WDFW

Meeting set June 8 to discuss this summer's
likely Lake Washington sockeye salmon fishery

OLYMPIA - With a good chance of a summertime fishery for sockeye salmon in Lake Washington, fisheries managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) want anglers' help in shaping the possible season.

The department has set a public meeting for June 8 at the WDFW office in Mill Creek to hear angler preferences on daily bag limits, days of the week for the fishery and other regulations, said Tim Flint, WDFW statewide salmon resource manager.

"This will be an informational meeting only," Flint said. "No decisions about the fishery will be made until later this summer."

State and tribal fisheries co-managers won't schedule fisheries until they determine that the run will exceed 350,000 sockeye based on counts at the Ballard Locks. This year's forecast for sockeye is 485,000 fish, with the peak of the run coming in mid-July.

The meeting is set for 7-9 p.m. at the WDFW Mill Creek office, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd. Biologists from WDFW, the tribes and other institutions have been studying the behavior of Lake Washington sockeye and will present some results of those studies at the Mill Creek evening meeting.

One example of these investigations is the work conducted by University of Washington researcher Jenny Newell, who has been tracking radio tagged adult sockeye as they migrate through the locks. That research will be conducted again this summer, and anglers will be asked to help in identifying tagged fish that might be caught if a fishery is opened this summer.

The last Lake Washington sockeye fishery occurred in July 2002, when about 10,000 anglers participated each day of the three-day fishery and caught more than 36,000 fish.

Anyone know if they plan to give the commercials a shot at these fish in Shilshole bay and north of Meadow? I dont recall the outcome from NOF.

I will be at this meeting, hope to see/meet a few of you there.

Thanks for the head's up.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

I'll be there also sky-guy! See you there.
CM

Non tribal commercial fishing was thrown out. Won't happen.

Great news!

I'd like to hear from you guys about any season recommendations or policy changes you think should happen. If you have any good ideas post them up.

In 2002 it looks like the bulk of the run came through the locks July 10-20th.

I think we should have at least two 5 day seasons on them. 1 season July 2-7 and another July 9-14.

Bag limit three fish PP.

Any other ideas?

Is that three fish per person or per piscatorial pursuiter

I'd rather keep it at a two fish limit with an extra day or two to fish for them,making a seven day fishery instead of a five day.Have a four day then a three day.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

I'll see you all at the meeting as well. I'd go with 2 fish per person per day, get a longer season out of the mix. I thought there was talk about opening a season after the July 4th weekend. Something about they wanted to keep the boat traffic down on Lake Washington due to the Holiday and all the firework displays, long weekend, etc. Eitherway, I plan on fishing during the week before going to work.

Kev

If we could have a 10 day 3 fish pp season, why not have a 1 fish per day season and have a month long season, maybe then it wouldn't be such a zoo.

My 2 cents would be a 2 or 3 fish per day limit with an early as possible opener. It will be a zoo no matter what and the fish seem to bite better when they first enter the lake. The last time the fishery was extended until late July/early August there were lots of darkening fish around. See you all on the 8th.

I agree Geo. However, I thknk the biggest issue with that proposal is the logistics surrounding WDFW enforcement during that long of a major fishery on LW.
WDFW will most likely not be able to financially support enforcement for that long of a timeframe.


Some good suggestions so far.