Contact:
Mike Thalhauser
Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907)-267-2186

The sport fishery on Otter Lake, located on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage, is being liberalized to allow harvest of 10 rainbow/steelhead trout per day, 10 in possession, with no size limit effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, May 22, 2015, through 11:59 p.m. Friday, September 25, 2015. There continues to be no bag, possession, or size limits for northern pike.

Once stocked annually with about 10,000 rainbow trout, Otter Lake was a popular fishing location for military personnel and civilians and has recreational cabins along its shores used by military staff. It has not been stocked since 2006 due to the presence of illegally introduced northern pike. JBER staff and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game are currently in the final planning stages to treat Otter Lake with rotenone to eradicate northern pike in the fall of 2015.

Northern pike have depleted salmon and trout in popular local fisheries on the Kenai Peninsula, the Mat-Su Valley, and Anchorage area. As long as invasive northern pike are in Otter Lake, there is increased potential for them to be introduced to nearby waters, including nearby Sixmile Lake. Northern pike and rainbow trout have similar sensitivities to rotenone and this application will remove them from Otter Lake. Therefore, it is warranted to liberalize the bag and possession limit, and remove size restrictions in Otter Lake to maximize recreational fishing opportunities on the fisheries resources prior to restoration. Once northern pike have been removed, Otter Lake is scheduled to be stocked with catchable-size rainbow trout.

JBER requires individuals visiting Otter Lake to possess an iSportsmans pass (can be attained at https://jber.isportsman.net/Access.aspx) and also a Department of Defense (DoD) identification card or to be sponsored by a DoD card holder.  Those anglers not possessing a current DoD identification card that wish to take advantage of this fishing opportunity should make arrangements for sponsorship with their neighbor or friend who does have the appropriate DoD identification card. Questions regarding access should be directed to (907) 552-5665.

For more information about this emergency order, contact Area Sport Fisheries Management Biologist Mike Thalhauser in Anchorage at (907) 267-2186.

END