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Hello fellow fishers, Got on the lake about 5am, fishing by 5:15 and first fish in the boat at 6:00, woo hoo, it's going to be a good day...maybe.

As about 15 other boats and I did the parade pattern, marking fish all over the place, nothing was happening with anyone. Saw another boat land 1 fish about 8am, (nice job guys! hook came out of the fishes mouth in the net in the water) I planned on leaving at 10, the bite is done by then usually anyway, and not seeing another net wave at all, I was preparing the boat to go back when number 2 fish hit at 9:45, landed that one and feeling extremely lucky after a slow day on the water. Fished until 11 with no other action by me or anyone else.

I believe this forum is to share success and failure with fellow anglers to help us all enjoy the sport we love so much, so for what it's worth, here's some data and photos.

Fished 40 feet on downriggers for the two fish in the boat, I had other depths on the other rods with no success that day.

Typical pink squid, smiley blade using raw shrimp cured in Pautzke Red Rouge krill

Fished the dam end of the lake this day, enough fish marked that I turned off my fish finder, I know they were there, no point in watching what isn't biting...

Short heavy leader 12"-14" of 25lb test, I think if gives better action like this, maybe I'm wrong, with a small flasher. Had same set up on another pole at the same depth with a larger flasher, no bites on that one.
See the photo of my set up, probably the same as what you use, but it may help someone else who isn't.
Tight lines everyone!

bob johansen

8/2/2018 6:55:21 PM

Excellent report Steel Man. I never fished sockeye at Baker Lake and now it is too late (old age 89). I still read the reports and know a good one when I see one. I did catch many sockeye years ago at Lake Washington so I had my turn. Fish as much as possible while you are still able!

MPM

8/2/2018 7:13:58 PM

Is that the Gold Star "stubby" dodger? We hooked a fish on that dodger with a smile blade lure on Wednesday.

MoonValley

8/2/2018 8:58:00 PM

I've fished Brewster Pool a few times (I'm new to sockeye fishing), and almost everyone is running the same Danielson 8" dodger and coon shrimp. We had great success running Columbia Basin Bait Company packaged shrimp. We ran silver smile blades, a couple of beads, and a hook on about 14" of leader. Six ounce cannon balls, and 30-35' of line out. I went out two full days on my own with no luck. On day three, I went out with a guide, and it was crazy good. We limited the boat (9 fish), and probably lost twice that many. There's no substitute for local knowledge. At the busiest point on my second day, I counted 103 boats in the pool, but everyone seemed to get along.

kurtkettel

8/2/2018 9:06:36 PM

Was up there yesterday...fished north end. Same result...scratched out two...left at 10am. One guy I talked to on the lake had 9 takes & 4 in the boat...fishing at 20'! Lady at my business networking meeting this morning got 18 in 3 days (limits every day)..fished down by horseshoe again at 20'. Weird since top surface water is 72-72 degrees. I wish I had this intelligence before I went.

kurtkettel

8/2/2018 9:06:49 PM

Was up there yesterday...fished north end. Same result...scratched out two...left at 10am. One guy I talked to on the lake had 9 takes & 4 in the boat...fishing at 20'! Lady at my business networking meeting this morning got 18 in 3 days (limits every day)..fished down by horseshoe again at 20'. Weird since top surface water is 72-72 degrees. I wish I had this intelligence before I went.

SteeleMan

8/2/2018 10:17:55 PM

Thanks Bob J !!
I'd be happy to take you out sometime up there! It's never too late, my Dad fished Baker before it was dammed up, tiny lake back then, and my Grandfather helped build the dam! I'd be thrilled to take out another fisherman who could teach me a thing or two.
Just let me know!

SteeleMan

8/2/2018 10:26:50 PM

Kurtkettle,
Thanks for the intel !
I'll run one at 20 on Sunday and let you all know how I did. There was a lot of activity higher that 40 on my finder, but my other intel guy said stick with 40 and it'll pay off. I'm never opposed to exploring the success of others!

stryker17

8/3/2018 7:19:52 AM

My brother in law and his family, along with my family, use to fish Baker on opening day, we would chain up his 4 x 4 on all 4 and break trail in on plowing at that time. That was in the day when you could ,,chum,, for them. Always did great on the fish, very cold and with 6 kids and 2 dogs we would stay about 3 to 4 days. This was in April in the mid 70's...lots of kokanee to be had and hardly any other boats......We would launch at the old Tars resort and than drive up lake to camp....great memories...…..

SteeleMan

8/3/2018 10:09:08 PM

Great story Stryker!
That's hard core right there! Nothing like being in a beautiful spot next to Baker in the snow, must be some great memories during a better time...

SteeleMan

8/8/2018 4:12:56 PM

Was hoping to have a report for 8/5, unfortunately I found an elk on the way up to Baker at 4am. I'll be back on 8/11...Drive safe!

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