basically said that 350,000 were needed to make escapement, yet only half (180,000+) has shown up....yadda yadda yadda.
It would have been nice if they would have mentioned the dollars this fishery brings into the area and local business to peak a few more interests.

Kev

i have to wonder one thing...why does sockeye escapement have to be so high to have a season? the predicted escapement for kings this year in the nisqually is about 17,000 fish and we have a season...why is it that you need 300,000 sockeye or so to fish for them?

214k, looking decent so far. Earliest time for a season is probably the weekend of the 17th, most likely would happen after that though. If the counts will stay @ 10k or more for the next 10 days or so, should turn out good. We could have as many as 10 days left in the bulk of the run (or not) so it is doable. Sure could use a handful of big days to put this run over the hump.

Chum Man, that is an excellant question.
Why do they need so many for escapement purposes, when other species don't need that near that many?
Probably to provide Safeway with a future supply of sockeye................