A super successful start to the 2012 Sockeye season. WSFW are patrolling the lake actively so make sure you have all required boat safety equipment, fishing licenses with all catches marked and equipment that is with in the rules. A neighbor picked up a ticket for not using a flag for a downed wake boarder. With 10x the normal boat traffic on the lake please be careful and follow both the rules and common sense.
We received the following update from Rollie.
Lake Wenatchee Sockeye Season in Brief (Monday Aug 6):
The run strength is currently around 30,000 with an estimate final run size up to or exceeding 35,000.
Daily activity:
o. Saturday Aug. 4 (opening day)
o 120 boats (counted twice a day)
o 80+% limits recorded at the State Park and Glacier View
o Sunday Aug. 5
o 133 boats
o 90+% limits (unheard of!)
o Monday Aug. 6
o 65 boats
o 90-95% limits
Fishing notes:
It is critical to fish before sunrise as the bite drops off precipitously after the sun comes out. The preferred gear is: red hooks (you can use up to 3 individual hooks although I have never known anyone to use 3), size 0 dodger (chrome with prism decal), pink to red hoochie, with two small bead and a smile blade above the hook. Be prepared to loose about the same number of fish that you catch. admin: check for punched tails or Dolly’s (speckled) before bring a fish on board, both must be released asap.
Rollie Schmitten
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I guess I never thought about this – but does the Selective Gear rule preclude the use of more than one barbless hook in contrast to the note above?
“Selective gear rules (single barbless lures or flies, no bait or scent allowed, knotless nets required) in effect”
I believe it’s Single barbless as opposed to treble hooks. But you can have up to 3 single hooks on the line.
Tom – that makes sense, but I couldn’t find the “multiple single hooks” anywhere in the regs. I’ll go with the masses on this one. . .
Yes it is up to 3 individual, single, barbless hooks. I believe it is o.k. to crimp down the barbs on barbed hooks but be certain they are all the way down. My friend Ted has had trouble with a particularly obstinate WDFW agent.
I would add to the above that strong leaders are required. I lost 4 on Saturday using 6 lb leaders. I re-rigged to 25 lb leaders with more success. I would differ from the comment on the early bite being exclusive. On Sunday I caught two between 9:30 and 9:50. I had several bites all the way up to 8:30 at 25 feet or less. After 9:00 I went down to 35-40 feet and caught the two. I was also using shorter (8-10″) leaders. Of course if I had had stronger leaders I would have limited before the sun was very far up!
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