Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna
Archived Sport Fishing Report
June 20, 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 this period. The Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery is closed to the retention of king salmon for the remainder of the season. King salmon may not be retained and must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed. Recent reports have indicated that dip netting has been slow the last couple days. The Copper River water level is rising, but is still below average for this time of year. 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 been good, although with the lower water level fish are hanging out farther from shore in the deeper channels in most areas of the river. Expect fishing to remain steady in the following weeks. The Gulkana River is another option for sockeye fishing with high numbers of fish in the river. The water in the Gulkana River is on the rise with recent rain and snow in the northern portion of the drainage. Expect the river to be off color or muddy. Sockeye have been passing the counting tower located above the West Fork of the Gulkana River for the last couple weeks. Upper Copper River sport fish bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon will increase to six per day effective 12:01 am Monday June 23rd.
KING SALMON FISHING
The counting tower located above the West Fork of the Gulkana River has been up and running for two weeks. Water is on the rise from recent rain and snow in the northern portion of the drainage, and the water clarity turned off color and muddy. 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 counts toward the 1 fish annual limit.
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
Catchable rainbow trout were stocked in most UCUS stocked lakes in 2013. Try Old Road and Round lakes, off the Lake Louise Road. These two lakes were stocked with catchable fish in the last week. Two Mile, and Three Mile Lakes along the Edgerton Highway, and Pippin Lake and Squirrel Creek Pit on the Richardson Highway were stocked with catchable rainbow trout in 2013. Arctic grayling were released in stocked lakes in the Lake Louise area in 2013 and in the last week. 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. These rainbows are transferred from Summit Lake in the Wrangell Mountains. 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, Tex Smith, Buffalo, Old Road, Round and Ryan lakes were stocked with catchable rainbow trout in 2013.
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.