Area Sport Fishing Reports
Yakutat
Archived Sport Fishing Report
April 07, 2023
Freshwaters
Steelhead Trout
Work on the Situk River Lower Landing boat launch is scheduled to be done over the weekend and into the next week. There will be heavy equipment in the boat launch area so anglers are being asked to not park near the launch or on the launch and yield space so the equipment can move around. The fall flood significantly changed the Upper Situk, and much of the river has either filled certain spots or moved trees around. This has dramatically changed the old fishing locations, and what used to be good fishing spots are no longer in many cases.
Water levels on the Situk River continue to be very low despite last week's rain events which really didn't drop a lot of precipitation. Currently the discharge is around 100 cfs. This makes boat travel very difficult, both drift and power boats. The Rodeo Hole is a pinch point right now and very difficult to jet boat through. The low water dramatically affects the Upper Situk in terms of fishing ability. The few holes not obstructed with newly fallen trees are very difficult to fish with the slow-moving water. Fishing will be difficult with the current low flow until the water comes up. With the recent cold weather, that may be a while. Add on cold water temperatures, and the few fish that are in the river will be less inclined to strike.
The Upper Situk continues to see few fish in the area. A few steelhead have been seen at the Nine-mile Bridge, but that's about it. It appears with the very low water levels that not many fish, if any, have come out of the lake. The Lower Situk has had a few reports of steelhead being caught, but overall very few fish have been seen down there. Hooligan continue to be in the area which makes drifting your gear through the holes difficult. Fishing overall is very slow. Given the continued low water levels and cold water temperatures, fishing is expected to be slow for the next week.
Saltwaters
King Salmon
Sportfishing for king salmon is open in Yakutat area marine waters. The staff has received a couple of reports of sport fishing out in Yakutat Bay, but so far, fishing is slow. Large schools of herring are in the area making trolling difficult and hard to find kings. Most anglers troll spoons or herring behind a flasher.
Halibut
Halibut fishing is slow.
Lingcod
Lingcod fishing is closed until May 16th.
Rockfish
Fishing for rockfish should be excellent in the Yakutat area.
For further information, please get in touch with the Yakutat Area Sport Fish management biologist Jason Pawluk at (907) 784-3222.