Emergency river closers

[jonb]

The skagit and snohomish are open, if the snohomish was closed i still wouldnt go south, id much rather go north instead.

[G-Man]

Must be pretty bad when Lake Wenatchee is now a river.

If they truly intended to close the lake to fishing, it will be due to the low chance of survival of any fish released after being brought to the warm surface waters. The system contains a good bull trout population and I'd bet the fish in the feeder lakes and streams have retreated to the Lake for refuge.

[hewesbob]

Must be pretty bad when Lake Wenatchee is now a river.

If they truly intended to close the lake to fishing, it will be due to the low chance of survival of any fish released after being brought to the warm surface waters. The system contains a good bull trout population and I'd bet the fish in the feeder lakes and streams have retreated to the Lake for refuge.

I agree with G-MAN, at last check there had only been about 2,000 sockeye come over Tumwater Canyon dam. If this trend keeps up there won't be enough fish return to the lake for a decent spawn and we may loose this fishery for several more years. One article I read said the state may open the lake 8/1, if this is the case then I expect they would lower the limit back down to two fish. I think we will fish the Columbia around Walla Walla point for a few days, there should be plenty of Sockeye in that area. One thing that bothers me is the reports of round sores on the sides of the Sockeye being caught at Brewster Pool. Some folks think they are Ell bites but that seems odd to me.

[jd39]

Last figure I saw was ~5k sockeye have made it into Lake Wenatchee. I was hoping to fish it this year for the first time. They need 23k for escapement and ~3k more than that to open to fishing, so 26-27k.
More than enough came back, damn low/hot water keeping them from getting into the lake. Pretty sad. Good luck to the run, will be hoping for rain.