Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna
Archived Sport Fishing Report
July 21, 2016
PERSONAL USE
Copper River Chitina Subdistrict remains open through Sunday July 24th at 11:59 pm and is closed from 12:01 am Monday July 25th though 8:00am Monday July 25th. The fishery will be open for a 160 hour period from 8:00am Monday July 25th through 11:59pm Sunday July 31st. The Copper River is currently at historic high levels at the Miles Lake sonar and is also very high in Chitina. With the high water, fish passage is slow. Dipnetters should expect shorter openers through the middle of August, with closures coming early in the week.
SOCKEYE SALMON
Sockeye fishing on the Klutina River has been slow the last few weeks. The Gulkana River is another option for sockeye fishing with decent numbers of sockeye passing the counting tower located above the West Fork of the Gulkana River. Anglers reported catching sockeye near the bridge in the last few days.
KING SALMON
Under Emergency Order (EO), all Upper Copper River King Salmon fisheries are closed for the remainder of the season. Kings may not be targeted in any waters of the Copper River Drainage. This EO also prohibits the use of bait, anglers are restricted to unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures in all flowing waters of the Upper Copper River drainage.
LAKE TROUT
The larger lakes which include Lake Louise, Susitna, Tyone, Paxson, and Crosswind Lakes should continue to produce decent catches of fish throughout the summer. Trolling in deeper water could be productive with the warmer temperatures the fish could be in deeper waters.
STOCKED LAKES
All area stocked lakes are stocked and fish should be growing well with our warm temperatues. Try Old Road and Round lakes, off the Lake Louise Road. Catchable Arctic Char were 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. 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 should be good for grayling. Poplar Grove, and Sourdough Creek are also another option for grayling fishing, as well as the Gulkana River.