LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: Independence Day included a fringe benefit for fishermen in that Seattle area, where it's 60 today. For the first time since 1996, they were free to fish for sockeye salmon in Lake Washington. And Kyle Moore, of CNN affiliate KIRO, was there.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These guys, which are I guess about eight and 10 pounds.</s>KYLE MOORE, KIRO REPORTER (voice-over): A good day for anglers on the opening day of sockeye salmon season at Lake Washington.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have been waiting for this, I've dreamed about this all last week. I just -- you know, these mental images of the rods being held out just where they ought to be and -- I'm not kidding you.</s>MOORE: Pickett (ph) and crew caught their limit in just a couple of hours. It took mere minutes for Paul and Kevin Bopry (ph) to land their first fish. The secret:</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Be patient.</s>MOORE: Others were on their way to reach their limit when the boat broke down.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Real happy. Then the engine broke down on us, so.</s>MOORE: You also had to wake up pretty early in the morning. The season officially began at midnight and boats were lined up at the lake launch ramps for hours.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If they're out there, we'll find them.</s>MOORE: Anglers had to sit out the past four years. The reason? the sockeye count dropped too low. So state fish and wildlife officials worked to bring the fish count back up. This year more than 350,000 fish are out in Lake Washington. And it seems today, just as many boats.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The boats were thick, boats were thick. You had to wait for them people near the 520 and you're all right. People are hanging right at the 520 bridge. It's real busy.</s>MOORE: Was the four-year wait worth it? Dan Winter (ph) says yes.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was worth it today, definitely.
Anglers Return to Lake Washington