Area Sport Fishing Reports
Bristol Bay

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 24, 2016

Bristol Bay Area

Week of May 23 to May 29

During the December 2015 meeting, the Alaska Board of Fish made the following regulatory changes to Bristol Bay sport fisheries. These new regulations are published in the 2016 Bristol Bay sport fishing regulation summary, and are in effect this season.

• “No chumming” regulation amended to include only sport fishing guides and guided anglers.
• Big Creek opened to catch-and-release for king salmon from May 1 - July 31.
• The Naknek River within a one-quarter mile radius of Big Creek opened to retention of king salmon from May 1 - July 31.
• During the March 2016 statewide meeting, the Alaska Board of Fish made the following regulatory changes that applied to Bristol Bay sport fisheries. These new regulations are NOT published in the 2016 Bristol Bay sport fishing regulation summary but are in effect this season.
• A bare single hook is now included in the definition of an artificial fly.
• Clarified that an attractor bead that is either fixed within 2 inches of the fly (or bare hook) or is free sliding on the line or leader may be used in fly-fishing only waters.

Fresh waters

• All lakes and rivers are now ice free.

King Salmon

• Naknek and Alagnak drainages:
• It is still early for kings in the Naknek and Alagnak. Sport fishing should be productive by mid-June in the Naknek and late June in the Alagnak.
• Nushagak drainages.
• It is still early for kings. Sport fishing should be productive by mid-June.
• The sonar is scheduled to be operational approximately June 6. Management will be in accordance with the Nushagak/Mulchatna King Salmon Management Plan. No substantial inseason information will be available until after June 20.
• Togiak River and nearby drainages:
• It is still very early for kings in the Togiak. Sport fishing will not likely be productive until late June.

Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic Grayling

• Naknek and Alagnak drainages:
• Most of the flowing waters of the Kvichak and Alagnak river drainages and portions of the Naknek River drainage remain closed to all fishing until June 8 to protect spawning rainbow trout.
• On the Naknek, angling is fair to good in the portions of the drainage that remain open to fishing.
• Togiak River and nearby drainages:
• There has been no sport fishing reports from this section, though opportunities should improve as waters warm.
• Wood River Lakes system:
• Fishing is reported as good to excellent in and at the outlets of larger tributaries of the lakes.

Northern Pike

• Naknek and Alagnak drainages:
• Fishing is good in the portions of the drainage that remain open.
• Wood River Lake system:
• Fishing is very good along lake and slough shores and in shallow weedy bays.

Salt waters

Halibut

• Nushagak Bay
• Fishing should be fair to good off the coast of Protection Point.