Went down to the locks Friday afternoon. The water is once again flowing through the fish ladder. We saw about 40 or more Sockeye on their way through. What a beautiful sight.

Are there any projections on run size yet?

I had the WDFW counts as a favorite last year. Watched everyday. Does anyone know when and where counts will be posted this year?

GutZ

PS you know what the Sockeye were saying when the fish ladder was closed?

Dam :p

Let's cross our fingers for a repeat of last
year!!!!. I think they start keeping track of the run around the June 12th date I beleive???Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

STRIKEZONE is right,June 12 is the date they started posting numbers. I sure hope their not jerking with us on the expected return this year. I'll just have to pray to the mighty fish gods and watch the counts at the locks.

I was thinking the same thing this morning and called up those dam people in Ballard. They told me that they were starting the counts today, and that it would be a few weeks before they would have any idea as to the size of the run. Andy

Does anybody know if they are going to post the fish counts like they did last year. My mouth is watering just thinking about them.

Okay, here is the reply from the WDFW. Thanks to Gutz who requested this info but asked me to post it today.
-rbf

Thank you for your e-mail correspondence to the Washington Department of
Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Fish Program, regarding Lake Washington sockeye.

Fishery managers from the state and tribes (Muckleshoot, Suquamish, and
Tulalip Tribes) have agreed to a Lake Washington sockeye preseason forecast
of 295,000 sockeye for the 2001 season. The forecast was based on average
lake and ocean survival rates applied to the estimated numbers of juvenile
sockeye entering Lake Washington in 1997,1998, and 1999. This forecast is
below the spawning ground escapement goal of 350,000 sockeye, however,
because of the high variability in past survival rates, there is a chance of
a sockeye return substantially larger(or smaller) than the preseason
forecast.

Decisions about the possibility of fisheries this season will be based on
counts of returning sockeye made at the Ballard Locks. The technical staff
from the Muckleshoot Tribe and WDFW began these sockeye counts on Tuesday,
June 12, 2001. The first day count was 775 sockeye. As the counting
progresses through the season, State and Tribal managers will begin to make
projections of total runsize, and if the numbers of returning fish are
determined to be above the spawning ground needs, fisheries will be
scheduled. Typically, decisions about fisheries are made during the first
two weeks of July, dependent upon the abundance and timing of the returning
sockeye. The Ballard Locks sockeye counts will be posted on the WDFW
Sockeye Salmon Web Page in the near future, along with any information on
the possibility of fishing seasons. For further information you may contact
our Sockeye Manager, Jim Ames, directly at (360) 902-2725.

If you have further questions, please email again or call (360) 902-2700.
Our Customer Service hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through
Friday.

Sincerely,
Fish Program

Thanks for the information. Hope enough fish come through the ladder so we all can get a shoot at them.

Okay, here we go! http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/fish/sockeye/counts.htm

Only 348,000 to go!

We have got to be close, the WDFW said if the numbers are over 1/2 of the escapement goal for lake washington by the 12th they will open it for a limited time. The reprt shows 112,000+ fish by the 1st. pray for fish folks.

I'm looking forward to it.