Baker Lake report! Pic heavy.

[Mike Carey]

So is this campsite that you're staying at in one of the campgrounds? It looks like there are only about 100 sites in all three campgrounds and they're all booked up. Can you boat across and camp on the shoreline? If so, where do you park?

Wondering the same as my next trip I will bring my cuddy boat and anchor overnight, can the rig be left in the ramp parking lot overnight? I forgot to check the rules when I was out there. Plan B would be to grab a site and use it for parking the rig only.

[Matt]

You can park at most of the launches overnight if you pay the overnight fee. We launched at swift creek and then just motored around and found a spot to set up camp. The overnight fee is $9 I believe.

[Mike Carey]

You can park at most of the launches overnight if you pay the overnight fee. We launched at swift creek and then just motored around and found a spot to set up camp. The overnight fee is $9 I believe.

perfect. I know where I'll be next week. :-)

[RiverChromeGS]

So theyre expecting more fish back even this late, and are expected to release more into Baker than whats already in there? That would be cool if we got even more.

[Matt]

Its not necessarily "late". The projected escapement is over 20,000 fish. They have half of that. They continued putting fish into the lake into August last season.

[Mike Carey]

From the other Baker lake sockeye thread - Here is the WDFW link which includes current count/transfer numbers:

Baker Lake Sockeye Counts and Transfers

Current number trapped - 13,379

Transfered to Baker Lake - 8,701

Last year's run total - 14,239

This year pre season forecast - 23,950

So we have a ways to go!

[Matt]

Agreed! Unfortunately I can't give it a shot again until the 1st week of August, but if things hold up I will be trying another go round. :bounce:

[RiverChromeGS]

Thats great, this will sustain my craving for salmon all the way until fall chinook arrive with those projected numbers! I guess im lucky to live an hour away from Baker instead of having a long drive like others. ANybody know if theres a way to charge batteries at swift creek or panorama point overnigght?

[sickbayer]

well i am off to Canada to work for a month or two. Kinda bummed as the fishing is heating up all over the place.

[natetreat]

Agreed! Unfortunately I can't give it a shot again until the 1st week of August, but if things hold up I will be trying another go round. :bounce:

That's the week that we're going to be up there. If you see a young guys and an old guy trolling in a vintage kayak it's me. Also bringing my raft to tow all our gear to the campsite, and to maybe double as an air mattress or to use if it gets super choppy on the lake.

[Matt]

Well if it pans out I will let you know Nate, we could meet up for a beer.

Jay, you will be getting back just in time for the coho to be red hot. No worries dude, we'll get some fish!!

FF, pretty sure some of the campsites have RV hookups with electricity. That may be an option for you.

[Bodofish]

I'm back on Sat again. Boy are those Socks taaaasty! Freezer and smoker fodder! gotta git while the gitt'in is good. Nate I may have a seat Sat. PM me if you're interested.

[akochman09]

Im most likely going this weekend. went with ff tuesday and couldn't believe how much fun those socks are. even better to eat too. don't know if i will fish for trout much this year.... if you guys are there im in a 17ft smokercraft with a tohatsu on the back.

[natetreat]

I'm back on Sat again. Boy are those Socks taaaasty! Freezer and smoker fodder! gotta git while the gitt'in is good. Nate I may have a seat Sat. PM me if you're interested.

I'd've loved to but I have a photoshoot scheduled for that day. Gotta pay the bills somehow I can't wait to get out there and boat some of these fish.

[Bodofish]

Maybe next time. You'll love it they're real fighters, very aerobatic! I've caught many from Lake WA from a canoe, just the right speed.

[natetreat]

Man I'm starting to get more and more excited about going there! This is going to be AWESOME.

[Mike Carey]

looks like today's reports are little tougher. My on-again, off-again trip is ON for Monday. May have to try some alternate locations on the lake.

It's human nature to fish where all the anglers are fishing, but these fish have to be all over, they can't all run up to Noisy Creek, right? Maybe the pressure is turning off the bite up there. 250 boats is a lot of boats.

[Mike Carey]

question for the shrimp users at Baker - what kind of shrimp do you use? Sand shrimp? raw prawns? mini uncooked shrimp?

I haven't run with bait before but may bring some along for my next trip. Thanks!

[mav186]

question for the shrimp users at Baker - what kind of shrimp do you use? Sand shrimp? raw prawns? mini uncooked shrimp?

I haven't run with bait before but may bring some along for my next trip. Thanks!

Mike...I cure my own from a bag of frozen raw shrimp, cut into pieces, cure, then bag them up in snack size zip locks. Have Fun out there!

[Bodofish]

Totally different show on Sat. Fished from first light till 1:00pm caught fish until 9:00am then I couldn't buy a fish to save my life. Not the same as opening day. From the numbers posted there should be plenty of fish. Chatted with a friend that lives near by. His take was was guides Mon. through Fri. 6 to 8 up per boat 2 loads a day with limits. I didn't have the heart to tell him his math didn't add up to the number of fish dumped in the lake but it could make an impact I guess.

Shrimp? Brine them for 4 hours then salt them. Makes them really tough so you can put a tiny piece on. I think the salt helps with scent dispersion too.