Where’s the Fish?
Our favorite salmonids are on their way back! The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) forecast (including the Issaquah Hatchery runs) expects “similar [to last year] Chinook fisheries” and “… a strong run of Coho salmon.” All our returning fish pass through the Chittenden (Ballard) Locks where they are counted as they make their way into the Lake Washington basin. Many of the Chinook and Coho are on their way to Issaquah Creek – most of the Sockeye are on their way to the Cedar River.
The count as of July 28th is pictured below. This chart, as well as a chart for coho, is updated every couple of days. We’ve linked this chart to the page on the WDFW website where you can see the latest count.
As you can see, only 489 Chinook have been counted so far – our fish are still hanging off in the salt water somewhere. A few Chinook have been reported at the Shilshole Public Ramp, which is right at the entrance to the Locks.
Fishing for our Chinook is occasionally open in the Sammamish River or Lake Sammamish – please check the WDFW site for the current regulations and Special Rules, which can change from day to day.
Additional salmon viewing opportunities around the Puget Sound can be found at the Salmon Seeson website – check it frequently for emerging opportunities!
If there are other fishy topics you would like to see in this blog, please request them in a Comment.