Columbia River Sockeye Fishing Update June 28, 2016
The last two years you have enjoyed very good fishing for Sockeye Salmon as a result of the strong runs we had in 2014 and 2015. In 2015 there was an actual return of 512,500 Sockeye to the Columbia River. Due to warm water temperatures there was a high mortality rate before these fish reached their spawning grounds. As a result, the expected return for 2016 was only 101,600 fish. Much to our and everyone else's surprise, including WDFW fish biologists, as of June 28th there are 255,498 Sockeye Salmon over Bonneville dam so far.
Before the fish arrived the season for Sockeye was not likely to happen. June 3rd WDFW sent out a notice closing Sockeye Salmon in the Hanford Reach area. They must not have been engaged in the same Sockeye Dance we were here because as we watched 10s then 100s and 1000s of Sockeye cross over Bonneville Dam in early June we KNEW that this was going to be a great Sockeye year!
Effective Today WDFW re-opened
Sockeye fishing from the HWY bridge at Pasco all the way up to Priest Rapids Dam for 3
Sockeye. WDFW is being very conservative at the moment because they fear warm weather in the coming days will bring water temperatures up and may result in more
Sockeye to die off before reaching their spawning grounds.
The big question on all of our minds is WHEN ARE THEY OPENING
BREWSTER FOR SOCKEYE?? The director of WDFW, Jim Unsworth, was on NW WildCountry Radio Saturday morning saying that they definitely WILL open the upper
Columbia River for Sockeye it is just a matter of when they will be confident enough that escapement numbers will be reached.
As of today, June 28th, 13,068
Sockeye have passed Wells Dam which is above
Brewster and they are headed for Lake Osoyoos in the Okanogan. The management goal for Sockeye in the upper Columbia is only 65,000 fish over Priest Rapids Dam and as of today their are 77,900
Sockeye well over the escapement goal.
At the moment the
Brewster Pool is open for King Salmon retention. The summer return has been very good this year with 69,451 Summer Chinook over Bonneville so far and thousands more crossing each day. The limit is 2 adult king salmon now through August. There are several places to fish within 1/2 hour of Brewster for King Salmon that are very productive based on the time of day.
If you have a
Sockeye trip planned for July 1st through July 5th or 6th you can reschedule for Sockeye if they do not open Sockeye before your trip or you can fish for King Salmon for the same discounted rate you booked your
Sockeye trip at.
We expect the WDFW to announce a
Sockeye Season for the Brewster Pool any day! We will update everyone as soon as we hear and look forward to seeing you all at Brewster in July for Sockeye!
Book a King or Sockeye Salmon Trip Online 24/7 https://fishwaterswest.rezdy.com/ txt: 253-389-0359
