Guides picked up 7 sockeye today!

Hey Potter, Are the guides catching the sockeye while fishing for steelhead? On what? I have spent many years in Alaska we h always had a difficult time getting them to bite. What's the happening on the Quinault? I am still looking to book a trip in March. Any good guides left? Thanks...DB

The sockeye on the Quinault are difficult to get to bite also. The early ones hit the best. Later on when the bulk of the run comes in they ignore everything. Yeah, they are getting them while fishing for steelhead. Prawns ans sandshrimp seem to be the best. One boat got 2 steelhead (one was 20 ) and one sockeye. Great day! Well e-mail me and I'll get ya out in march if you want.

[This message has been edited by potter (edited 02-19-2000).]

Depending on the day, the sockeyes will sometimes POUND the shrimp. A couple years back we got 5 in one day when fishing with Archie Howard on the lower river. I had no idea how hard those fish fought and what terrific table fare they are until that trip. Those fish are unmatched by anything else off the grill.

Keep us posted Potter! Thanks......

PS: Potter, do those fish make it above the lake?


Fish on..........

Letty's out fishing but I can answer your question. The reason they taste so good is that they will stay in the lake all summer and spawn in the upper river tribs starting next Nov. Big creek is a good place to watch them spawn, below the bridge on the north shore road. They don't feed while in the lake so must store up enough fats and oils to last till then. I believe the Quinault sockeye have the earliest timing of any sockeye. There was some caught last week also.

What a great insight into a unique run of fish. The shrimp sound right, last year we caught sockeye on the Harrrison river a trib of the Fraser using crill (I think that is spelled right ?). Crill are just very small shrimp type critters which are the main diet for sockeye in the salt. You might try going to the smallest shrimp you can find and or finding crill but I don't know where. Whoever got these cured them in a procure type substance hot pink. The nice thing was they would last a week in your cooler. The place where I bought them was Harrison Bay Store (tackle shop) www harrison bay .com maybe they could give you a lead. Two things about sockeye is they are excellent bait stealers and tenacious fighters. Sounds fun.

Can't wait to try out your suggestion. I'll give that tackle shop a call.I did get one sockeye yesterday with row. Released 3 spawners and lost two steelhead we didn't see. Need some rain ( I can't believe I said that) Thanks

Potter it is hard to say but yes all the rivers could use a fresh shot rain. Tight lines and wet nets have a good day.

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Hey Potter, regarding the sockeye, what's the average size?? When's the peak?? I think you might be right about the Quinault having the eariliest run of sockeye. Also, what's a guy's chances of booking a trip on the lower Quinault in the middle of March? Thanks for any info.

The sockeye range from 4-7lbs. with the average around 5. Peak entry is mid May to mid June (depends on snow melt). The chances of a March trip are good. E-mail potter@olynet.com if interested.

[This message has been edited by potter (edited 02-22-2000).]