Sockeye Run 2014

[Sasquatch]

I'm sure many of us are hoping for a salt water opening in areas 28 and/or 29 this coming summer. I sure am.

I have some family from the prairies who want to visit and do some fishing, they are pretty open as to when they visit. When would you consider to be the best time window to get in some sock fishing this summer?

 

[Tsquared]

First 2 weeks of August.

 

[fishin_magician]

First 2 weeks of August.

I disagree---Best weeks will be after August 12.

Should be an opening...this is the year after the 2010 Run of the Century. If there isn't an opening, they died at sea. The outgoing smolt migration was the largest ever recorded in 2011.

 

[Peahead]

Considering numbers of fish and possible late August closures, if you have only a week window, I'd suggest Aug 17-24th.

It usually starts to get going at the end of the first week of August and goes till end of August or even into September. Area 29 can get shut down in the latter part of August ( or both 28 and 29 !) so another reason 17-24th is a good bet. The socs can also be abundant closer, right in Vancouver Harbour at that time as compared to early in August. Socs are generally better quality prior to late August as well.

 

[Canso]

Considering numbers of fish and possible late August closures, if you have only a week window, I'd suggest Aug 17-24th.

.

Yup, what he said ^^^^
I've already booked that week off work. Good chance for springs aswel

 

[westburg]

Here is a question for you all...I have fished spring, coho, lings and halibut for years. Never fished sockeye..Fish out of Ucluelet normally. Where to go...What to use...How deep...Trolling speed...etc etc...Thank you all in advance and have a great new years

 

[searun]

Here is a question for you all...I have fished spring, coho, lings and halibut for years. Never fished sockeye..Fish out of Ucluelet normally. Where to go...What to use...How deep...Trolling speed...etc etc...Thank you all in advance and have a great new years

If you are fishing the west coast of VI then your best sockeye fishing will be in the Alberni Canal. The run usually shows up in good numbers around the third week of June and peaks the first two weeks in July. This year is forecast to be 1.4 million fish. That's the largest pre season forecast I've seen in many years. There is possibility of up to 3 million fish. This will be by far one of the largest runs if not "the largest" run.

Normally best tackle is pink hoochies, or pink and black. Another very good bet is simple black hooks. Short leaders and slow troll. Most fishing starts very shallow in early season and later as water warms up as deep as 120 feet.

With that many fish it will be hard not to catch your fish.

 

[westburg]

If you are fishing the west coast of VI then your best sockeye fishing will be in the Alberni Canal. The run usually shows up in good numbers around the third week of June and peaks the first two weeks in July. This year is forecast to be 1.4 million fish. That's the largest pre season forecast I've seen in many years. There is possibility of up to 3 million fish. This will be by far one of the largest runs if not "the largest" run.

Normally best tackle is pink hoochies, or pink and black. Another very good bet is simple black hooks. Short leaders and slow troll. Most fishing starts very shallow in early season and later as water warms up as deep as 120 feet.

With that many fish it will be hard not to catch your fish.

Thanks so much Searun for the info. So simple black hooks behind a flasher. Is the rule the same with springs and coho, flasher matches the lewer? I have lots of pink hootchies. cant wait to taste some of the best salmon out there. Cheers

 

[searun]

They aren't too fussy over flasher color. Your standard plaid uv flasher works great. Leader length is important to create the correct action. Start with 27 inches as your go to and experiment from there. I run lots of dummies to bring them in for a look Good luck. See u out there.

 

[waddy29]

They aren't too fussy over flasher color. Your standard plaid uv flasher works great. Leader length is important to create the correct action. Start with 27 inches as your go to and experiment from there. I run lots of dummies to bring them in for a look Good luck. See u out there.

stack em and wack em

Seriously - lots of flashers. Sox school up big time. We always fish a dummy - drop 10 ft, 1 set up - drop 10 ft, another setup - drop to desired depth. 3 flashers each side total of 6. Would use more but size of boat doesn't permit.

ahh I miss summer and the pandemonium that comes with the sockeye fishery!

 

[fishin_magician]

stack em and wack em

Seriously - lots of flashers. Sox school up big time. We always fish a dummy - drop 10 ft, 1 set up - drop 10 ft, another setup - drop to desired depth. 3 flashers each side total of 6. Would use more but size of boat doesn't permit.

ahh I miss summer and the pandemonium that comes with the sockeye fishery!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FZlbbVJ0hwQ

 

[fishin_magician]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FZlbbVJ0hwQ

 

[Sasquatch]

Thanks for all the info. I am glad I asked, as I thought that late July would be the correct time.

I keep hearing that you should stack the lines for socks and that the hits often come in multiples, so either leave the gear down or be very slow taking it up when you hook a fish. Also heard that you should pull some of the legs of the hootchies to make them sparser.

I am looking forward to a big run and a generous opening this year.

 

[Canso]

Everything you heard is correct. I use 5/0 octopus hooks tied as close together as possible, facing opposite from each other. MP15 hootchy and 21-24" leader. Hooked lots of springs on that same rig. For sandheads I fish 35-65 ft. 2.2-2.6 mph, if loosing fish your trolling too slow. Look for jumpers and troll threw them. I love sockeye fishing.

 

[getbent]

Keep your fingers crossed that all has gone well out there and we should have a great August...follow Canso for the springs...
or myself if I can get my azz outta work...LOL, JK follow Canso...really

 

[Dogbreath]

Don't bother crimping the barbs on your hooks and since they don't fight all that much just yard them in/grab the flasher and haul them over the gunnel-repeat as needed.

 

[capt hook]

Thanks so much Searun for the info. So simple black hooks behind a flasher. Is the rule the same with springs and coho, flasher matches the lewer? I have lots of pink hootchies. cant wait to taste some of the best salmon out there. Cheers

I commercially trolled west coast VI for most of my life and i,m old
the Frazer river run will probably be huge this year , and if your around Uky your in perfect position, they funnel thru right out front at the red can.
if u look at chart you will see a deep ditch running thru from the deep hole above the Light right down towards Pachena.
fish in westerly tack down the middle of ditch , use any flasher , but with red hootchie , YES , you can use a condom or a thing ma jigger , but red hootchie is the proven best. mid aug and u will load up !!! Searun is talking about smaller early run sockeye going up Alberni Canal not Frazer bound. frazer fish are ferocious biters and when u get one on , let him stay there a while as he will get the excitement happening and you will get the quaddruple header.
Its gonna be a good year. have faith and fun !

 

[SophiaB]

Don't bother crimping the barbs on your hooks .

What?

....

 

[Canso]

What?

....

hard to read sarcasm.



Hey getbent I've got a radio now, help each other stay on the fish. See u out there.

 

[trophywife]

fraser bound socks are usually closed offshore of ukee/bam