Outdoors Notebook | Chinook count in Lake Washington down

It looks like another salmon run is biting the dust in Lake Washington.

This time chinook migrating into huge urban watershed are struggling, but cross your fingers because the coho returning on its heel has started off with a bang.

Through Aug. 31, only 10,426 chinook have been counted at the Ballard Locks fish ladder, compared to the preseason forecast of 26,183.

"The counts at the locks are showing we're way off the forecast," said Steve Foley, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "I'm actually surprised by the poor return, and if that is an indication of what is going on in all of South Sound then we just had poorer than expected chinook survival."

If the lake's chinook return continues this trend, then it is likely that it might hit 11,000 fish. The third week of August is usually the peak of the run.

Looking back though, Muckleshoot tribal biologist Mike Mahovlich pointed out that the lake's June and July chinook returns were off the charts.

"We had over 3,000 chinook enter the lake in those two months, and that was the highest on record and then it just flat lined and became just an average run," Mahovlich said. "Usually in August you get about 60 to 70 percent of the chinook run into the lake."

Foley said, we are going to be far below expectations, but still OK and we'll have enough fish for the hatchery program."

Lake Washington coho are just starting to move into the lake in big numbers with an expected modest run of 17,725.

"We weren't expecting much for Lake Washington coho, and then to see what happened during the first four days of counting was something else," Mahovlich said.

On Sept 1, 926 coho entered the lake compared to past years when it was more like 30 to 150 fish. From Sept. 1-4, a total of 3,002 coho were counted.

"It has definitely started off good, and it will be interesting to see if it builds over the next 10 days," Mahovlich said. "Maybe we've got something magical happening or is it just going to fall off the cliff? This is where we have to be cautious."

The historical peak for coho in the lake is Sept. 18-23, and the co-managers are planning to meet on Tuesday to get an update on the coho situation.

"For now we have to take what we've got with a grain of salt, because there might not be much more coho behind it," Mahovlich said. "Hopefully it won't crash very hard like the sockeye and chinook did."

The lake's sockeye run was expected to be 105,575, but through July 31 only 33,630 had been counted at the locks.

"This year's sockeye run was supposed to be a dominant year class," Foley said. "This makes it especially worrisome since the lock counts have been strong for this year class since 1972."

The parent run of this year's offspring in 2004 totaled 376,659, and in 2000 it was 414,976. The previous lowest return for this year's sockeye class was 217,000 in 1976.

Notes

• Legendary mountaineers will share stories, adventures and accomplishments at the free Rainier Mountain Festival Sept. 13-14 at Rainier Basecamp, 30027 State Route 706 East in Ashford just outside the Paradise entrance to Mount Rainier.

In attendance are 18 Mt. Everest summiteers including Ed Viesturs, Dave Hahn, Jim Whittaker and Lou Whittaker.

Other highlights are alpine games, a five-mile trail run (cost is $10 on Sept. 14 at 10 a.m.), mountain technique demonstrations, raffle, music, food, and kids fun and games. Details: 800-238-5756 or www.rainierfestival.com.

• The grand reopening of the Bellevue Orvis Store (10223 N.E. 10th St.) is Sept. 19-21. The event includes fly-fishing events, sales, plus discussions with Mike Cummins, owner of the Redshed speyshop in Peck, Idaho, and Michael J. Mathis, an expert Clearwater and Snake River steelhead fly-fishermen. Details: 425-452-9138.

• The monthly meeting of the Washington Fly Fishing Club is Sept. 16. Guest speaker is Florida Keys bird artist and saltwater fly-tying specialist Tim Borski. Attendees must register online to participate in the meetings. Details: www.wffc.com.

• The Renton Chapter of the Puget Sound Anglers meeting is 6:15 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Kennydale Memorial Hall, 2424 N.E. 27th St. in Renton. Details: www.pugetsoundanglers.org/chapters/renton.htm.

• The Puget Sound Anglers of Lake Washington meeting is 7 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. on Mercer Island. PSA Sno-King President Ron Garner will discuss catching halibut in Washington. Details: 425-823-0704.

• The Travel & Adventure Expo is Sept. 13-14 at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in downtown Seattle.

Featured guests are Peter Potterfield, Shannon Stowell, John Bowermaster, Robert Young Pelton, Ashish Sanghrajka, Philippe Cousteau, Arthur Frommer, Anthony Saba and Rick Steves.

Hours: Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost is $12. Details: www.adventureexpo.com/seattle.

• The Sportsman's Warehouse in Federal Way is hosting a fly-casting class 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sept. 21. Instructors are Darrel Martin, certified by the Federation of Fly-Fishers and Michael Martin. Cost is $50. Details: 253-835-4100.

• The City of Woodinville is hosting three eight-week classes on fly-fishing beginning Sept. 16. They include basics of fly-fishing; fly-fishing for salmon and steelhead; and fly-tying salmon and steelhead flies. Instructor is Alaskan guide and outfitter Dick Lange. Classes are held 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at the Carol Edwards Center.

Cost is $39 for Woodinville residents or $44.85 for nonresidents, plus $10 for course manual. Details: 425-398-9327 or www.ci.woodinville.wa.us.

• The Washington Steelhead Coalition free Fall Kick-Off and BBQ is 6-9 p.m. Sept. 11 at the UW Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St. in Seattle. Details: www.wildsteelheadcoalition.com.

• The Ballard Elks Coho Derby is Sept. 14 in Central Puget Sound. Register at the Sloop Tavern or Ballard Elks Lounge by midnight Sept. 13. Cost is $10. Details: 206-227-0851.

• The Everett Coho Derby hosted by the Everett Steelhead and Salmon Club and Snohomish Sportsmen's Club is Sept. 20-21. Cost is $25, and kids under age 12 are free. Largest coho caught wins $2,500. Details: 425-415-1575 or 425-743-9505 or 206-624-6550.

• The Seattle Rifle and Pistol Association hunter sight-in is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 20-21, Sept. 27-28, Oct. 4-5 and Oct. 11-12 at 725 135th Ave. S. in Snohomish. Cost is $5. Details: 360-659-9362.

• The West Coast Sea Kayaking Symposium is Sept. 19-21 at the Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend.

The festival offers paddling seminars, new product demos, film festival, guest speakers and beach-side exhibits for paddlers of all ages and skill levels. Hours: Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Details: www.wcsks.org.

• The Coast Guard Auxiliary's Edmonds Flotilla is offering fall 13-week public courses on Boating Skills and Seamanship Course ($55) beginning Thursday, and Advanced Coastal Navigation course ($75) beginning Sept. 9. There is also an America's Boating Course, a one-day, eight-hour class Sept. 13 and Nov. 1. The course covers all phases of boating, and those who complete it qualify for a newly required Washington Boaters Card. Details: 206-546-4171 or e-mail boatclasses@hotmail.com.

• State Fish and Wildlife is offering a women's workshop on fishing, hunting and outdoor skills Sept. 12-14 at Camp River Ranch in Carnation. The workshop is coordinated by Washington Outdoor Women. Classes offered are archery, basic fishing, fly-fishing and tying, canoeing, kayaking, preparing fish and shellfish, big-game hunting basics, map and compass reading, wilderness first aid, survival skills, wildlife identification, outdoor photography, and more.

Participants must be at least 18. Cost is $225 and includes the weekend's lodging, meals and use of all necessary equipment. Details: 425-455-1986 or www.washingtonoutdoorwomen.org.

• The Washington State Parks is inviting the public to participate in the International Coastal and Underwater Cleanup, Sept. 20-21. The goal is to focus attention on litter accumulated from water and land sources on Washington's ocean beaches.

State Parks will waive the camping fee for cleanup participants at Cape Disappointment (Long Beach area), Twin Harbors (south beach area) and Ocean City (north beach area) state parks. Details: 360-866-9253 or www.coastsavers.org.

• The Washington Trails Association offers statewide trip reports and trail conditions. Details: www.wta.org.

• The Northwest Fly Anglers offers various public classes through the year. The public also is invited to club meetings on the third Thursday of each month, at the Haller Lake Community Center, 12579 Densmore Ave N., in North Seattle. Details: 206-684-7524.

• The Emerald Sea Dive Club offers year-round activities including the big buddy program and weekly and monthly dives. The club meets on the first Wednesday of every month, 7-9 p.m. at Alfy's Pizza, 4820 196th S.W. in Lynnwood. Details: 425-775-2410 or www.emeraldseadiveclub.org.

• The Seattle Audubon Society offers field trips and classes every month. Details: 206-523-4483 or www.seattleaudubon.org.

• Northend Bassmasters is accepting new members who want to learn more about bass fishing. The group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Crystal Creek Cafe, 22620 Bothell-Everett Highway (Canyon Park) in Bothell. Details: 206-789-4259 or e-mail Gary Millard at glmillard@comcast.net.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com