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Baker River Sockeye Salmon
2012 Sport Fishing Seasons
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Skagit River from the Memorial Highway Bridge to Gilligan Creek June 16 –July 15th.
Three fish a day. |
Baker Lake starting July 1-Sept. 4.
Three fish a day. |
For more information see
WDFW Fishing Regulations Pamphlet |
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Baker
River
Sockeye Salmon Trap Counts by Year |
| Year |
Trap
Count |
| 1970 |
821 |
| 1971 |
2,931 |
| 1972 |
10,031 |
| 1973 |
3,656 |
| 1974 |
3,611 |
| 1975 |
1,303 |
| 1976 |
1,518 |
| 1977 |
1,707 |
| 1978 |
2,716 |
| 1979 |
865 |
| 1980 |
499 |
| 1981 |
208 |
| 1982 |
1,869 |
| 1983 |
735 |
| 1984 |
358 |
| 1985 |
99 |
| 1986 |
542 |
| 1987 |
683 |
| 1988 |
818 |
| 1989 |
536 |
| 1990 |
1,977 |
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| Year |
Trap
Count |
| 1991 |
480 |
| 1992 |
2,443 |
| 1993 |
3,818 |
| 1994 |
15,991 |
| 1995 |
2,181 |
| 1996 |
7,769 |
| 1997 |
7,099 |
| 1998 |
13,187 |
| 1999 |
4,654 |
| 2000 |
10,384 |
| 2001 |
4,942 |
| 2002 |
4,021 |
| 2003 |
20,235 |
| 2004 |
9,106 |
| 2005 |
3,191 |
| 2006 |
8,325 |
| 2007 |
2,763 |
| 2008 |
3,211 |
| 2009 |
6,486 |
2010 |
14,239 |
| 2011 |
27,195 |
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Baker sockeye are native to Baker Lake and Baker River, tributary to the Skagit River. Baker sockeye have been exported to other waters of the state including Lake Washington. Artificial enhancement began in 1896 when the state built a hatchery on Baker Lake. The natural run at that time was estimated to be approximately 20,000 fish. Lower Baker Dam, which was constructed in 1925 creating Lake Shannon, blocked access to the lake. A ladder and "elevating contrivance" was constructed to provide passage. Adults were released above the dam to spawn naturally.
Construction of the Upper Baker Dam, completed in 1959, inundated the valley that included the natural Baker Lake. Artificial spawning beds were constructed at the upper end of the new Baker Lake to mitigate for loss of natural spawning beaches. These “beaches” were first used in 1957. A newly refurbished sockeye spawning beach will be used in 2011, near the new (2010) hatchery facility located below Baker Lake. The entire escapement of adults is now trapped below Lower Baker Dam and transported above the dams. Some are placed in the artificial spawning beaches, some are used for hatchery production, and others are released into Baker Lake to spawn naturally. Natural spawning takes place for the most part in seeps and springs at the head end of the lake and in the lower Baker River. Sockeye may also enter other tributaries. Fry from the artificial spawning beaches and from hatchery production are released into Baker Lake and Shannon Lake, where they rear naturally. At the smolt stage, sockeye are captured at both dams and released downstream below lower Baker dam to complete their seaward journey.
Adult Baker sockeye enter the trap from mid June to mid August. Numbers peak in mid-July. Spawning occurs from late September through December, peaking from late October to late November. The preseason forecast for the 2012 return is 35,366 sockeye salmon. Recent research indicates that a significant portion of the kokanee salmon or "silvers" taken in the Baker Lake sport fishery may in fact be "residual" sockeye. These are offspring of sea-run parents that have not gone to sea after a year of rearing in freshwater and may spend their entire life in a lake. True kokanee are self-sustaining freshwater populations. Successful spawning by residual sockeye or kokanee has not been documented in Baker Lake although individuals presumed to be residuals have been observed with adult sockeye in spawning areas.
Improvements in the smolt trapping and transportation system at the dams have contributed, at least in part, to the rebound of the Baker sockeye stock from a long decline and the population is now increasing. The numbers of adults returning to the Baker Trap since 1971 are presented in the table to the right.
The 2011 Baker Trap sockeye count and the number of sockeye transferred to Baker Lake, current as of the date shown, are also provided.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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