Fisheries, Subsistence, and Habitat
Publications Searchable Database
Search Again| Division: | Sport Fish |
| Title: | Survey of northern pike in lakes of Soldotna Creek drainage, 2002 |
| Author: | McKinley, T. R. |
| Year: | 2013 |
| Report ID: | Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Special Publication No. 13-02, Anchorage |
| Abstract: | Northern pike (Esox lucius) are not native to the Kenai River drainage. They were initially introduced into the Soldotna Creek drainage and have since been found in other Kenai River tributaries. As part of this project, the eight major lakes (Cisca, Denise, Derks, East Mackey, West Mackey, Sevena, Tree, and Union lakes) of the Soldotna Creek drainage were sampled with gillnets in May and June and again in October of 2002. Of the eight lakes sampled, seven had northern pike, and in five of these lakes, northern pike were the dominant species in gillnet catches. Cisca Lake was the only lake in which no fish of any species, including northern pike, were captured in gillnets. Populations of northern pike in four of these lakes were stunted, averaging 450 mm fork length (FL) or less. Northern pike in these lakes matured at an early age; the proportion of three-year-old fish determined to be adults was 0.80 (SE 0.003). All of the lakes had an intermittent open outlet to Soldotna Creek or another lake except for Denise Lake, which was completely closed. Beaver dams blocked outlets to Soldotna Creek at several lakes and provided an ephemeral natural hindrance to fish movements. Native fish populations in these lakes will likely be impacted. It may be possible to contain, control, or eliminate some or all of these populations through the use of piscicides and intensive gillnetting. |
| Keywords: | Kenai River, northern pike, Soldotna Creek, invasive species, Cisca Lake, Denise Lake, Derks Lake, East Mackey Lake, West Mackey Lake, Sevena Lake, Tree Lake, Union Lake, Esox lucius |