OK WHO IS PRAYING FOR A 2007 sockeye season

[needabiggerboat]

Spill it all boys. Please oh heavenly father bring the sockeye back in numbers like last year.
I can truly say that last years sockeye season was some of the best fun all year.
I will never forget The look on my three boys (ages 3,5,9) faces When they saw the first fish laying on the bottom of the boat. (priceless)
THIS SHOULD BE A POPULAR POST?

[Bodofish]

Pray all you want, not going to happen. Sockeye only run every other year. This is a pink year.

[fishnislife]

I'm prayed up for other things but not Sockeye. I might have to consider putting them on my list.

This post reminded me of something.
Have guys ever seen the Rapala commercial? The Fisherman's Prayer? Hilarious. My buddies and I tried to remember it but failed. I couldn't find a video of it but here are the words.

“The Fisherman’s Prayer”
“Oh Lord…There he is…It feels like a big one…Please don’t let me lose him…I’ve never caught one this big before. I’ll try not to horse him, and if I land him, I promise to release him…and make a graphite replica if my wife says it’s ok. Thank you for the Rapalas…Amen.”
This ones for you needabiggerboat. This is the only prayer ya need to say.


fishnislife

[Mike Carey]

I would have to disagree about the every other year comment on the sockeye. They have good and bad years but to my knowledge they don't have the same significant runs the pinks have. I haven't heard word one about how the run is this year. We can hope. I have heard the pinks will be thick as can be. That's another fun fishery.

[Bodofish]

Sorry Mike,
It's a fact. 16 years of buying fish on Puget Sound bear it out. Of course there's the odd ball fish in the off season but that doesn't really constitute a run. Feel free to to check with the UW or WDFW, they will confirm. There will be no Sockeye season on Lake Washington, you can bank on it.
Sockeye run in significant numbers on years opposite the pinks. Go to the Snohomish instead and flip little pink dick Nights. You can catch about 300 a day. Of course keeping is anouther story.

[Smalma]

The counts look very weak and so far are tracking with the pre-season forecast of approximately 125,000 fish. Little chance of reach a run of more than the 350,000 needed for a fishery.

While the sockeye runs to Lake Washington are typically only large enough for a fishery on some even years they do run both odd and even years with some odd years larger than some even years. See -

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/sockeye/graphics/lkwash04.jpg

Tight lines
Curt

[Bodofish]

That would be the odd ball fish or sporatic as far as commercial fisheries goes. I've caught more Sockeye in a single set with seiner. I've lived here all my life and I've never seen a back to back sockeye season. Prove me wrong, I'd love to see it.

In the mean time, better dust off those Dick Nights.

[gpc]

Man that would be great for a sockeye season. Last year all I had was my big boat and didnt really feel like sitting at the boat ramp for 5 hours so I didnt get out. This year I have a little boat, I was going to take it to this one launch where only small crafts can go out because you have to go under a bridge, I know some of you know the name of this launch Shhhhhh. But please god grant us a run higher than 350,000 fish, all we need is one day to catch sockeye

[Smalma]

Bodofish -
I agree that there seems to be a strong even/odd trend in Lake Washington sockeye numbers.

However if you take the time to look at the link I provided I think you will find something that is kind of interesting. While over the last 25 years all the large runs have been on even years during the 1970s the largest runs were on odd years with fishable numbers in 1971, '73, and '79. In addition during two of those odd runs are among the 4 largest over the last 35 years.

I find it all interesting though I not sure I understand what drives that every other year thing but clearly the 1970s data would point to the pinks not being the major factor.

Tight lines
Curt

[needabiggerboat]

Currantly the 2007 sockeye run is about 13,000 fish off from last years run.
The locks count is currantly at 21,000 as of 6/26/07. (3,220 That day)
The run number for last year 33,409 (monster run) 6/26/2006.
All I ask for is some positive thinking from my fellow WL.COM friends.
I thought that last years run size was a big suprise for wdfg. Maybe we could have another suprise run this year.
Go 2007 run!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[fisherdane]

Praying is all I do... I moved from Denmark, and have invested in boat, rod, lures, downriggers, fishfinder to be ready for the possibility of landing my first ever salmon................

[Palmer]

Next month use the same set up as for sockeye and fish 10' off the bottom at Lake Sammamish. You'll be catching 25# kings left and right.

[needabiggerboat]

Sounds good to me is there a season opener and can I keep What I catch?
By the same set up do you mean the two bare red hooks?
Any other info would be great. I will give it a try.