July 24, 2014

PERSONAL USE

Copper River Chitina Subdistrict will remain open through 11:59 pm Sunday, August 3rd. There is NO supplemental opening during this period. The Chitina Subdistrict remains closed to the retention of king salmon for the remainder of the season. King salmon incidentally taken may not be retained and must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed. Recent reports have indicated that dip netting has been fair the last couple days. The preliminary season schedule is based on the projected daily sonar counts at the Miles Lake sonar and is subject to change based on actual salmon escapement. If actual counts are below the projected counts, fishing time will be reduced. If actual counts are above the projected counts, fishing time will be increased accordingly.

SOCKEYE SALMON
Sockeye fishing in the Klutina River has slowed, and the water level is still up. The Gulkana River is another option for sockeye fishing with high numbers of fish in the river. Sockeye have been passing the counting tower located above the West Fork of the Gulkana River. Upper Copper River sport fish bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon increased to six per day. The sport fish daily bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon is 6 fish for the remainder of the season.

KING SALMON FISHING
The Gulkana River closed to King Salmon fishing on July 20th. The Klutina and Tonsina rivers opened on July 1st. As of July 20th the Klutina River upstream of 19.2 mile and the Tonsina River upstream of the Alyeska Pipeline Access Bridge closed to King Salmon fishing. The Klutina River above 13.0 mile will close to King salmon fishing as of August 1. The bag limit for king salmon has been reduced to one king salmon for the Copper River Drainage. In addition any king salmon harvested from the Upper Copper River Drainage prior to the 14th of June counted toward the 1 fish annual limit.

LAKE TROUT
The larger lakes which include Lake Louise, Susitna, Tyone, Paxson, and Crosswind Lakes can be productive. Cooler temperatures this past week will keep lake trout in shallower water and accessible from shore. These larger lakes should continue to produce good catches of fish throughout the summer.

STOCKED LAKES

Catchable rainbow trout were stocked in most UCUS stocked lakes during June. Try Old Road and Round lakes, off the Lake Louise Road. Two Mile, and Three Mile Lakes along the Edgerton Highway, and Pippin Lake and Squirrel Creek Pit on the Richardson Highway Have been producing 18 – 20” rainbows this year. Catchable Arctic grayling were also released in stocked lakes in the Lake Louise area in June. For the best rainbow trout fishing head out the McCarthy Road to Strelna, Silver, and Sculpin lakes which offer the best opportunity to catch more and a possibility to catch larger fish. Silver Lake has walk in access only. Peanut and Tolsona Mountain Lakes are also excellent lakes for rainbow trout, but an ATV is helpful to access them. These two lakes are not readily accessible to the road system and have been stocked in past years and receive little pressure. Tolsona Lake suffered a winter kill this past spring reducing competition for the rainbows stocked there in June so expect some good fishing there. Pippin Lake was also reported as good fishing in the last week. 

ARCTIC GRAYLING
Arctic grayling can be found in most area streams. Most of the local streams offer a run of grayling for a short time as the fish head upstream to spawn. Many of the small lakes on the Lake Louise and Nabesna roads contain grayling populations. Long Lake and Jack Lake are good bets for grayling. Poplar Grove, and Sourdough Creek are also another option for grayling fishing in the spring.