Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 03, 2014

PERSONAL USE Copper River Chitina Subdistrict will remain open through 11:59 pm Sunday, July 6th. There is NO SUPPLEMENTAL period during this period. The fishery will reopen at 12:01 a.m. Monday, July 7 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 13, and a supplemental harvest of 10 additional sockeye salmon per household will be allowed during this period. The Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery 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 slow the last couple days, and the water is still on the rise. 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, but is still producing limits with anglers reporting fishing longer to get limits. The water level has risen in recent days. The Gulkana River is another option for sockeye fishing with high numbers of fish in the river. The water in the Gulkana River rose to near flood stage, and is expected to remain high for at least another week with the recent rain. Expect most of 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 month. 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 counting tower located above the West Fork of the Gulkana River has been up and running for the last three weeks. Water is on the rise from recent rain in the northern portion of the drainage, and the water clarity turned off color or muddy. The Klutina River opened on July 1st, and the water came up in the last 2 days. 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 will count 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. Paxson Lake was reported as decent fishing for lake trout in the last week.
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 June also. 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 earlier this month as well. 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. 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. Paxson Lake was reported as decent fishing during the last week.