1. Sockeye are the best tasting of all five species of Salmon. The easiest to catch and the best family fishing outing in the state of Washington.
2. A valid fishing license must be in your possession for everyone in your boat that is 15 years or older. If you have guests that are under 15, they don't need to purchase a license, but must have a catch record card. You can expect strong enforcement on the water and at the launches.
3. The best fishing is not at dawn, but starts about 7:00 AM and continues until about 10:00 AM. After that, due to bright sun and all the gear in the water, the bite slows, but Sockeye can be caught all day. On a cloudy day, you may have Hot Fishing throughout the day.
4. The real secret to catching Sockeye is a slow troll (approximately 1 mile per hour).
5. Start your fishing early in the morning at the 50-60 foot level. After 7:00 AM drop 5 feet deeper every half hour. By 10:30 AM you want to be fishing at least 85 to 90 feet deep.
6. Use the Gold Star 0 Dodger (8 inch) with a 3/O Red Hook, tied 13 to 16 inches behind the dodger.
7. Tie hooks with at least 20 lb leader, 40 to 60 pounds is even better.
8. Downriggers of course are the most effective way of fishing because it gives you depth control.
9. Those of you who don't own downriggers can do well by using an 8-oz. Weight attached three feet ahead of your Gold Star Dodger. If you use a lighter weight, you won't be able to reach the depths with any accuracy.
10. The more gear you have in the water, the more Sockeye you will hook. Sockeye follow gear. Keep your other rods in the water while landing your hooked Sockeye. This will often result in multiple hook-ups. An extra landing net becomes very handy during these hectic moments.
11. Once you have located Sockeye, figure 8 back through the school and chances are you'll hook more fish in the same spot.
12. Oddly enough, on the weekend, which usually means crowded water conditions, speed up slightly (2 - 2 ½ miles per hour). The difference in the action of your dodger will often lead to strikes.
13. If your motor won't troll slow enough, troll in an S shaped pattern. This will slow down the inside rods.
14. While many people fish Dipsy Divers, except for very early morning, you simply are not trolling fast enough to get the depth required with this tackle.

After you have landed the best tasting salmon on the West Coast, take time to preserve the flavor. First, a sharp rap on the head to put the Sockeye to sleep. Don't allow it to thrash around in the boat and get bruised. Second, cut both gills and allow the Sockeye to bleed out, preferably over the side of your boat or in your fish box, not on your boat carpet. Clean your Sockeye as soon as possible and ice it down or cover with wet burlap and store it in a cool place. Don't let your Sockeye sit in the sun, and even worse, don't drag your fish on a stringer alongside your boat. On a sunny day, dragging a fish in the water insures a half-boiled fish. Take care of your sockeye and you will have a gourmet delight as good, if not better, than the high priced Copper River and Bristol Bay Sockeye in the markets.