It is disappointing to see the secretive attitude from the river fishermen coming over to the salt water side. In twenty years of talking to many hundreds of saltwater fishermen, only two had been unwilling to share info on what bait, depth or location provided successful results. After all the fishing area is huge and the fish number into the hundreds of thousands, not two fish in a house size pool on a stream. For the few people that will try to catch some sockeye out in the salt, I can add some info to those who have been forthcoming.
I have caught several sockeye in the salt water on whole herring as an incidental catct I don't recommend that you load up on Ballard Bait. Port Alberni has had some significant salt water fisheries for sockeye. Some of the techniques are to fish a MP 15 (translucent red/orange mini plankton hoochie)or MP 39?
(the # designates the color) behind a flasher. Some people pull off every other strip of the skirt to decrease the profile. Having a lot of flashing gear in the water produces better results. This can be done by running several sets of cowbells, ford fenders, etc. off the downrigger cable. I've been told that there is a reddish/pink spoon about the size of a needle fish that produces well. Possibly Seattle Marine and Fishing Supply Co. could help on this one. I am planning on running some small shrimp immitations that my son tyied for me some small red hoochies. If I find an appropriate spoon (large Dicknite?), I'll put that out behind a flasher also.
If I or some of my friends have any success, I'll post the details. Hopefully others wouldn't feel compelled to secrecy. If that were the case with everyone, we would still be using orange flatfish in Lake Washington.

Scott

Thanks for the added info. I will always share my info as well, as I take a lot of info from this board. A

I have no problem sharing info. I do have a problem sharing *some* info publically. You want my info? Try emailing me personally. Haven't received any emails yet, so my info must not be wanted.

The Lake Wa fishery is one of those fisheries where if ReiterRat puts out a pink pork rhind on the counter and starts talking some smack about how good it is, I'd almost guarantee that 90% of the people on the lake would be using pink pork rhinds.

Rieter Rat, You are correct about the tribal members getting ready to fish Lk. Washington.
My brother in law, who's a sales rep for a large tackle and rod company told me the very same info just last night. He also mentioned that the season would most likely open mid week and close the very same weekend! That sucks!!! Guess I'm going to have to be sick for a few days, again. Good luck to all!

Pork rinds, huh? I'll give that a try!

I forgot to mention, Andy, that you need to troll backwards...at atleast 5 knots...in tight circles.

Parker - Ever So Helpful

to catch em in saltwater what you do is put about 8 to 10 old flashers and dodgers together in a chain and hang them off of your downrigger ball, then fish your standard flasher and bare hook rig about 10 feet up from that and you will catch em, we use to do that when I lived on whidbey island, we were intercepting those nice fraser fish. They fight like hell too
Peace Superfly

Sockeye counts are way down...doesn't look good. I was out on Lake Washingtion this morning running my sonar to see where the fish are hanging at. Earlier in the week when I was out there was several thousand around the south tip of mercer island, and at the entrance to the cedar river. Today there were hardly any anywhere. Just a few random fish here and there. I ran into a crew from the UW fisheries biology unit. They said they didn't see much fish out there either. They also noted that the fish count was way down from last year.

Usually the last week of June the south end of the lake is loaded with hordes of sockeye...not this year.

I also checked out the Ballard locks to see what was coming through, looks like fish are larger then the previous year.


Hopefully more fish are on the way!
Gotta be optimistic.

Ran sonar today at the south end of LK Wash. again...this time there was lots of sockeye hanging near the south tip of mercer island.

On monday June 25th, the Muckleshoot tribe set a net across Salmon bay (Inside of the Locks,by the Yankee dinner). It blocked boat traffic, including commercial and pleasure craft. They would not move the nets as the tugs and pleasure craft were trying to pass by.
Finally the U.S. Marshall came and told the tribe to remove the net or they will be confiscated including the vessel.
The trib removed the net and left, I am not sure what happened after that.
Also, I thought the tribes were not allowed to fish till the season escapement were meet.
They have been netting in front of the locks too. Maybe that will explain why the counts are dropping off rapidly.

ahhh yes did I fail to mention I was over by the I-90 bridge and noticed a barge sitting there with nets on it over by where the DOT keeps there boat on the west side of mercer island.