Area Sport Fishing Reports
Bristol Bay

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 20, 2016

Bristol Bay Area

Week of June 20 to 26
Issued June 20, 2016

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

King Salmon

• Naknek and Alagnak drainages:
• Sport fishing is currently reported as good to very good.
• Nushagak drainages.
• Sport fishing is currently reported as good to very good.
• The sonar near Portage Creek is operational and 62,877 kings have been counted by the sonar through June 19. This is approximately 12 days ahead of desired levels. Management will be in accordance with the Nushagak/Mulchatna King Salmon Management Plan.
• Togiak River and nearby drainages:
• It is still early for kings in the Togiak, however, sport fishing should improve throughout this week.

Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic Grayling

• Naknek and Alagnak drainages:
• Fishing is reported as good to very good for rainbow trout.
• Togiak River and nearby drainages:
• Fishing should be good this week.
• Wood River Lakes system:
• Fishing is reported as good to excellent at the outlets of salmon spawning streams as smolt continue moving down river.

Northern Pike

• Naknek and Alagnak drainages:
• Fishing should continue to be good.
• Wood River Lake system:
• Fishing is 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.