Area Sport Fishing Reports
Haines/Skagway

Archived Sport Fishing Report

February 21, 2017

Mid-winter fishing opportunities

We are still in the grip of winter, so there is thick ice on Mosquito Lake and Chilkat Lake, where ice anglers can find overwintering cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden. Be aware that bait is not allowed to be used in these lakes, and the size limit for cutthroat and rainbow trout is minimum 14 inches and maximum 22 inches.

The Chilkat, Chilkoot, and Taiya Rivers have open, flowing waters. Chum salmon fry are starting to emerge from the spawning beds, so Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout are becoming more active. Bait is allowed to be used when fishing in the mainstem Chilkat, Chilkoot, and Taiya Rivers.

Pot fishing for Dungeness crab and shrimp is open year round in the Haines and Skagway area salt water.

Residents of Yukon Territory in Canada may purchase an annual Alaska sport fishing license for the same price that Alaska residents pay. However, Yukoners are not Alaska residents, and they must comply with the non-resident regulations such as number of shellfish pots, shellfish bag limits, and king salmon annual limits. The Yukoner license is available from license vendors in Whitehorse, Haines, and Skagway.

Poor king salmon runs expected in 2017

The Chilkat king salmon run forecast for 2017 is poor. Other king salmon runs in Southeast Alaska, such as the Unuk, Taku, Alsek, and Situk Rivers, also have a poor outlook for this summer. The department leadership is formulating a fishery plan to reduce harvest of king salmon headed to these Alaska spawning destinations.

For more information about sport fishing in Haines and Skagway, call Area Biologist Richard Chapell at 907-766-3638.