Lake WA Sockeye / Ballard Locks

Looks like the tribes have the gill nets out again. Two sets right in front of the dam / fish ladder entrance. First set covered about 90% of the spillway, the second covered 100% of the spillway. I just watched the tender pluck about 10 fish this evening.

At the viewing window, all the tourists were wondering where all the fish were.

Anyone know why the tribes can start of their "share" at only 15k on the fish count, whereas the rec fishery needs 350k?

They're catching there ceremonial share. It's a joke, those fish weren't introduced until long after the tribe moved out of their tepees but they still claim their part of their traditional harvest. This is just the beginning of the season. Pretty soon they'll have nets throughout the ship canal. Then they'll net above the locks and even in lake Washington to catch what they missed in the salt.
To think our area 9/10 king seaon is based on the survival of wild lake Washington chinook is beyond belief! Just like Elliot bay, those seasons will soon all be gone for good. Welcome to the new state of Mukatulasuquamishstan.

Sadly I've accepted the fact that I will likely never be able to fish Lk WA socks ever again. State has no balls or organizational skills to take on the tribes. So now I pay $4.99 a pound for whole sockeye in the grocery store...just the way it is.

BD

"They managed them till they were gone"

Chuck S.,

A minor point, but it's the Seattle Water Dept. that funds the Cedar River sockeye hatchery, not the Tribe. Maybe a not so minor point to Seattle Water.

Sg

That new hatchery on the Cedar will be the cure all and insure future Lk Wa sockeye fisheries.....

Pretty much sums it up....

The results from that hatchery won't start to show for 3-4 years post the first release of fry. The first egg take was in fall of 2012 and the first fry release was spring of 2013. So you might see something next year as a result of the new hatchery.

Our 9/10 season is hardly based on wild count survival. Its based on the counts of salmon plates served at the casino. Same with all the "ceremonial" Socks.

I still don't think the new hatchery is going to provide any more Lk Wa fisheries they what folks have been getting over the past few decades. Planting more fish is no guarantee it will happen.

If they really want to do something bright regarding Lk Wa, they should stop letting people give the wood shampoo to the beautiful native cutthroat.
I've seen people try to blame the cutts on the lack of sockeye. What a bunch of [Bleeeeep!].
SF

Until they lower the escapement goal to something reasonable there will be few sockeye seasons in Lake Washington, and the boondoggle of a hatchery will not change that hardly at all.

If they really wanted a lot more sockeye in the lake they'd need to start dumping raw sewage in it again The carrying capacity for sockeye fry is maxed out, and isn't enough to make the escapement goal more than a time or two every ten to fifteen years.

Fish on...

Todd

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

More sockeye plants should help----------------------------------------------------------------------the ambush predators in Lake Washington.

Until then..................I'll gladly go to Neah bay and catch deep water red meated kings.....................Good luck,

SZ