Contact:
Audra Brase
Tanana River Area Management Biologist
Phone: 907-459-7244

Retention of coho salmon in all flowing waters of the Delta Clearwater River drainage, including the Clearwater Lake drainage is prohibited effective 12:01 a.m., Saturday, October 6, 2012. Coho salmon caught may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

The Delta Clearwater River coho salmon sport fishery is managed using inseason escapement information. The fishery management objective is to achieve an escapement that falls within the Sustainable Escapement Goal (SEG) range of 5,200 – 17,000 fish.

On Friday, September 28 only 305 coho salmon were observed in the Delta Clearwater River from the campground to its confluence with the Tanana River. This is a very low escapement count for this point in the run. The management objectives state the sport fishery may be closed if less than 1,500 coho salmon are found in the lower eight miles of the river during a survey performed between September 15 and October 1. Although this count is very low, there may be coho salmon still holding downriver and may arrive late to the Delta Clearwater River since the middle Tanana River had an unusually high water event in late September. Commercial fishery harvests and assessment projects in the lower Yukon and Tanana rivers indicate the coho salmon run was slightly late and below average in size.

This action does not affect the Delta Clearwater River chum salmon fishery. Anglers may still retain and possess up to 3 chum salmon per day.

For additional information contact Audra Brase, Tanana Area Management Biologist, 907-459-7244.