FISHERIES — A record 515,700 sockeye salmon was counted this year at Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department reports.

The run count — the most since counting began at Bonneville Dam in 1938 — far exceeded the agency's preseason forecast of 462,000 fish.

The record run translated into a record 3,400 sockeye caught by sport anglers during the summer season in river reaches below the dam. 

So many fish reached the Upper Columbia, the Brewster pool region was covered with boats as anglers fished for their generous daily limits of six sockeye and six chinook.

For 2013, a total of 180,500 sockeye are predicted to return to the Columbia River basin, less than half of last year's forecast.

ENDANGERED SPECIES — Another point of view…

Breaching dams a better, cheaper way to save Idaho's sockeye

The Seattle Times' recent article on the federal government's work to save sockeye salmon estimated that the per-fish price tag of raising wild fish in hatcheries was $9,000, a spendy proposition that still has not pulled the species back from the edge of extinction, and a better method would be to remove the dams that block the wild fish's age-old migration from the West Coast to Redfish Lake in Central Idaho, according to an Idaho Statesman editorial.

Click “continue reading” to see the entire editorial:

SALMON FISHERIES — Sockeye salmon that make an incredible 900 mile journey from the ocean up the Columbia River system to reach their spawning areas in central Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains have a grim history of abuse.

They also are in the spotlight of a remarkable effort aiming at their recovery.

The Seattle Times has done a nice job of compiling the story and updating the status of a fishery that deserves our awe and respect.

Seattle Times

The extraordinary effort to save sockeye salmon

Why sockeye crashed: dams, poison and more 

FISHERIES More than a century after their runs up the Cle Elum River were wiped out by dams, the sockeye are spawning again this year, thanks to a boost from fisheries programs.

• Sockeye also are making renewed appearances in the upper reaches of the Deschutes River basin.
• And there's more hope than ever for re-establishing the legacy of sockeyes making the 900-mile run from the ocean to the Snake River headwaters in the Sawtooths.

Meantime, the Yakama Nation is in the fourth year of spearheading an effort to reintroduce this prized salmon species back into the Yakima River Basin. 

Sockeyes bound for the Wenatchee and Okanogan rivers were trapped at Priest Rapids Dam about three months ago and trucked them to Lake Cle Elum for release. A total of 10,000 wild sockeye were released in the lake this year, a number that has grown steadily each year because of the abundance of the Columbia River sockeye run. The Yakama Nation plans to harvest fish at Priest Rapids after the overall run reaches 80,000 fish.

Ultimately, the program seeks to establish a self-sustaining run of Yakima River sockeye that will allow for a sport fishery.

The total Columbia River run this year approached 600,000 fish as daily counts set June records at Bonneville Dam.

See more in this report by the Yakima Herald-Republic.

SALMON FISHING — Fishing guide Anton Jones of Darrell & Dad's Family Fishing Guide Service says now's prime time for catching good-quality chinook salmon in the upper Columbia River near Brewster.  Here's his report:

On the Brewster Pool the bite has transitioned from Sockeye to Kings.  This is a short window where the Chinook are more eager to bite and still of good eating quality.  These Kings will bite Super Baits and Plug Cut Super Baits as well as plug cut herring.  

Mountain Dew Plug Cut Super baits 42” behind a big rotating flasher is one tried and true presentation.  Fill the Super Bait with oil based tuna and dip it in your favorite sauce.  We like Pautzke’s Krill Juice.  Make sure your herring is fresh and cured nicely to stay on the hooks.   

SALMON FISHING — Starting tomorrow (Aug. 18), the daily limit for sockeye at Lake Wenatchee will increase to five fish 12 inches or longer. 

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife just anounced the change along with an extension of the sockeye fishing season at Lake Wenatchee through Labor Day.

Reason for action:  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.

Read on for more detals from the WDFW.

FISHING — Sockeye salmon fishing in the upper Columbia River is still generating plenty of interest among anglers, and good numbers of fish for the freezer.

The early morning bite in the Brewster Pool can be particularly hot, said Anton Jones of Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service:

“The suggested formula for Sockeye would be a big Mack’s Lures Double D Dodger,” he said.  “Then add a 12” leader of 30 or 40 pound test mono back to a Mack’s Mini Cha Cha Squidder in Pink & White. 

“Space the hooks about 2 inches apart.  Then bait the hooks with 1 inch chunks of shrimp cured in Pautzke’s Fire Cure.  Fish this ensemble about 15 down to start.”   

FISHING — Anglers reported easy limits of sockeye salmon when the fishing season opened Saturday at Lake Wenatchee.

About 30,000 sockeye are espected to enter the lake this month.

See an opening day report from Northwest Sportsman magazine.

UPDATED

 FISHING — Here's what some of the region's media are saying this week about salmon fishing in Washington:

Westport salmon fishing opens to 7 days a week

Buoy 10 fishery expected to be a hit for salmon anglers

Calling all anglers: August rich with salmon derbies

At Least 26,000 Sockeye Caught In Upper Columbia — So Far

Lake Washington sockeye returns have peaked, but chinook numbers are increasing

Just posted at 1:40 p.m.:

• Weekender Report by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists in each region

SALMON FISHING — Crowds of anglers are postponing their Alasaka dream trip because there's no reason to leave Washington.

The record run of sockeye salmon booming up the Columbia is attracting large numbers of people to the upper reaches of the river near Brewster, as we've beem mentioning in our weekly fishing report.

Get the latest tip on catching the sockeye here.

An observation of special interest just came in from Jeff Holmes, a Tri-Cities-based angler/writer, who recently returned from bagging limits of salmon.

Those sockeye are easy to catch, relatively speaking.  What a pleasant fishery of polite anglers and no fighting.  Very different from mid-Columbia.

Can anyone explain when one congregation of anglers can be civil while others are gnarly?

SALMON FISHING — Sockeye salmon fishing is hot at the mouth of the Okanogan River near Brewster, and it's no secret.

Anton Jones of Darrell and Dad's Family Guide Service said anglers have converged on the fishery, requiring some thought to how to cope with the crowd.

“Strap on your patience as there were 345 boats on Saturday on the Columbia at the mouth of the Okanagon,” he reports.

“Fish the edge of the old channel just above the depth you mark them on your sonar,” he said.  “Pull big chrome dodgers with a short heavy leader back to a big Mack’s Lures Wedding Ring baited with a piece of Pautzke Fire Cured Shrimp. 

“You can also get some Chinook fishing Super Baits behind a rotating flasher.  Fill those Super Baits with oil based tuna and dip them in Pautzke’s Krill Juice. 

Jone's tip:

Keep your set backs short when you are in that combat fishery at the mouth of the Okanogan.  Twenty feet back is plenty.  More setback will lead to tangles with other anglers. 

Yes, that does have a double meaning. 

FISHERIES — At least 1,071 Snake River sockeye salmon spawners have completed their journey from the Pacific Ocean 700 miles upstream to central Idaho’s Sawtooth Valley, making it the second largest return since the 1950s or longer.

Most of the salmon moved upstream in July. When they cross Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River just before entering Idaho — the eighth and final hydro project they encounter up the Columbia, Snake and Salmon rivers — they still have 400 miles to go.

The top sockeye count since Lower Granite was completed in 1975 was 2,201 in 2010. This year’s count is at least 1,502.