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Bristol Bay Sockeye Bonanza: Fishery Forecast and Hot Spots for Epic Summer Run
This is Artificial Lure with your Bristol Bay fishing report for Sunday, May 18th, 2025, coming to you from the heart of sockeye country.
We are right on the cusp of another classic Bristol Bay summer, and let me tell you, the anticipation is running as high as the tides. This year’s forecast is looking mighty strong. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is calling for a Bristol Bay sockeye run just shy of 51.4 million fish, with the Nushagak district alone expected to see about 20 million inshore run and a harvest approaching 15 million fish. That’s a hair below last decade’s average but a solid 38 percent above the long-term numbers, so plenty of action for both locals and folks coming in from Outside.
Fish activity is picking up as water temps creep higher. Early-run sockeye have started staging in the deeper channels, especially in the Naknek/Kvichak and Nushagak districts. Last year, during peak, the Naknek/Kvichak pushed over a million fish in a day, with the Kvichak River often seeing escapements topping 4 million. Right now you’ll find the early-movers sticking near river mouths, but a few are already pushing upstream, with more showing up daily as we head into peak weeks.
Weather-wise, we’re looking at mild, partly cloudy skies, highs in the upper 40s to low 50s, and the wind coming out of the southwest around 10 knots. Sunrise was at 5:10 a.m. and sunset will be about 11:15 p.m., so there’s plenty of daylight to chase these fish. Tides today are moderate, with high tide late morning and a good outgoing push early afternoon—prime time for intercepting fresh salmon moving in from the salt.
Hotspots I’d target include the mouth of the Kvichak River and the deep channels off Nushagak Bay. If you’re shore-bound, try working the gravel bars and seams around Egegik or Naknek on an outgoing tide.
Top producers right now are bright, flashy spinners and spoons in silver or chartreuse for the sockeye, but don’t overlook the classic pink Pixees. For bait, sockeye will often take brightly colored beads or cured roe, especially if you’re drifting under a float or bouncing along the bottom just off the channel edge.
Folks running setnets are starting to pick up some nice early sockeye, and a few kings have already been reported around the Nushagak. We’re hearing reports of heavy marks on the sonar and strong numbers at both test fisheries and weirs, setting us up for a banner few weeks.
That’s the latest from Bristol Bay. Tight lines and see you on the water!
We are right on the cusp of another classic Bristol Bay summer, and let me tell you, the anticipation is running as high as the tides. This year’s forecast is looking mighty strong. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is calling for a Bristol Bay sockeye run just shy of 51.4 million fish, with the Nushagak district alone expected to see about 20 million inshore run and a harvest approaching 15 million fish. That’s a hair below last decade’s average but a solid 38 percent above the long-term numbers, so plenty of action for both locals and folks coming in from Outside.
Fish activity is picking up as water temps creep higher. Early-run sockeye have started staging in the deeper channels, especially in the Naknek/Kvichak and Nushagak districts. Last year, during peak, the Naknek/Kvichak pushed over a million fish in a day, with the Kvichak River often seeing escapements topping 4 million. Right now you’ll find the early-movers sticking near river mouths, but a few are already pushing upstream, with more showing up daily as we head into peak weeks.
Weather-wise, we’re looking at mild, partly cloudy skies, highs in the upper 40s to low 50s, and the wind coming out of the southwest around 10 knots. Sunrise was at 5:10 a.m. and sunset will be about 11:15 p.m., so there’s plenty of daylight to chase these fish. Tides today are moderate, with high tide late morning and a good outgoing push early afternoon—prime time for intercepting fresh salmon moving in from the salt.
Hotspots I’d target include the mouth of the Kvichak River and the deep channels off Nushagak Bay. If you’re shore-bound, try working the gravel bars and seams around Egegik or Naknek on an outgoing tide.
Top producers right now are bright, flashy spinners and spoons in silver or chartreuse for the sockeye, but don’t overlook the classic pink Pixees. For bait, sockeye will often take brightly colored beads or cured roe, especially if you’re drifting under a float or bouncing along the bottom just off the channel edge.
Folks running setnets are starting to pick up some nice early sockeye, and a few kings have already been reported around the Nushagak. We’re hearing reports of heavy marks on the sonar and strong numbers at both test fisheries and weirs, setting us up for a banner few weeks.
That’s the latest from Bristol Bay. Tight lines and see you on the water!
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By Quiet. PleaseThis is Artificial Lure with your Bristol Bay fishing report for Sunday, May 18th, 2025, coming to you from the heart of sockeye country.
We are right on the cusp of another classic Bristol Bay summer, and let me tell you, the anticipation is running as high as the tides. This year’s forecast is looking mighty strong. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is calling for a Bristol Bay sockeye run just shy of 51.4 million fish, with the Nushagak district alone expected to see about 20 million inshore run and a harvest approaching 15 million fish. That’s a hair below last decade’s average but a solid 38 percent above the long-term numbers, so plenty of action for both locals and folks coming in from Outside.
Fish activity is picking up as water temps creep higher. Early-run sockeye have started staging in the deeper channels, especially in the Naknek/Kvichak and Nushagak districts. Last year, during peak, the Naknek/Kvichak pushed over a million fish in a day, with the Kvichak River often seeing escapements topping 4 million. Right now you’ll find the early-movers sticking near river mouths, but a few are already pushing upstream, with more showing up daily as we head into peak weeks.
Weather-wise, we’re looking at mild, partly cloudy skies, highs in the upper 40s to low 50s, and the wind coming out of the southwest around 10 knots. Sunrise was at 5:10 a.m. and sunset will be about 11:15 p.m., so there’s plenty of daylight to chase these fish. Tides today are moderate, with high tide late morning and a good outgoing push early afternoon—prime time for intercepting fresh salmon moving in from the salt.
Hotspots I’d target include the mouth of the Kvichak River and the deep channels off Nushagak Bay. If you’re shore-bound, try working the gravel bars and seams around Egegik or Naknek on an outgoing tide.
Top producers right now are bright, flashy spinners and spoons in silver or chartreuse for the sockeye, but don’t overlook the classic pink Pixees. For bait, sockeye will often take brightly colored beads or cured roe, especially if you’re drifting under a float or bouncing along the bottom just off the channel edge.
Folks running setnets are starting to pick up some nice early sockeye, and a few kings have already been reported around the Nushagak. We’re hearing reports of heavy marks on the sonar and strong numbers at both test fisheries and weirs, setting us up for a banner few weeks.
That’s the latest from Bristol Bay. Tight lines and see you on the water!
We are right on the cusp of another classic Bristol Bay summer, and let me tell you, the anticipation is running as high as the tides. This year’s forecast is looking mighty strong. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is calling for a Bristol Bay sockeye run just shy of 51.4 million fish, with the Nushagak district alone expected to see about 20 million inshore run and a harvest approaching 15 million fish. That’s a hair below last decade’s average but a solid 38 percent above the long-term numbers, so plenty of action for both locals and folks coming in from Outside.
Fish activity is picking up as water temps creep higher. Early-run sockeye have started staging in the deeper channels, especially in the Naknek/Kvichak and Nushagak districts. Last year, during peak, the Naknek/Kvichak pushed over a million fish in a day, with the Kvichak River often seeing escapements topping 4 million. Right now you’ll find the early-movers sticking near river mouths, but a few are already pushing upstream, with more showing up daily as we head into peak weeks.
Weather-wise, we’re looking at mild, partly cloudy skies, highs in the upper 40s to low 50s, and the wind coming out of the southwest around 10 knots. Sunrise was at 5:10 a.m. and sunset will be about 11:15 p.m., so there’s plenty of daylight to chase these fish. Tides today are moderate, with high tide late morning and a good outgoing push early afternoon—prime time for intercepting fresh salmon moving in from the salt.
Hotspots I’d target include the mouth of the Kvichak River and the deep channels off Nushagak Bay. If you’re shore-bound, try working the gravel bars and seams around Egegik or Naknek on an outgoing tide.
Top producers right now are bright, flashy spinners and spoons in silver or chartreuse for the sockeye, but don’t overlook the classic pink Pixees. For bait, sockeye will often take brightly colored beads or cured roe, especially if you’re drifting under a float or bouncing along the bottom just off the channel edge.
Folks running setnets are starting to pick up some nice early sockeye, and a few kings have already been reported around the Nushagak. We’re hearing reports of heavy marks on the sonar and strong numbers at both test fisheries and weirs, setting us up for a banner few weeks.
That’s the latest from Bristol Bay. Tight lines and see you on the water!