King and Coho mentioned in SeaTimes outdoor article on 9-15-02:

>>>...King run poor in Lake Washington watershed

The chinook run returning to the Lake Washington system this year appears to be much smaller than last year, according to biologists.

"The chinook return is about a third of last year's run," said Mike Mahovlich, a Muckleshoot tribal biologist. "The peak of the run was 10 days earlier than normal, and it really dropped down to minimal numbers after (Aug.) 10th."

The peak of the run this year occurred from Aug. 4-10, and normally it occurs from Aug. 14-25. As of last week, only 7,000 chinook had returned, compared with this time last year, when more than 18,000 returned.

The coho run also appears to be in dire straits this year. So far, fewer than 500 coho have moved up the Ballard Locks fish ladder.

Lake Washington north of the Evergreen Point Bridge will open as scheduled tomorrow for fishing, but won't be worth the effort to fish.

If the coho run continues to be weak, there could be an emergency closure. <<<

NOT GOOD NEWS FOLKS!!!

sfj

Don't lose hope so quick! Like everything else so far this year, they are just running a little late.

I'm with you Carl, just hang in there, more are on the way. Btw, 7000 kings is still a good number for that watershed.

Cigar

Let's say the WDFW does shut down the Coho fishery in Lk. WA. because of the 'low' numbers. Would that mean that they could change their mind later if the numbers improved later on (i.e. like a bunch of rain gets their tails moving)?

Well,

I fished West Point/Meadow Point
Saturday, marked fish everywhere.
Silvers jumpin' at times, caught two small
ones. Left early afternoon because of sailboat
races made it too hard to fish.
I'm really goin' with Carl on this one.
They are all "Late!"

Ken