July brought good news for Washington fishing enthusiasts: Due to significantly high numbers of returning sockeye, Baker Lake is now open for salmon fishing! This is an unprecedented move on the part of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. According to a press release issued this month, Baker Lake has seen a return of more than 10,000 hatchery fish, well exceeding the goal of 6,300 set earlier in the year.
“People have been waiting a long time to be able to fish for sockeye salmon in Baker Lake,” said WDFW fish biologist Brett Barkdull. “This year’s run isn’t huge by historical standards, but we’ve exceeded our goals for both hatchery-reared sockeye and naturally spawning fish needed for production.”
There are a few limitations on fishing for the sockeye, however. Anglers can only keep adult sockeye they catch from Baker Dam upstream to the mouth of the Baker River. The bag limit is two, and fish need to be at least 18 inches in length.
According to Bardull, the increase in returning sockeye has to do with improving ocean conditions, which help juvenile sockeye return to the watershed.
“We hope to eventually produce enough sockeye fry to bring 75,000 adult fish back to the watershed,” Barkdull said. “We’ve been working toward that goal for a long time and we know what it would mean for sockeye fishing in the watershed.”
So what are you waiting for? Grab your fishing gear and get out there!
Tags: Baker Lake, sockeye salmon, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
