Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 15, 2014

PERSONAL USE Copper River Chitina Subdistrict will remain open through 11:59 pm Sunday, July 20th. There is a supplemental during this period. The fishery will reopen at 12:01 p.m. (noon) Monday, July 21st through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 27th. 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 high. 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. The water in the Gulkana River has been coming down in recent days. The lower river is still off color. 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 counting tower located above the West Fork of the Gulkana River has been up and running for over a month. The water is clearing in the upper portion of the drainage, and has dropped in the last week. The water in the lower portion of the river is still off color. The Klutina River, and the Tonsina River opened on July 1st. The Gulkana River, Klutina River upstream of 19.2 mile, and the Tonsina River upstream of the Alyeska Pipeline Access Bridge is open through July 19th. 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.
After July 19th only unbaited, single hook, artificial lures may be used on the Gulkana River upstream of the upstream edge of the Richardson Highway Bridge to an ADF&G marker 7.5 miles upstream of the West Fork confluence. .
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.. 

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.