Armed with Salmo g.'s secret weapon, spoon and bare hook, I trundled up to the Baker yesterday, arriving about 10 am. Of the ten or so plunkers and one drifter there when I arrived, I was told that no fish had been caught, but I noticed several splash in the five minutes it took me to ask around.

Third cast with the spoon/hook, and fish on. One minute later, fish off.

Fished for five more hours, didn't touch another fish, and I didn't see any others hooked or landed by anyone else.

Ouch.

Anyone else having any luck (good or bad) there lately?

Fish on...

Todd.

Todd,
So you were the one yesterday refering to a "web site" that carried the secret weapon. I was the one drift guy that B.S'ed with you across from those damn plunkers. (No offense Plunker). I tried everything, plunking, drifting bait, yarn, corkies, spin'n glows..Nothing doin!

- Cameron

Todd,

Whew! Almost redemption. Wish you had gotten more hookups. Mind you, that's not my secret weapon. I first learned about the red and black hooks during the 1988 Lake WA sockeye fishery, when only a few thousand anglers knew about it - a real secret! Didn't understand it then and still don't. I wonder if the red hook looks and moves like the euphasids that sockeye feed on. But that hook works. Trailed off a Muddler Minnow, the sockeye will grab the hook and never the fly. Yet Dolly Varden and Jack chinook and steelhead will all grab the fly and never the red hook. One of life's sweet puzzles.

Over 9500 sockeyes have returned to Baker, projected to finish at between 10 to 11,000, almost twice the preseason estimate. Wish the Lk WA fish had done the same. I hope this little fishery continues to grow; they're great eating.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.