Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna
Archived Sport Fishing Report
June 11, 2014
PERSONAL USE Copper River Chitina Subdistrict remains open through Sunday June 22nd at 11:59 pm. In addition, a supplemental harvest of 10 additional sockeye salmon will be allowed for the personal use dip net salmon fishery in the Chitina Subdistrict during the week of June 9th and the week of June 16th. Starting June 16th the Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery is closed to the retention of king salmon. King salmon incidentally taken must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed. 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 continues to be good with anglers catching their limits of fish. The water level is low. Expect fishing to remain good with the recent pulse of fish passing the Miles Lake sonar. Sockeye have also been passing the counting tower located above the West Fork of the Gulkana River for the last week so for a change try the Gulkana River for sockeye.
KING SALMON FISHING
The counting tower located above the West Fork of the Gulkana River has been up and running for the last week and 24 king salmon have been counted through June 9th. Starting June 14th the bag limit for king salmon will be reduced to one king salmon for the Copper River Drainage. In addition, if you have already harvested a king salmon in the Upper Copper River Drainage prior to the 14th of June you have met the bag limit of one king salmon and cannot harvest another in the Upper Copper River Drainage.
LAKE TROUT The larger lakes which include Lake Louise, Susitna, Tyone, Paxson, and Crosswind Lakes are ice free at this time. Fishing after ice out can be productive. These larger lakes should continue to produce good catches of fish throughout the summer.
STOCKED LAKES
All UCUS stocked lakes were stocked in in 2013. So far this year all lakes scheduled for catchable rainbow trout and Arctic grayling will have been stocked by June 15. 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 for some good fishing along the road
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 was stocked with catchable rainbow trout in 2012 and again in 2013 from Summit Lake in the Wrangell Mountains. Silver Lake has walk in access only. For some off-road options, Peanut and Tolsona Mountain Lakes are also excellent lakes for rainbow trout, but an ATV is helpful to access them.
WILD ARCTIC GRAYLING
Arctic grayling can be found in most area streams. As the local creeks start to flow and warm this can be a good time to get out and do a little grayling fishing with family and friends. 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.