Sockeye Numbers and increase in limit to 5.

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by admin on August 17, 2012

Today’s press release from the DFW….“To date, at least 46,000 fish have migrated past Tumwater Dam in route to Lake Wenatchee. Projections of the total run could exceed 62,000 fish. Current angler participation and catch rates have indicated that these actions are warranted. At least 23,000 fish are estimated to be available for harvest above the natural spawning escapement goal of 23,000 fish. To date, less than 7,000 sockeye have been estimated in the harvest.” 

Catch report from midweek fishing is that fishing has significantly slowed.   Successful technique seems to vary day to day,  depths from 25 to 70 feet, red hooks one day, hochies the next.

Starting Saturday, then limit is raised to 5 fish per license with a minimum length of 12 inches.

The season is scheduled to remain open through Sept 3rd, although fish quality is deteriorating so the late August catch may be best for smoking.

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

joelcarlson August 17, 2012 at 3:54 pm

It’s official! Starting Saturday, the bag limit is 5 sockeye! Now if they will just jump in the boat.

Elaine August 25, 2012 at 10:21 am

Does anyone have any news about how the fishing has been this last week?

Mike August 26, 2012 at 4:56 pm

We did very well on Monday and Tuesday the 20th and 21st. On Monday had to wait until about 7:00 for the wind to go down to make it to the far end of the lake. All sockeye were caught between 40 and 65 feet with the majority at 60 feet down. Tuesday had 12 in the boat by 10:00 and the bite shut off. Fish are beginning to have pretty good color but only 2 of them had pale pink meat. The rest were very bright red meat.

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