All indications point to possible banner sockeye salmon returns

This summer could very well be the "Year of the Sockeye Salmon."

Sockeye returns are bountiful in the Columbia and Skagit river systems, but the unexpected highlight is the early robust counts for Lake Washington.

"The outlook on each of those fronts is really positive, and all seems to be playing out well and consistent for sockeye," said Pat Pattillo said. "You can't help but get excited when you see good returns, but we don't want people to get too worked up about any kind of fishery just yet on (Lake Washington)."

Through Thursday, 23,546 sockeye have been counted at the Ballard Locks, which is more than half of the preseason forecast of 45,871 in just the first 10-days of counting. Usually peak counts vary each year, but occurs between July 7 and July 15.

The single-day counts are: 1,633 , .... http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/re...t_to_early.html