Area Sport Fishing Reports
Haines/Skagway

Archived Sport Fishing Report

March 05, 2015

Spring 2015 fishing opportunities

Char and Trout

Due to warm temperatures this winter, Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout fishing should pick up early on the Chilkat and Chilkoot Rivers as fish leave the deep lakes where they overwintered.

Bait is prohibited when fishing in Chilkat Lake or Mosquito Lake and their inlet and outlet streams. Use the Sport Fishing Regulations link for details and a map.

King salmon

In 2015 we expect a weak Chilkat River king salmon run, so Chilkat Inlet will be closed to sport fishing for king salmon through June 30. ADF&G will manage commercial and subsistence fisheries conservatively so the Chilkat king salmon escapement goal is met.

Now through March 31, sport anglers may use 2 rods when fishing for king salmon.

About 250,000 hatchery-reared smolt will be released in Pullen Pond in June 2015. These fish will return to teh Haines and Sakgway area as legal size kings in 2017 through 2019.

Review of 2014 salmon runs

Coho salmon

The Chilkat River coho salmon escapment was 132,000 fish, which was well above the goal range of 30,000 to 70,000 fish.

Sockeye salmon

The Chilkat Lake weir counts reached the lower end of the escapement goal range (70,000 to 150,000 fish).

The Chilkoot River weir counts of 105,000 sockeye salmon exceeded the upper end of the escapement goal range (38,000 to 86,000 fish).

Helpful links