Area Sport Fishing Reports
Haines/Skagway

Archived Sport Fishing Report

April 13, 2015

Spring 2015 fishing opportunities

Char and Trout

Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout fishing is in full swing on the Chilkat and Chilkoot Rivers as fish leave the deep lakes where they overwintered.

Youth Fishing Day on the Chilkat River is Saturday, April 18 from 10 am to 2 pm. Come fish for Dollies at 21-mile Haines Highway! The Alaska Department of Fish and Game will provide spinning rods, hooks, and bait. Haines business sponsors will donate prizes and snacks.

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 April 15 through July 15. ADF&G will manage commercial and subsistence fisheries conservatively so the Chilkat king salmon escapement goal is met.

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

Review of 2014 salmon runs

Coho salmon

The Chilkat River coho salmon escapement 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).