Northwest Reel Life August 2023 Volume 2 Issue 10 - Flipbook - Page 20
As a bonus, I even stepped on
a yellow jacket nest last year,
be aware. Above all, this is a
true combat fishery. Patience
and ramp courtesy will assure
everyone enjoys the experience.
After some deep thought I think
that the biggest thing I can say
about late season Baker Lake
sockeye fishing is patience. The
fishing can be very hot or very
cold. Whereas the day before,
limits may have been the rule, it
is not always, and fishing may be
dead. Slow fishing or otherwise,
there are a few things you can do
to improve your odds and put a
few late season fish in the box.
As mentioned, patience (theme)
will be the name of the game,
and trust your electronics.
Especially during your pursuit of
late season sockeye, you will see
the fish on the meter before they
20 | NWFISHING.net
chase down your offering. When
chasing late season sockeye,
the more flash the better. Some
people run 2 attractors and/or run
a dummy off their downrigger
ball. Other people bend their
flashers to give them more wiggle
and flash. Make sure you keep
your gear clean; I don’t think that
the late season sockeye like the
scent of yesterday’s bait or scent
oils. That said, make sure to use
fresh bait. The 2013 sockeye bait
you found in the back of the bait/
beer fridge is not going to cut it.
Location is important in your
pursuit of late season Baker Lake
sockeye, although there are stock
areas of the lake that consistently
fish well. Areas like the Kulshan
Loop, Maple Grove, Silver Creek,
Noisy Creek and the Race Track
along Baker Lake Road all reliably
produce fish.
The problem is each of those areas
will also have a healthy aluminum
hatch. With all the gear dangling
in front of their noses, the fish may
just ignore it. In my experience
it pays to go look for fish. Many
times, I find schools of willing
biters in shallow water. Often, after
a slow morning I have just flatlined
gear in shallower areas of the lake
and picked off limits in one or two
passes.
FISH ON THE METER! Now what?
Typically, a “0” size 50/50, chrome
or pearl dodger is the backbone
of the setup. While you can catch
fish on tandem red, black or blue
hooks the fishiest gear includes
small spinner blades, Smiley
Blades or Wiggle Hoochie inserts.
Thinking outside of the box also
has advantages. Sometimes the
fish just don’t want the standard
gear.