Area Sport Fishing Reports
Yakutat

Archived Sport Fishing Report

April 09, 2021

* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by following and reviewing the current State of Alaska Health Mandates in effect. This includes practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing and wearing a face covering when fishing and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store as indicated in Health Alert 010.

Freshwaters

Steelhead Trout

Well, if conditions weren't bad enough, Yakutat got hit with a blizzard yesterday dumping about a foot of snow on an already deep snowpack. The windy conditions caused major drifting in some cases creating snow mounds as deep as three feet. Access and parking continue to be an issue. The outlook doesn't look much better over the next five days. Below freezing temperatures will persist until Sunday when we might get hit with another snowstorm, adding another 8-10". It then should transition to rain and wind until Thursday, when the forecast might improve.

Water conditions on the Situk River remain bad. Low water levels and water temperatures that are below average have delayed steelhead migration into the river. Snow levels continue to increase making it difficult to access the river at traditional access points. Large amounts of woody debris and low water levels are making it very difficult to float/run the river in boats. There have been some fish sightings however between the bridge and lower landing. It's estimated for that entire stretch though there are about 250 fish spread out over 13 river miles. There have also been reports of only a single fish being seen entering the river on the incoming tides.

With the low, clear, and cold water it is not only difficult to approach resting fish, but also to get them to strike as well as get your gear to drift. At this point, it is safe to assume the run will not be early, and now the question will be whether it is on time or late. Fishing success will continue to be low until water levels and temperatures rise.

Saltwaters

King Salmon

Sportfishing for king salmon is open in Yakutat area marine waters. Reports of fishing out in Yakutat Bay have not been good recently, however. No fish being caught have been reported for many anglers over the past week. Also of note is that not much, if any bait has been seen in the bay. Most anglers are trolling spoons or herring behind a flasher.

Halibut

Halibut fishing is slow. Constant storms make getting out to fishing grounds difficult.

Lingcod

Lingcod fishing is closed until May 16th.

Rockfish

Fishing for rockfish should be excellent in the Yakutat area.

For further information, please contact the Yakutat Area Sport Fish management biologist Jason Pawluk at (907) 784-3222.

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