Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna
Archived Sport Fishing Report
June 17, 2016
PERSONAL USE Copper River Chitina Subdistrict will remain open through Sunday June 19th at 11:59 pm and re-open at 12:01 am Monday, June 20th- through 11:59pm Sunday, June 26. Effective 12:01 Monday, June 20th the Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery is closed to the retention of king salmon. King salmon incidentally taken may not be retained and must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed. The weather has been warm, and the river is starting to rise. Fishing has been productive this past week, but the rising water could slow that. Up to date info can also be obtained from Chitina Dipnetters Association website http://www.chitinadipnetters.com/ . 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 Fishing for sockeye has been slow. There have been reports of fish being caught in the Klutina River. Expect fishing to get better in the following weeks with the recent pulse of fish passing the Miles Lake sonar.
KING SALMON FISHING
Effective 12:01am Saturday, June 19th retention of king salmon in the Gulkana River and all flowing waters of the Copper River drainage upstream from the confluence of the Klutina River is prohibited. King salmon may not be retained or possessed and must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed. Under this emergency order only unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures may be used. To view emergency orders and news releases for the UCUS area click on the link at the top right corner of the page.
LAKE TROUT
The larger lakes which include Lake Louise, Susitna, Tyone, Paxson, Summit, and Crosswind Lakes should continue to produce good catches of fish throughout the summer. As summer temperatures raise though, anglers targeting lake trout may need to switch to deeper trolling gear.
STOCKED LAKES
Catchable rainbow trout were stocked in most UCUS stocked lakes within the past month. Try Old Road and Round lakes, off the Lake Louise Road. Catchable Arctic Char were also released in Gergie Lake just south of Lake Louise Rd. 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, and fishing has been great. 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.
ARCTIC GRAYLING
Arctic grayling can be found in most area streams. Grayling fishing around Glennallen and Sourdough has slowed as they move into smaller tributaries 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. Mendeltna creek, and larger Rivers like the Gulkana and Little Nelchina also contain grayling.