Baker River sockeye salmon season and counts

Aug. 13 update: Baker Lake sockeye supporting broodstock for Lake Washington, Lake Cushman hatchery programs
With strong returns of sockeye salmon to Baker Lake in 2023 and 2024, adult salmon returning to the fish trap on the lower Baker River will now be used by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to help recover struggling sockeye runs in Lake Washington in coordination with the Muckleshoot Tribe and Seattle Public Utilities, and in Lake Cushman in coordination with the Skokomish Tribe and Tacoma Power. 

During the remainder of August, WDFW expects to hold at least 1,200 Baker sockeye as broodstock to support these hatchery programs. State and tribal salmon managers hope that by helping these hatcheries grow and become self-sustaining, they will support sockeye recovery and future fisheries in King County and Mason County.

As of August 7, the total 2024 Baker sockeye return was 46,936 fish, some of which were caught in tribal and recreational fisheries on the Skagit River, while more than 9,300 have already been used as hatchery broodstock or transferred to special spawning beaches to support future Baker sockeye runs. Baker Lake Hatchery needs have been met for this year. 

With more than 17,691 sockeye transported from the fish trap to Baker Lake since June, steady fishing is expected to continue in the lake until the end of the season, which runs through Aug. 31.

Baker sockeye management is a collaboration between the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Puget Sound Energy (PSE), and the Upper Skagit and Swinomish tribes. Together we are supporting a sustainable resource and providing iconic and cherished salmon fisheries.

Baker Lake sockeye fishing
Photo by Hermes Adrada
A kayak angler fishing for sockeye salmon on Baker Lake, with Mount Baker in the background. 

The Baker sockeye run has been recovering from a low of fewer than 100 fish in 1985 to a record return of more than 65,000 sockeye in 2023. More information is available in this joint blog post by WDFW and Northwest Treaty Tribes.

Baker sockeye are native to Baker Lake and the Baker River, a tributary to the Skagit River near the town of Concrete. Each year, sockeye returning to the lake are trapped below two dams on the lower Baker River before they are transported above these facilities where they are placed at artificial spawning beaches, used for production at WDFW and PSE's hatchery facility, or released into Baker Lake to spawn naturally or be caught by anglers.

Natural spawning takes place mostly in seeps and springs at the head end of the lake and in the upper Baker River above the lake, although some 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 the lower and upper dams and released downstream for their seaward journey.

Skagit River and Baker Lake sockeye rules

The 2024 sockeye forecast for the Baker River is 56,750 fish and the state harvest split on sockeye for Baker Lake and the Skagit River is 75/25 percent respectively.

Skagit River Rules

The Skagit River from Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Bridge to the Dalles Bridge at Concrete opens for sockeye June 16 through July 15. Minimum size is 12 inches. Daily limit is four sockeye salmon. 

Night closure in effect. Selective gear rules are not in effect for salmon. 

There will be periodic closures to prevent gear conflicts during tribal fisheries. In-season closures will be announced as soon as possible.  Consider checking emergency Fishing Rule Changes, downloading the FishWA mobile app or signing up for fishery change notifications by email.

Baker Lake Rules

Baker Lake will open July 6 and is scheduled to run through Aug. 31. Fishing opens July 6 regardless of the number of sockeye present in the lake.

Consider checking emergency Fishing Rule Changes for updates or downloading the FishWA mobile app. Minimum size is 18 inches. Daily limit four sockeye. Release all salmon other than sockeye. Each angler aboard a vessel may deploy salmon angling gear until the salmon limit for all anglers aboard has been achieved. Two-pole allowed with license endorsement. 

Baker Lake anglers, boaters, and kayakers should be aware that WDFW Police and Aquatic Invasive Species unit staff will be conducting mandatory invasive species checks on watercraft entering Baker Lake to help prevent introduction of quagga and zebra mussels that can impact infrastructure and potentially cause millions of dollars in damage. Please be respectful and cooperate during inspections to help get everyone on the lake as quickly as possible.

Additional information

Selective gear rules remain in effect for gamefish. If anglers are not following selective gear rules, all species other than sockeye must be released. Please see pamphlet for gamefish rules in these sections.

The fishery will be actively monitored by WDFW. Anglers are asked to cooperate with creel personnel collecting catch information. Monitoring and evaluation of fisheries is an important part of ensuring we are meeting our conservation goals for salmon. 

Tribal co-managers will conduct sockeye fisheries in the Skagit River and lower Baker River as well as nearby marine areas. For information on tribal fisheries, please see the List of Agreed Fisheries (LOAF). We ask recreational anglers to give tribal fishers space and respect if they encounter each other during these and other fisheries.

There may be periodic closures to prevent conflicts during tribal fisheries. In-season closures will be announced as soon as possible. Consider downloading the Fish Washington app or signing up for fishery change notifications by email as well as checking our webpage where emergency Fishing Rule Changes are listed. 

Puget Sound Energy employees operate and maintain facilities at the Baker River Project guided by WDFW and tribal co-managers. These facilities not only include the hatchery and spawning beaches, the upstream trap-and-haul facility, fish transport equipment, and floating surface collectors for out-migrating juvenile fish at Baker Lake and Lake Shannon.

Hatchery broodstock and natural spawner schedule

Fish that return to the Baker trap are prioritized to first meet our hatchery broodstock needs. Once the hatchery goal is met for the week, all remaining fish are transferred to Baker lake for the recreational fishery and to meet natural spawning goals in the lake.

2023 Hatchery Broodstock collection (9,500) 

WeekAI GoalBeach GoalTotal Broodstock
6/3 - 6/9000
6/10 - 6/1616925
6/17 - 6/23217121338
6/24 - 6/306743751,049
7/1 - 7/71,3097302,039
7/8 - 7/141,7059502,655
7/15 - 7/211,1456381,783
7/22 - 7/28621334955
7/29 - 8/4262159421
08/5 - 08/119251143
8/12 - 8/18362056
8/19 - 8/25231336
After 8/25000
Total6,100*3,4009,500

*Includes 1,000 AI increase (5,100 to 6,100) for Baker broodstock. 

Sockeye returns

Adult Baker sockeye enter the trap from mid-June to mid-October. Numbers of returning fish peak in mid-July. Spawning occurs from mid-September through December, peaking from late September to late November.

2024 daily counts

DateBaker LakeBroodstockSpawn BeachTotal
6/1 - 6/120000
6/130707
6/140101
6/1518918
6/16260026
6/17017017
6/18026026
6/19033033
6/20099099
6/2104261103
6/22166060226
6/2317200172
6/2401650165
6/2503510351
6/260158140298
6/27840235319
6/2825500255
6/2928500285
6/3055700557
7/126130615
7/204480448
7/30248132380
7/400563563
7/511050351140
7/61095001095
7/71220001221*
7/80150201502
7/94419502031597*
7/1096100963*
7/111120001120
7/121179001179
7/1353500535
7/1485200852
7/1518912071099
7/166742544311359
7/171540001540
7/1880000800
7/1940800408
7/2020800208
7/2152400524
7/223508167679*
7/23417113167699*
7/2470700707
7/2548700487
7/2635900359
7/2711600116
7/2814900149
7/29026275337
7/30100084184
7/3144800448
8/112400124
8/219200192
8/30000
8/4430043
8/51879251330
8/6660066
8/7820082
8/8250025
8/9036036
8/100000
8/11022022
8/120361955
8/1301091110
8/14021021
8/151809
8/16054054
8/170000
8/180606
8/190909
8/20065065
8/21028028
8/220181331
8/23020020
8/240000
8/250000
8/26010010
8/27014014
8/28024024
8/29011011
8/300404
8/310000
9/10000
9/20100
9/30101
9/4011011
9/5072072
9/6014014
9/70000
9/80000
9/90400
9/100101
Total number of fish transferred to Baker Lake   17717
Total number of fish transferred to Broodstock   6540
Total number of fish transferred to Spawning Beach    3400
Total number of trap mortalities   9
Cumulative total number of fish    27766

*Total includes trap mortality 

** Total includes trap harvest

Note, users may need hard refresh their browsers to view the most recent updates to the trap counts figure (Ctrl + (fn) + F5 in most browsers. 

Baker River sockeye salmon trap counts

On desktop/laptop, move the cursor over a data point to see the exact date and count. To zoom in or out on the chart, use the mouse scroll wheel. Click and drag the graph to pan the data left or right.

On touch devices, tap the data point to see the exact date and count. To zoom in or out on the chart, spread or pinch the chart area. Tap and drag the graph to pan the data left or right.

To view and compare counts from previous years, click/tap the year in the legend below the chart to toggle it on or off.

Baker River sockeye salmon trap counts by year

YearTrap Count
202347,358
202225,947
202126,808
202015,896
201913,016
201817,609
201716,703
201624,986
201532,736
201414,176
201312,534
201228,410
201127,195
201018,809
20096,486
20083,211
20072,763
20068,325
20053,192
20049,113
200320,236
20024,023
20014,942
200010,404
19994,654
199813,187
19977,099
19967,769
19952,181
199415,991
19933,818
19922,443
1991480
19901,977
1989536
1988818
1987683
1986542
198599
1984358
1983735
19821,869
1981208
1980499
1979865
19782,716
19771,707
19761,518
19751,303
19743,611
19733,656
197210,031
19712,931
1970821