It turns out that my best idea for solving aggravating baker sockeye harvest. Fisheries scientists say the baker river sockeye experience cant simply be. An estimated 21,166 sockeye are forecasted for lake washington, an 80 percent decrease from the 10year average. Opens baker lake to fishing for sockeye salmon effective dates.
Baker lake opens early to sockeye fishing lip rippers. However recent years have been frustrating for many people when large preseason. The baker lake sockeye season, which opens saturday, is truly a winwin situation. Sockeye season is getting ready to open on the skagit river. This is essentially a singles bar for salmon, ryan blood.
Baker river sockeye salmon are some of highest quality found anywhere in the world. Baker lake is open for sockeye fishing now through sept. Sockeye countdown begins in many areas with skagit river. In addition to a healthy run of sockeye, july also brings the most verdant greens that kodiak. I had a friend thats getting into fishin and he asked me about baker lake. The black keys everlasting light the lumineers sleep on the floor the revivalist wish i knew you the strokes you only live one. Sockeye, chum, and pink sockeye the forecast for baker lake sockeye is 33,700 fish, which is down slightly from last years forecast of 35,000. We have many campsites and will assign a specific site when receiving a reservation. The daily limit remains at 5 fish, greater than 18 inches. Washington with cal stocking of cause for divorce guide service.
This forecast for the kenai is about a million short of the 20 year average. Sockeye fishing at baker lake has been very consistant so far this season. We heard lots of good baker lake sockeye fishing reports from the forum this year. Swift creek use to be privately owned baker lake resort. June 29, 2017 wdfw amends fishing openclosure dates on the skagit river actions, effect dates, and areas. The fishing has been far more consistant at the lower portion of the lake so far this season according to the fish checkers.
The fishing has been far more consistant at the lower portion of the. Catch a couple of these prime tablefare salmon and you win. After being away for two years, thousands of sockeye salmon have returned to baker lake to mingle at the fish hatchery in skagit county. Lake washington and baker lake had poor sockeye returns in 2019. View attachment 849884 last years baker sockeye 8 hours of fishing 8 fish. Fisheries technician eric johnson processes a returning adult sockeye that was among the early fish that returned to stanley basin in 2017. Baker lake affords anglers a 3 fish limit, so this is a great place to load up the smoker. Baker lake the number of sockeye salmon swimming up the skagit river. Sockeye on baker lake bite best at tail end of fishery. Baker lake sockeye by the numbers baker lake is a beautiful and popular fishery. Baker lake opens early to sockeye fishing lip rippers fishing.
Pse, tribes cooperate to revive baker river sockeye. Baker lake sockeye by the numbers gone fishing northwest. We heard lots of good baker lake sockeye fishing reports from. Pse, tribes cooperate to revive baker river sockeye bellingham. Mist rises from the deep, green water, and there is a faint tang of wood smoke in the air as campers slowly begin to stir. Baker lake, upstream of the log boom barrier in front of upper baker dam to the mouth of the baker river. Prior to reaching lower baker dam, an astounding 16,117 sockeye were harvested by the tribal community.
Baker lake sockeye returns lower than expected local news. Can i put one in the boat, or will i head home with a giant skunk on my back. Each year, sockeye returning to the lake are trapped below two dams before they are transported above the facilities where they are placed at artificial spawning beaches, used for production at the lakes hatchery facility, or released into baker lake to spawn naturally. As of august 28th, there was a total of 16,318 sockeye trapped at lower baker dam, with 8,704 sockeye transferred into baker lake many of which will spawn naturally and the remaining balance retained for hatchery needs. The baker lake dam blocked access to the natural spawning grounds of these. Baker sockeye issues back on wdfw commission agenda. The first sockeye of the year recently arrived in the stanley basin, including a naturally produced fish on july 27 and a hatchery fish on aug. This is based off actual 20102017 data of fish netted in test fisheries.
Last year, over 24,000 returned to the trap, with more than 16,000 lifted into baker lake for fishing and spawning needs. The 2017 baker lake sockeye return is waaay lower than advertised. There are 3 forest service campgrounds on the lake. The plan is to go for some of the sockeye coming in, but i would like to entertain throwing a fly out there when we arent out at odark thirty getting on the water to troll for salmon. Olympia the washington department of fish and wildlife wdfw will host a public meeting nov. Two sockeye returned to stanley basin, the first of the. Jul 06, 2016 effective today, baker lake is now open of sockeye fishing. Apparently, the run is expected to be larger than normal so wdfw announced they would open the lake early to to sockeye fishing. The success of the baker lake sockeye returns is due largely to an efficient production of juvenile fish. Baker lake sockeye have returned in greater numbers, earlier in the season, than. Jul 18, 2019 2019 sockeye fishing horseshoe cove campground, baker lake. Meeting asked for on bakerskokomish sockeye egg transfer.
Continuing to make their way home, information on 2017 return of sockeye salmon july 27th, 2017 the okanagan nation alliance ona, in collaboration with multiple organizations and agencies, have worked tirelessly to bring sockeye salmon back to the okanagan region. Baker lake for a unique and popular salmon fishing experience. It is estimated the run was typically around 20,000 fish. Skagit river sockeye season extended salmon university. Dont give up on the baker lake sockeye fishery just yet anglers the. Sockeye salmon at baker lake would like to send you push notifications about the latest news and weather. The sockeye fishery at baker lake will open on july 8 with a 4fish daily limit.
Aug 04, 2019 baker lake is as beautiful as ever, but fishing is slow. Baker river sockeye run at record levels and still going. Lake washington only has a sockeye season when at least 350,000 fish are forecast to enter the lake, but with seasons in 1996, 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006, i had several marvelous summers of sockeye fishing. However, this years forecast, which is up 6 percent over the recent 10year average, makes a fishery a possibility. Hey all, i plan on taking a trip with the family and another family up to baker lake soon. Lake washingtons dwindling sockeye runs charlies weather. Baker lake concrete 2020 all you need to know before you. I know theres not much fish that have gone through the trap yet. Effective today, baker lake is now open of sockeye fishing. Baker lake opens early to sockeye fishing access wa. In the 1880s an estimated 25,000 and 35,000 sockeye would return annually to the sawtooth valley and payette river basin. July 6, 2016 baker lake opens early to sockeye fishing action.
Originally baker lake was a decent size natural lake and had a natural, if not very numerous, run of sockeye. All eyes are on the pristine baker lake sockeye returns, where the iconic views of mount baker and mount shuksan alone are well worth a trip in the summer. The season may close earlier if the guideline is attained. Thats about 2,000 fewer fish on that date than in 2018 and 2017, and a. More information can be found at the wdfws baker sockeye webpage. Salmon daily limit is three sockeye only and a night closure is in effect. The fishing is dependent on fish entering the lake, so watching the fish counts online at the wdfw web site is a good idea. Customers that i have spoke with said the fishing was good over the weekend and slowed this morning for some reason. Out of the lake flows the baker river, which is a tributary of the skagit. Dont give up on the baker lake sockeye fishery just yet anglers the best could be still to come. Jul 08, 2016 baker lake opens early to sockeye fishing. Any time after they reach 3,000 fish is a good time to be there. Future bodes very well for sockeye salmon at baker lake.
The north sound chapter of the coastal conservation association of washington will host its second annual baker lake sockeye shootout on july 2830. Sep 12, 2017 the sockeye returned to the baker river by the tens of thousands during the 2017 season enough to provide sport for recreational and tribal fishers and to provide enough breeding fish to keep. Dam building starting as early as the 1900s reduced their range and population. Baker lake sockeye have returned in greater numbers, earlier in the season, than anticipated. Therefore the fishery is being opened prior to the preseason set date of july 10. Baker lake, located in northern washington state, is home to a genetically distinct strain of sockeye. Oct 29, 2017 baker lake sockeye 2017 music credits. Apr 29, 2017 eggs for the sockeye program are coming from 400 adults annually collected at the baker river trap and which represent an equal split between state and tribal shares. Eggs for the sockeye program are coming from 400 adults annually collected at the baker river trap and which represent an equal split between state and tribal shares. July 21st, 2010 the lake opened for the first time with a total run size of around 14,000 fish, i believe that there was a total of around 7,000 sockeye transported to the lake and it was an awesome fishery. All rules that were in effect from june 1 to july 15 on the skagit river from the highway 536 bridge in mount vernon upstream to gilligan creek will remain in effect through the extension. Baker lake is as beautiful as ever, but fishing is slow.
Baker river sockeye salmon season and counts washington. Baker lake is a beautiful lake for fishing, swimming and enjoying the views. This has many anglers organizing their gear to fish the skagit river and baker lake where 47,000 sockeye are forecast to return somewhat down from 55,054 last year. Some fish are released into the lake where some spawn on their own and. The river is closed to all fishing june 29 and 30, and is scheduled to close july 11. Sockeye countdown begins in many areas with skagit river fishery opening soon 2. Data incorporated into the model comes from sockeye salmon fry rearing in kenai and skilak lakes. The sockeye returned to the baker river by the tens of thousands during the 2017 season enough to provide sport for recreational and tribal fishers and to provide enough breeding fish to keep. Each year, sockeye returning to the lake are trapped below two dams before they are transported above the facilities where they are placed at artificial spawning beaches, used for production at the lake s hatchery facility, or released into baker lake to spawn naturally. Two sockeye returned to stanley basin, the first of the 2017.
Baker sockeye are native to baker lake and baker river, a tributary to the skagit river. Sockeye returns near peak timing period and baker lake is in top. Baker sockeye have been exported to other waters of the state including lake washington. Anglers wishing to both fill their freezer and have the fights of their lives should seriously consider joining us in july as we target sockeye salmon. Prior to heading to baker lake we had seen that no new fish had made it past the hatchery in nearly 2 weeks and the total still sat at jus. While fishing june 24 from the sand bar on the skagit river near. We again are asking that the commission direct wdfw to give baker sockeye harvest equity a high priority for the 2020 season, engaging the three skagit basin tribes on behalf of sport fishing license holders in a transparent manner that allows the public to track the discussions, he said. Further, how would that compare to the situation is lake washington, where the volume of the lake is more than twice that of baker, and the outflow in the summer in lake washington is a small fraction of the flow going through baker. Historically, up until 2010 there had never been a sockeye sports fishery on baker lake.
Fishing rule change washington department of fish and wildlife 600 capitol way north, olympia, wa 985011091. The reason was based on the fact that as long as the fishery was confined to the lake the sockeye brood stock would be collected prior to any recreational fishing thus preserving the willingness of the baker lake sockeye to bite. I have been fortunate enough to have fished baker for its sockeye every year that it has been open. Baker lake concrete 2020 all you need to know before.
The true mark of the start of the saltery summer is the arrival of the first run of sockeye salmon. However, the july 11 closure may change to reflect catches and river conditions. The sockeye watch has hit full stride for baker lake, lake. This closure shouldnt really matter much, since the fish that are still in the lake are darkened up and ready for spawning. Well, it looks like another successful baker lake sockeye salmon fishing season is almost in the books. Fishing baker lake story by sue madsen photos by mike carey improvements have turned this lake into a salmon fishers haven. Any tips on what to use or any other info to get him in the right direction would. Kept on biological lifesupport for more than two decades, idahos iconic sockeye salmon are making a comeback. Anglers wishing to both fill their freezer and have the fights of their lives should seriously consider joining us in july as we target sockeye salmon in addition to a healthy run of sockeye, july also brings the most verdant greens that kodiak sees. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings.
Baker lake sockeye numbers on target the seattle times. Baker lake, located in northern washington state, is home to a. Dec 10, 2019 we again are asking that the commission direct wdfw to give baker sockeye harvest equity a high priority for the 2020 season, engaging the three skagit basin tribes on behalf of sport fishing license holders in a transparent manner that allows the public to track the discussions, he said. However recent years have been frustrating for many people when large pre season. Baker sockeye are native to baker lake and baker river, tributary to the skagit river.