Fishin' Magician: Dave Graybill

Summer-salmon season and sockeye season both open on July 1 and anglers are scrambling to get geared up.

Summer-salmon season and sockeye season both open on July 1 and anglers are scrambling to get geared up. We expect a strong return of summer-Chinook, with 67,000 fish, which is even with 2013. The sockeye return is expected to be huge, with 347,000 forecast to return up the Columbia River. Sockeye are coming over Bonneville Dam at a rate of over 28,000 per day right now. In addition to the big crop of sockeye headed up the Columbia and Okanogan rivers into Canada, Lake Wenatchee is expecting the biggest return of sockeye that I have ever heard of.

Over 63,000 sockeye are forecast to reach the lake this year. All of this points to high success for anglers for both species this year, and very good catches in Central Washington salmon derbies. The Wenatchee Salmon Derby is coming up on July 18 and 19. Those who want to participate should visit wenatcheesalmonderby.com and get all the details. The derby boundary has been extended to include Wells Dam this year, and there is a special incentive to participate in the Wenatchee and Brewster Salmon Derby. Visit the Wenatchee and Brewster derby web sites for the details.