Wednesday August 26, 2026
My Ballard —
August is peak viewing season for Chinook salmon at the Ballard Locks, and thousands of fish have already passed through the fish ladder this month.
Preliminary counts from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife show 4,735 Chinook passed through the Locks between July 29 and Aug. 16, the latest date for which data is available. The cumulative count for the season stood at 4,934.
The numbers increased sharply in mid-August. A total of 2,555 Chinook were counted between Aug. 12 and Aug. 16, which is more than half of the season’s total up to that point. That works out to an average of about 511 fish per day during the five days.
The counts are conducted by WDFW and Muckleshoot Indian Tribal staff, who jointly manage Lake Washington fisheries. The data is preliminary and may change as the season progresses.
Chinook, also called king salmon, typically peak at the Ballard Locks in August. Around 15,000 pass through the Locks in an average year, according to the Corps Foundation. The fish travel through the Locks and another 40 to 50 miles upriver to hatcheries or spawning grounds.
This year’s cumulative Chinook count remains below totals recorded during the past two completed runs. WDFW counted 18,522 Chinook in 2024 and 19,872 in 2023. However, more fish could still arrive as the migration continues.