does anyone have any suggestions on where to launch? I have a 24 ft trophy and have never tried to launch it in the lake before. I hope to get a little time off work to check out some of the launches/parking. Not sure if that will happen though. Thanks. SS

PIck a launch and get ready to wait in line!!!!
Newport lauch or Coulon park if your Eastside
Good luck on the launch and see you out there..

Parking is just something you will have to "put up with" when sockeye season is going on. Just make sure you do not park where it says NO PARKING. They are not kidding! I saw a lot of people getting towed, in 2000, outside of the Atlantic City launch. I hope they open Rainier Beach H.S. parking lot for parking.

On the north end, Sand Point is probably one of the bigger launches.Otherwise in the south end, go with others advice!

Good Luck!! there will be Alot!! of people, have alot of patience, get up super early,bring lunch, and dinner.Plan on a very long day!

Hope that others have patience!!

With the weather, there will be ski boats, jetskis', cruisers, seafair preparation, the lake will be rough with all the boats!!

I am still gonna go though, there is always bikini watching

Woodsy Wayne

Don't stare to long or you will get a sock-in-the-eye instead of a sockeye.

Launch as early as possible. If you get there at 3am there will not be much of a line. By 3:30 or 4:00 you will be 14 blocks from the launch. Retreival is worse.

Are there any boat launches on Lake Union?

LT,

There is one by/at Gasworks Park.

Their is a launch at 14th ave. small but nice little launch. 45 minute ride to lake washington 7 knot speed limit until you get to webster point witch is at the entrance to the lake and the under pass to get past 520. I thought about that also but read this morning that is where the indians will be launching from to put their nets in lake union so their wont be any spots to park friday morning but on saturday when most of the buisnesses are closed you may find a spot. I moore my boat just west of their and took it out at this launch to have it worked on should be fixed by thursday. I think I will try someplace else to put it in. If it is anything like the launch under the first ave bridge on the duwamish when they are netting you will be lucky to find a spot to park.

solidsteel,

I see you are from Everett. Your best launch is
at Sandpoint and do as GutZ said, be there by 3am
The Seattle Park Dept.will have a ramp ranger there when you get back from fishing and that will
ease the flow some. Fish down by Mercer Island, most of the Sockeye have moved down south already.

Good Luck !!!!!

try launching at kenmore. it is rite on the slough. there shouldnt be a whole lot of people in the morning. there mite be in the afternoon if it is a nice day at the end of the week. there will be parking in the morning. if it is at the end of the week and it is nice u mite have to wait a while to get out of the water. it is an easy launch for most people. u shouldnt have trouble if u are wit another person to help u. u could prolly do it urself to. good luck fishing!

the launch at the slough was verry shallow getting out to the lake unless they have recently dredged it out middle of channel a 5 year old could walk accross if you have any thing of size might want to look into it first? doug

Well it looks like I will be able to sneak out for a while tommorrow. I think I will go check out a couple of the ramps mentioned above. I will take your advice and be there at 3 friday morning. Thanks a lot for the tips. I just bought my boat a while ago and this board has been a huge help. Maybe I'll see some of you guys out on the water. Thanks again, ss

hey doug kelly, they did dig it out. i think it is over 8 feet deep now. i launch my 20 foot bayliner there with no trouble.

Here's a link to just about every boatlaunch in washington. Well most of them. Descriptions of parking, ramp condition and grade and if there are restrooms or not.

http://boat.iac.wa.gov/