Recent Fishing Reports for Alaska. 8/14/04

[tubeN2]

Fishing reports are provided for the major fisheries throughout the state. These reports are prepared by the biologist most familiar with each area. Reports are provided throughout the busy summer season on more or less a weekly basis. During the winter and less active months the reports are updated only as conditions or regulations change. You should check this site before venturing out to fish to get the most current information.
[signature]

[tubeN2]

JUNEAU AREA FISHING REPORT

King Salmon (62 hours per fish the week, last week 85 hours): Backside of Douglas Island; backside of Douglas Island, Couverden

Coho Salmon (4 hours per fish this week, last week 5 hours): Shelter Island; North Pass; Backside of Douglas Island;

Halibut: (4 hours per fish, last week 4 hours): Poundstone Rock; South Shelter; Vanderbelt Reef; Icy Strait

Notation Used in this Report
Some anglers may not be aware of many terms used in this report; such as, rod hours, catch, effort, or catch and harvest rates. Below is a brief description of each term:
Rod Hours: For marine boat anglers in Southeastern, Alaska, this refers to the number of hours spent targeting a species of fish (halibut, salmon, rockfish, or bottomfish) per rod used. For example, an angler who harvested 2 coho salmon after 6 hours of salmon fishing with two rods would have spent 6 rod hours per fish.
Catch: Catch is composed of fish harvested and released.
Effort: For marine boat anglers in Southeastern, Alaska, effort refers to the number of rod hours spent pursuing a particular species of fish. For example, the previously described coho angler expended 12 hours of salmon fishing effort.
Catch and Harvest Rates: These rates are commonly referred to as catch per unit of effort (CPUE) or harvest per unit of effort (HPUE) and can be calculated using a variety of statistical methods. In general, they describe how much effort (e.g. rod hours) was expended catching, or harvesting, a particular species of fish (e.g. halibut).
And as a reminder to all anglers, please be aware of the following regulation.
For all boats returning to a port where an ADF&G creel survey is being conducted, it is prohibited to head or fillet king salmon, coho salmon or lingcod until the fish have been brought to shore and offloaded. This prohibition allows our marine creel survey crew to examine intact salmon for evidence of coded wire tags (CWTs) and to measure and collect the heads from these tagged fish. Among other things, this information is used to estimate the composition of hatchery king salmon caught in Alaska fisheries that can be excluded from Alaska's quota of king salmon as set by the U.S/Canada Pacific Salmon Treaty. Since hatchery king salmon do not count toward our quota, determining the proportion of hatchery kings that can be excluded from the quota has the potential of maximizing our total harvest of king salmon. Gutting and gilling your king or coho is allowed at any time while you are at sea; as is, eating them or having them completely preserved (i.e. canning, freezing, etc.) Aside from those exceptions, your catch of king and coho salmon may not be headed and/or filleted until your vessel has been tied up at the dock.

Regarding coded-wire-tagged salmon, if you are surveyed by a Department creel census technician, you are required to forfeit the head and the date/area you caught the fish.
[center]SALMON[/center]
Coho Salmon: Coho catch rates have been excellent and continue to improve in most ports as the season progresses:

Regional [ul] [li]Regional catch rates for coho salmon by marine boat anglers were generally equal or better than the 5 year average. Catch rates ranged from 1 rod hour in Craig and Sitka, to 4 rod hours in Juneau and Wrangell. With the exception of Elfin Cove, all ports had catch rates better than or equal to thier five-year average. [/li][/ul]
Local Juneau Area [ul] [li]Coho catch rates for marine boat anglers in the Juneau area were a little better than average last week. Anglers fished an average of 4 rod hours to land a coho last week, which constitutes a 1 hour improvement over the 5 rod hours needed, on average, to land a coho for last 5 years. [/li][/ul] [left]King Salmon: Although the best catch rates of the season for king salmon are now behind us, last week showed a slight improvement from the week before:[/left] [left]Regional
[ul] [li] Most surveyed ports had catch rates greater than their respective 5 year average. These rates ranged from 4 rod hours per harvested chinook salmon in Elfin Cove to 141 rod hours in Petersburg. In comparison to the five-year average, last week's catch rates were better at the ports of Craig, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, and Elfin Cove: catch rates were poorer than the five-year average at Petersburg and Wrangell.[/li][/ul] [left]Local Juneau Area
[ul] [li] Catch rates for marine boaters dramatically improved over the last week. Anglers spent an average of 63 hours to land a king salmon last week: a significant improvement from the previous week's average of 85 rod hours. Most of the kings in our survey were harvested from the backside of Douglas Island, Couverden and South Shelter Island.[/li][/ul] [left]Pink and Chum Salmon : Fishing for pink and chum salmon in marine waters remained good during the last week:[/left] [left]Regional
[/left] [ul] [li] Pink salmon catch rates ranged from 2 rod hours in Ketchikan to 32 rod hours in Sitka, and were better or equal to the five-year averages in Craig, Juneau, Ketchikan, Petersburg, and Elfin Cove. Chum salmon catch rates ranged from 33 rod hours in Sitka to 188 rod hours in Juneau, and were approximately equal to or better than their five-year averages in the ports of Craig, Juneau, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Sitka, and Elfin Cove. Last week's catch rate information for the port of Gustavus was not available.[/li][/ul] Local Juneau Area [ul] [li] Roadside marine anglers can expect to find a plethora of pink and chum salmon at terminal harvest areas and at the mouths of many stream systems throughout Southeastern, Alaska. Some good road accessible places to fish in Juneau are: Gastineau Channel (by DIPAC); Fritz Cove; and, Amalga harbor. Anglers using medium to large spinners or spoons often catch these salmon species. Fly fishers often find success by stripping in flashy red or chartreuse colored flies at various speeds. [/li][/ul] [center]HALIBUT[/center] [left]Halibut fishing remained good throughout Southeast, Alaska:

Regional
[ul] [li]Halibut catch rate ranged from 1 rod hour per fish in Craig to 6 rod hours in Elfin Cove, and all sampled ports had catch rates better than or equal to their respective five-year averages, with the exception of Elfin Cove. [/li][/ul] [left]Local Juneau Area
[/left] [ul] [li]The harvest rate for halibut last week was 4 hours per fish, which is an improvement from the 7 rod hours required to land a halibut over the last 5 years. The majority of the halibut sampled in the survey were harvested from the Poundstone/Benjamin Island area, followed by Icy Strait and Vanderbilt reef. [/li][/ul]
[/left]

[tubeN2]

Ketchikan Fishing Report for the week 8/02/04 to 8/08/04
The marine sport fishery in the Ketchikan area improved for most species in the local sport fishery. This weeks dockside surveys encountered a substantial number of anglers during randomingly scheduled sampling periods. Anglers on average spent 64 hours per king salmon, 5 hours per halibut, 64 hours per chum salmon, 3 hours per coho salmon, 2 hours per pink salmon,212 hours per lingcod and 7 hours per rockfish to harvest these fish during this time period. No other species of fish were reported during the dock side interviews. Anglers are reminded to check ADF&G's main web page for any in-season regulation changes under the Emergency Order icon. Anglers interested in shoreline saltwater fishing should consider Thomas Basin ( single hook area only and no snagging), Herring Cove and the Mt. Point area where large numbers of coho and pink salmon have arrived and are available for our local sport fishery. All anglers utilizing the Herring Cove shoreline fishery are reminded not to trespass across local residents property, do not litter, and to only fish seaward of the green painted rocks which designates the freshwater/saltwater boundary. Inquires about sport fish regulations and any in-season changes can also be addressed by calling the Sport Fish office at (907) 225-2859 or by dropping by the office at 2030 Sea Level Drive Suite 215 Ketchikan, Alaska.
The freshwater sport fishery in Ketchikan continues to be dominated by fishing in Ward Creek and Ward Lake. Fishing has improved at these locations with increased fish activity by pink and summer run coho salmon plus the arrival of summer time rain storms that increased stream flows. Anglers are reminded that all freshwater streams in the Ketchikan area are closed to king salmon fishing unless opened by emergency order. Ketchikan Creek is closed to all sport fishing from May 16th through September 14 unless opened earlier by emergencey order. Anglers looking for other local trout fishing should consider Carlanna, Harriet Hunt, Silvis and First Waterfall Lakes. Anglers interested in remote trout fishing should consider Eagle, Wilson, McDonald, Reflection, Orchard, Ella and Humpback Lakes just to name a few. All anglers are reminded to check their regulation booklet prior to fishing in any area as regulations differ considerably between locations.
Steve Hoffman

[tubeN2]

This is the Haines and Skagway Sport Fishing Report for the week of August 2-August 8, 2004.
Pullen Pond and the portion of Pullen Creek above Pullen Pond in Skagway is open to king salmon fishing through September 14th. Hatchery king salmon returning to Pullen Creek are now projected to exceed brood stock needs. Therefore, anglers are allowed to keep ten king salmon any size per day and in possession. King salmon caught in Pullen Creek and Pond do not count toward the nonresident annual limit.

Fishing for king salmon was very good in Taiya Inlet last week where it took an average of 8 rod hours of effort to catch a king salmon 28 inches or greater in length. This compares with the average of 24 hours per king for that week. Anglers are reminded that the Taiya Inlet terminal hatchery regulations expired August 1st. Regional regulations apply to Taiya Inlet. Alaska resident anglers have a bag and possession limit of two king salmon 28 inches or greater in length; no annual limit. Nonresident anglers have a bag and possession limit of one king salmon 28 inches or greater in length; with an annual limit of three fish.
The number of sockeye salmon counted through the Chilkoot River remained high last week. Anglers are warned to be bear conscious due to recent bear incidents (see BEAR ALERT below). The weir was pulled due to high water on June 19th, and was not fish tight until the afternoon of June 27th. As of August 8th, 45,404 sockeye had been counted through the weir but an unknown number passed through while the weir was open. This compares with the five year average of 41,342 sockeye salmon counted through the weir. Anglers are allowed six sockeye per day and in possession in the Chilkoot River drainage. Average daily weir counts of salmon are presented below.
The catch of sockeye salmon in the Chilkat River fish wheels has been slightly above average so far. As of August 8th, 2,533 sockeye had been caught in the Chilkat River fish wheels. This is compares with the average of 2,333 for this date. Good places to fish for them are in Chilkat Lake and clearwater tributaries of the river in coming weeks. Anglers are allowed six sockeye per day and twelve in possession in the Chilkat River drainage. Average daily fish wheel salmon catches are presented below.


up to be another record year for pink salmon returning to the area. An all time record 48,254 had been counted through the Chilkoot River weir by August 8th. The average for this date is 7,829 pink salmon (see graph below). A total of 3,219 had been caught in the Chilkat River fish wheels as of August 8th which is well above the average of 1,441 for this date. Anglers are allowed to keep six per day and in possession in the Chilkoot River. In the Chilkat River you are allowed six pink salmon per day and twelve in possession.
Halibut fishing has been improving in the area. There have been several reports of anglers landing 100 lb and larger fish in past weeks. Dolly Varden can be caught in saltwater along the shorelines of Chilkat Inlet, Lutak Inlet, and Portage Cove, and in freshwater along the Chilkat and Chilkoot Rivers. The limit for Dolly Varden is 10 per day and in possession except in the Chilkoot drainage where the bag and possession limit is four Dolly Varden.
Important Announcements and Reminders:
BEAR WARNING……Anglers should be aware that there have been a number of brown bear and human interactions along the Chilkoot River in recent days. For example, a sow has been frequenting the fishing area below the weir and recently obtained fish from an angler who refused to stop fishing when the bear approached. This situation is very dangerous for both anglers and the bear. The bear learns to associate anglers with food making a dangerous situation for all anglers and will likely result in the bear having to be killed. You can help to reduce these incidents by following these guidelines:

Filleting and Heading Salmon is Prohibited this Season in the Skagway Marine Boat Sport Fishery: Marine boat anglers returning to the Skagway Boat Harbor are now prohibited from filleting, mutilating, or heading sport caught king salmon, coho salmon, and lingcod until the fish have been brought to shore and offloaded, unless the fish have been consumed or preserved onboard. However, anglers are still allowed to gut and gill these fish before returning to port, and for the purposes of this regulation, anglers will be allowed to fillet and head them on their boats once they are tied up at a docking facility.
Yukon Residents to Pay Less for Sport Fishing Fees Beginning in 2005: Governor Frank H. Murkowski signed a bill adopting reciprocal sport fishing fees for residents of the Yukon. Specifically, the bill would enable a Yukon resident to receive a nonresident sport fishing license or a king salmon tag for the same annual fee that an Alaska resident would pay.
"I am pleased to support this legislation, because it fosters good relations with our neighbors in Yukon," Murkowski said. "It will give Yukoners who come to Southeast to fish for salmon a little bit of a break, yet will still require them to comply with nonresident restrictions, such as bag limits."
Yukon residents will continue to pay nonresident fees through the remainder of this year. The reduced fees become effective January 1, 2005.
King Salmon Bag Limits: Current king salmon bag and possession limits for sport anglers fishing in the marine waters of Southeast Alaska are as follows:
Ø Alaska residents: bag and possession limit of two king salmon 28 inches or greater in length; no annual limit.
Ø Nonresidents: bag and possession limit of one king salmon 28 inches or greater in length; annual limit of three fish.
These regulations are based on the preseason abundance index determined by the Pacific Salmon Commission’s Chinook Technical Committee, as directed by the Southeast Alaska king salmon management plan.

[tubeN2]

PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND AREA
POW rpt for 8/2-8/8
Anglers fishing for chinook last week out of the ports of Craig and Klawock spent an average of 40 hours of effort per king salmon, better than the 5-year average of 57 hours/fish. Chinook fishing traditionally slows down at this time of year. Coho salmon fishing was excellent last week, as it took an average of 1 hour of effort to land a coho, better than the five year average of 2 hours/fish. Halibut came in at 1 hour/fish, better than the five-year average of 2 hours/fish. Anglers are also catching quite a few pinks. Anglers are reminded to check ADF&G 's main web page for in-season regulation changes for king salmon, lingcod and the prohibition on filleting of king, coho and lingcod until returning to port under the emergency order icon. Inquires about in-season changes can also be addressed by calling the POW office at (907) 826-2498 or dropping by the office in Craig.
Fresh water fishing on POW remains good as salmon continue to enter island streams in good numbers. Water levels are dropping (August 9), and are currently on the low side. Chum and Pink salmon are the main species entering streams now and numbers are building fast. Try Staney Creek for chum salmon and the Maybeso or Harris for pinks and chum. Summer run coho are still being caught at the outlet of Neck Lake and there should also be some sockeye showing up there this month. Anglers can fish both the stream and in the bay (casting from shore or from a skiff) for Neck Lake salmon. The Thorne River also has a few coho that have entered already but anglers interested in coho should try the Klawock River as numerous fish have already entered this stream and the run is building fast. Anglers looking for trout fishing on Prince of Wales Island should consider Control, Klawock, Eagle, Red Bay, and No Name Lake as well as the Thorne River drainage just to name a few. Please check the regulation booklet for limits and other regulations that apply to these areas.

[tubeN2]

Bristol Bay Area
Fishing Report for August 10, 2004
[url "javascript:popup('bbaregs.cfm');"]Emergency Orders and Regulation Changes[/url] Salmon
Eastern Section: Kvichak River drainage south to Cape Menshikof: [ul] [li]Fishing for silvers and pinks is reported as fair in the Naknek River. [li]Silvers and pinks are just starting to show in the Alagnak River. [li]A total of approximately 5.5 million Kvichak River sockeye salmon passed the tower at Igiugig through July 22. Angling is reported as fair. [/li][/ul] [ul][/ul]
Central Section: Nushagak/Mulchatna and Wood River drainages: [ul] [li]An estimated 58,000 Nushagak River silver salmon have passed the sonar counter through August 9. Angling is reported as fair. [li]Angling for Nushagak pinks is reported to be very good. [/li][/ul]
Western Section: Drainages from Nushagak Bay west to Cape Newenham, including the Togiak River: [ul] [li]Togiak River silvers are starting to show and angling should improve in the next week. Angling for pinks is reported to be very good. [/li][/ul] Resident Fish
Eastern Section: [ul] [li]Rainbow trout fishing should continue to be fair to good this week as the number of actively spawning salmon increases. [li]Naknek and Kvichak drainage grayling, pike, and char angling is reported as fair to good. [/li][/ul]
Central Section: [ul] [li]Wood River Lakes system fishing opportunities are fair. Rainbow and char fishing reportedly remains fair. [li]Northern pike fishing is reported as fair to good in weedy bays and along lake and slough shores.[/li][/ul]
Western Section: [ul] [li]Opportunities for grayling, char, pike, and rainbow trout should remain fair to good throughout the week.[/li][/ul]

[tubeN2]

[font "verdana, arial, helvetica"][size 2]Kenai Area

Kenai Area Sport Fishing Report
Upper Kenai Peninsula Area Seasonal Fishing Summaries
June July August

Fishing Report for August 10, 2004
Emergency Orders and Regulation Changes
Late Run King Salmon Summary Final Early Run King Salmon Summary
Kenai River
Salmon

Red salmon are often available into early August on the lower Kenai River.
Fishing for silver and pink salmon is beginning to improve. Fishing for these species is usually good by the middle of August.
Anglers are also reminded that after retaining a second silver salmon 16" or longer, they may not fish in the Kenai River downstream of the Upper Killey River for the remainder of that day.
Upper Kenai River and the Russian River

Late run red salmon are available in the Upper Kenai and Russian River areas, with anglers reporting fair to good fishing.
Most of the red salmon being caught in this area are well into their spawning coloration. Anglers looking for brighter fish will likely have to put in some extra time.
Please remember that both the Russian River and the waters of the Kenai River near its confluence with the Russian River continue to be "fly-fishing only" waters through August 20.
Resident Fish

Fishing for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden has been improving in the upper and lower Kenai River.
Anglers are advised to check the regulations closely for retention and gear restrictions for the waters being fished.
Kasilof River
Silver and pink salmon are being caught in the Kasilof River, along with a few late red salmon.
Bank anglers can access good fishing areas from the Crooked Creek campground off Cohoe Loop Road.
Spinners in sizes 3 or 4, 1/2 ounce Pixees, and small Spin-N-Glos with salmon eggs are popular tackle choices for silvers.
Swanson River
Anglers have reported catching a few silver salmon on the Swanson River in the Nikiski area.
Dolly Varden and rainbow trout are also available in the Swanson River.
Bait and multiple hooks are allowed through September 15.
Lake Fishing
Fishing in the area's stocked lakes is likely to be good and typically improves throughout the fall.
Floating eggs off a bobber or casting small spoons or spinners are popular methods while fishing in the lakes.
Northern Pike
Fishing success for northern pike will typically be slow during the summer months due to warmer water temperatures.
Stormy Lake and Arc Lake are two publicly accessible pike lakes.
Casting lures or flies that imitate small fish or other prey works well for northern pike. Bait fishing can also be productive.
Personal Use
The Kasilof River closed for personal use dip-netting on August 7.
The Kenai River closed for personal use dip-netting on July 31.
By law, personal use permits must be returned, by August 15. Permits can either be mailed in or dropped off at Fish and Game offices.[/size][/font]

[tubeN2]

Anchorage Area

Fishing Report for August 10, 2004
Emergency Orders and Regulation Changes
Salmon
Ship Creek Salmon

The Ship Creek Silver Salmon Derby starts Friday, August 13, at 6 a.m. This derby serves as a fundraising event for the Foster Grandparents and Senior Companion Programs of Alaska. For more information, visit their webpages at [url "http://www.anchoragederbies.com/Prizes.html."][#000020]http://www.anchoragederbies.com/Prizes.html.[/#000020][/url] Some lucky angler may catch a $10,000 tagged silver. Don't forget to buy your derby ticket!
The silvers are here in good numbers, and they are starting to bite.
The best time to fish remains as the tide is going in and as the tide is going out.
Continue to try spinners, spoons, cured eggs, and yarn flies.
Campbell Creek salmon:

Silver fishing on Campbell Creek is fair to good.
Anglers willing to hike and prospect the stream have the best luck and will find some nice bright fish.
Bait and multiple hooks are allowed.
Campbell Creek is closed to fishing for king salmon, including catch-and-release.
Bird Creek

Since Bird Creek was not stocked with silvers last year, there will be little to no silvers returning this year.
The pink and chum run appears to be mediocre for an even year.
Resident Fish

Dolly Varden and rainbow trout fishing in streams is good to excellent.
Egg patterns and beads continue to produce good catches.
On Campbell Creek you may keep rainbow trout only if you are downstream of the forks located by Piper Street.
There has been brown bear activity in the Campbell Tract. Expect to see a brown bear if you fish in the Campbell Tract, so be prepared. See the bear safety link below for helpful information.
Lake Fishing
Try some backcountry fishing this week. Hike into Symphony Lake for some grayling fishing, or hike into Rabbit Lake for some backcountry rainbow trout fishing.
Maps to the lakes are available on the "Lake stocking" website below.
Northern Pike
Lower Fire Lake, Sand Lake and Cheney Lake all contain pike.
During these warm summer months the best time to fish for pike is during the late evening.
Pike are not moving around much during this warm weather, so you will need to be patient.
A bobber and frozen herring or a surface lure both work well. Spears and bow and arrow (the arrow must be attached to the bow) are also legal methods in the Anchorage area.
There is no bag limit on pike: you may take as many as you will use.

[tubeN2]

Mat-Su Area
Fishing Report for August 11, 2004
[url "javascript:popup('msuregs.cfm');"]Emergency Orders and Regulation Changes[/url] Salmon [ul] [li]Silver fishing is good in the Eklutna Power Plant tailrace. [li]Silver and sockeye salmon fishing is excellent at Jim Creek. [li]Silver salmon fishing has been good in the Little Susitna River. You will also find a few chums and sockeye. [li]Silvers and pinks can be found in the Deshka River and Alexander Creek. [li]Pink salmon are arriving in large numbers in the Susitna River drainage this year. Look for them in the Parks Highway streams (Willow, Sheep, Montana, Rabidoux etc.) along with silvers and chums. Willow Creek is closed to salmon fishing upstream of Deception Creek and Montana Creek is closed to salmon fishing upstream of a marker ½ mile above the Parks Highway crossing. [li]Bait and multiple hooks are allowed in certain sections of the Parks Highway streams. Please check the Susitna River Unit 2 section of the regulation booklet carefully. [li]Chums, sockeye and silvers are present in the Talkeetna River drainage with the mouth of Clear Creek your best bet. [li]Yentna River sloughs and tributaries are producing lots of silvers. Lake Creek should provide excellent fishing. [li]Silver salmon fishing is good for Westside Cook Inlet streams: Theodore, Lewis, Chuit, Kustatan and freshwater tributaries of the Beluga and McArthur rivers. Once you take your limit of coho salmon in this area you must stop fishing for the day. [li]Coho fishing is slow in Wasilla and Cottonwood creeks. These are weekend only fisheries, open only on Saturday from 6:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m., and on Sunday from 6:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. [li]In Wasilla Creek motorized watercraft may not be used on Saturday and Sundays, through August 15. [/li][/ul] Resident Fish [ul] [li]Rainbow trout and grayling fishing have been good in the Parks Highway streams; however, only catch-and-release fishing for these species is allowed year-round in Montana Creek. [li]In Willow Creek, rainbow trout may not be retained downstream of the Parks Highway bridge. [li]Check the regulations for single hook only areas on all Parks Highway steams. [/li][/ul] Lake Fishing [ul] [li]Best bets for rainbows include Boot, Beverly, Canoe, Christiansen, Crystal, Farmer, Loon, Marion, Ruby, Seventeenmile, Tanaina, and South Rolly lakes. [li]Canoe, Finger, Florence, Ida, Kepler/Bradley, Knik, Lorraine, Meirs, Mile 180, Weiner and Reed lakes have Arctic grayling. [li]Benka, Echo, Irene, Lynne, Marion, Matanuska, Memory, Prator, and Seventeenmile lakes are stocked with Arctic char. [li]For a single lake with a wide variety of fish, try Finger Lake. It has rainbow trout, Arctic grayling, Arctic char and landlocked king salmon. [/li][/ul] Northern Pike [ul] [li]Pike can be taken using spears, bow and arrow (the arrow must be attached to the bow by a line) bait, spinning, and fly-fishing gear. Try top-water weedless lures and flies in the heavily vegetated bays and sloughs. Herring suspended under a bobber is a sure-fire bet. [li]Except in Alexander Lake, there is no closed season or bag limit for pike in this area. Wanton waste laws do apply, so be sure to use or donate to charity all the pike you harvest. [li]For road-accessible pike fishing try Memory Lake, Long Lake, or lakes in the Nancy Lake canoe system. For fly-in pike fishing try Alexander, Trapper, Hewitt, Whiskey, Vern and Donkey lakes. Boat-accessible pike fishing can be found in the side sloughs of the Deshka River, Alexander Creek, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough) and Hewitt Lake.[/li][/ul]

[tubeN2]

Mat-Su Area
Fishing Report for August 11, 2004
[url "javascript:popup('msuregs.cfm');"]Emergency Orders and Regulation Changes[/url] Salmon [ul] [li]Silver fishing is good in the Eklutna Power Plant tailrace. [li]Silver and sockeye salmon fishing is excellent at Jim Creek. [li]Silver salmon fishing has been good in the Little Susitna River. You will also find a few chums and sockeye. [li]Silvers and pinks can be found in the Deshka River and Alexander Creek. [li]Pink salmon are arriving in large numbers in the Susitna River drainage this year. Look for them in the Parks Highway streams (Willow, Sheep, Montana, Rabidoux etc.) along with silvers and chums. Willow Creek is closed to salmon fishing upstream of Deception Creek and Montana Creek is closed to salmon fishing upstream of a marker ½ mile above the Parks Highway crossing. [li]Bait and multiple hooks are allowed in certain sections of the Parks Highway streams. Please check the Susitna River Unit 2 section of the regulation booklet carefully. [li]Chums, sockeye and silvers are present in the Talkeetna River drainage with the mouth of Clear Creek your best bet. [li]Yentna River sloughs and tributaries are producing lots of silvers. Lake Creek should provide excellent fishing. [li]Silver salmon fishing is good for Westside Cook Inlet streams: Theodore, Lewis, Chuit, Kustatan and freshwater tributaries of the Beluga and McArthur rivers. Once you take your limit of coho salmon in this area you must stop fishing for the day. [li]Coho fishing is slow in Wasilla and Cottonwood creeks. These are weekend only fisheries, open only on Saturday from 6:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m., and on Sunday from 6:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. [li]In Wasilla Creek motorized watercraft may not be used on Saturday and Sundays, through August 15. [/li][/ul] Resident Fish [ul] [li]Rainbow trout and grayling fishing have been good in the Parks Highway streams; however, only catch-and-release fishing for these species is allowed year-round in Montana Creek. [li]In Willow Creek, rainbow trout may not be retained downstream of the Parks Highway bridge. [li]Check the regulations for single hook only areas on all Parks Highway steams. [/li][/ul] Lake Fishing [ul] [li]Best bets for rainbows include Boot, Beverly, Canoe, Christiansen, Crystal, Farmer, Loon, Marion, Ruby, Seventeenmile, Tanaina, and South Rolly lakes. [li]Canoe, Finger, Florence, Ida, Kepler/Bradley, Knik, Lorraine, Meirs, Mile 180, Weiner and Reed lakes have Arctic grayling. [li]Benka, Echo, Irene, Lynne, Marion, Matanuska, Memory, Prator, and Seventeenmile lakes are stocked with Arctic char. [li]For a single lake with a wide variety of fish, try Finger Lake. It has rainbow trout, Arctic grayling, Arctic char and landlocked king salmon. [/li][/ul] Northern Pike [ul] [li]Pike can be taken using spears, bow and arrow (the arrow must be attached to the bow by a line) bait, spinning, and fly-fishing gear. Try top-water weedless lures and flies in the heavily vegetated bays and sloughs. Herring suspended under a bobber is a sure-fire bet. [li]Except in Alexander Lake, there is no closed season or bag limit for pike in this area. Wanton waste laws do apply, so be sure to use or donate to charity all the pike you harvest. [li]For road-accessible pike fishing try Memory Lake, Long Lake, or lakes in the Nancy Lake canoe system. For fly-in pike fishing try Alexander, Trapper, Hewitt, Whiskey, Vern and Donkey lakes. Boat-accessible pike fishing can be found in the side sloughs of the Deshka River, Alexander Creek, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough) and Hewitt Lake.[/li][/ul]

[tubeN2]

Prince William Sound Area

Fishing Report for August 10, 2004
[url "javascript:popup('pwsregs.cfm');"]Emergency Orders and Regulation Changes[/url] Salt Waters
Halibut [ul] [li]Consistent catches of halibut in the 80 - 120 lb. range are still coming in from Montague Strait and Hinchinbrook Entrance. [li]Also try fishing for halibut in shallow waters near the mouth of salmon streams. Halibut may be waiting for salmon carcasses to wash out of the stream. [li]The leader in the Valdez Halibut Derby is still a 310 pound halibut. A barndoor halibut weighed in at 340 pounds last week, but the angler didn't have a derby ticket.[/li][/ul]
Salmon [ul] [li]Silver salmon (coho) are the catch of the week! [li]Near Valdez, silver salmon are still being caught near Tongue Point and the Narrows. [li]Out of Whittier, good silver catches are reported by anglers trolling off Pigot Point and Culross Island. [li]Stream mouths at Knowles Head and on Montague Island have also produced silvers. [li]Silver fishing is still pretty slow for shore anglers at Allison Point and Whittier. [li]Hootches and green spoons are the hot lure. [/li][/ul]
Other salt water fishing [ul] [li]Lingcod fishing remains excellent. [li]Monster lingers in the 50-60 pound range are coming in from Seal Rocks. [li]The open Gulf waters by Wessels Reef have also been excellent. [li]The minimum size limit for lingcod is 35 inches, and the bag limit is 2 per day and 4 in possession.[/li][/ul]
Shellfish [ul] [li]Shrimp fishers continue to have only sporadic luck with shrimp this week.[/li][/ul] Fresh Waters
Salmon [ul] [li]Eyak River has a few silver salmon at the lake outlet as well as by the mouth of Ibeck Creek. [li]Ibeck Creek has cleared and should begin to pick up in the next week. [/li][/ul]
Resident Fish [ul] [li]Dolly Varden can be found in most streams with salmon runs. [li]Dolly Varden are often found in smaller pools or tail-outs where they avoid large schools of migrating silver salmon. [/li][/ul]

[tubeN2]

Resurrection Bay Area

Fishing Report for August 10, 2004
[url "javascript:popup('resregs.cfm');"]Emergency Orders and Regulation Changes[/url] Salt Waters
Halibut [ul] [li]Halibut fishing outside the bay remains very good to excellent, with the best fishing still found to the east toward Montague Island. [li]Good halibut fishing can also be found west toward Aialik and Harris bays.[/li][/ul]
Salmon [ul] [li]The 49th Annual Seward Silver Salmon Derby is now underway and runs through Saturday, August 21, at 5 p.m. [li]Silver fishing in Resurrection Bay has slowed since last week, but plenty of fish are still being caught. [li]The Seward beach fishery remains typically slow this early in August, but jumpers are being seen right off the beach. Expect this fishery to improve at any time. [li]The silvers are big this year --two 18-pound silvers sit atop the derby leader board. There is also a $50,000 tagged silver still swimming in the waters of Resurrection Bay.[/li][/ul]
Other salt water fishing [ul] [li]Rockfish fishing continues to be good. Black rockfish continue to be the most caught species. [li]Lingcod fishing in North Gulf Coast waters (NGC) remains good. [li]Because Resurrection Bay is closed year-round to lingcod fishing, if you harvest a lingcod in NGC waters, you may not stop to fish in Resurrection Bay on the way into port. [/li][/ul] Fresh Waters
Salmon -Resurrection Bay [ul] [li]There is no fresh water salmon fishing open in Resurrection Bay drainages. [/li][/ul]
Resident Fish -Resurrection Bay and North Gulf Coast [ul] [li]For a rewarding backcountry fishing experience, hike into Lost Lake to fish the rainbows. [/li][/ul] Northern Pike/Atlantic Salmon [ul] [li]Please report the catch of any northern pike or Atlantic salmon as soon possible to ADF&G at (907) 267-2218[/li][/ul]

[tubeN2]

Kodiak Area
Fishing Report for August 12, 2004
[url "javascript:popup('kodregs.cfm');"]Emergency Orders and Regulation Changes[/url] Salt Waters [ul] [li]Saltwater fishing for halibut and rockfish is good this time of year. [li]Trolling for both king and coho salmon continues to be excellent. [/li][/ul] Fresh Waters
Coho Salmon [ul] [li]Coho salmon are beginning to return to Kodiak fresh waters. The earliest returns occur on Afognak and Shuyak islands. Popular fisheries include Litnik (Afognak) Lagoon, Pauls and Discovery bays, as well as various bays around Shuyak Island. [li]Coho on the Kodiak Road System usually don't show up in fishable numbers until mid-August. Road System returns peak in mid-September. The coho count at the Buskin weir as of August 11 was 130 fish. Season counts average 9,000 coho. [li]Pink salmon are entering Road System streams in good numbers and showing up along beaches in front of streams. Ocean beaches near streams are a good place to fish for pinks because fish are often still bright silver. [li]As of August 11, 71,000 pink salmon have passed the Buskin River weir, which has an average escapement of 83,000 pinks during even years. There will be a pink salmon fishing derby for kids sponsored by the Kodiak Kiwanis this Saturday on the Buskin River at 11 a.m.[/li][/ul]
Dolly Varden [ul] [li]Dolly Varden are entering freshwater drainages along the Road System in good numbers. Some of the more popular places to fish for Dolly Varden include the Buskin, American, Olds and Saltery rivers, however, many of the streams on the Road System will have Dollies.[/li][/ul]

[tubeN2]

Kuskokwim Area Sport Fishing Report Fishing Report for August 12, 2003

The following is a briefing of recent sport fishery conditions to the Lower Kuskokwim/ Lower Yukon and Kuskokwim Bay sport fisheries. Sport fishing regulations for the lower Kuskokwim and lower Yukon rivers are published in the [url "http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/html/aykregs.stm"]2003 Region III Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim and Upper Copper/Upper Susitna River Regulations Summary[/url]. You can also pick up a copy of the Regulations at local license vendors, or at Fish and Game offices. [url "http://www.state.ak.us/adfg/sportf/region3/rgn3home.htm"]The Sport Fish web page[/url] is an excellent reference site to browse through sport fishing regulations and many services provided by the Department, such as purchasing a license or current fisheries information or in-season regulation changes by emergency order (EO).
Many of the fisheries in Alaska are under dual management with State and Federal agencies and the complexity of regulations can be intimidating. It is your responsibility to know the land status and regulations of your activities.Emergency Orders and Regulation Changes
The sport fishery for chinook (king) and chum salmon in the entire Kuskokwim River drainage opens on 15 June with the daily bag and possession limit of one (1) chinook (king) OR one (1) chum salmon per day. Further details are located on the [url "http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/EONR/index.cfm"]EO web page[/url]
Waters subject to ANILCA Title VIII (including waters in which the United States has asserted a reserved water right) are open to fishing under state regulations but are subject to federal restrictions and closures. If you are planning on fishing in waters under federal subsistence jurisdiction, you must comply with federal regulations. To familiarize yourself with the federal regulations and how they may affect your planned activity, you should contact the federal agencies. In-season closures or temporary regulatory changes can occur at any time.
Early Fall Sport Fishing Opportunities Lower Kuskokwim River Tributaries
Salmon Fishing: Anglers have reported outstanding coho fishing recently in the lower reaches of the Kwethluk, Kasigluk and Kisaralik Rivers. An early and strong coho run has maintained itself through the historical midpoint of the run. All indicators suggest this run strength may continue for another week and then begin to fade following historical timing in the lower Kuskokwim River. Coho salmon will continue to trickle into the lower Kuskokwim through the early September. High and murky water conditions are subsiding in the upper and middle Kuskokwim tributaries; coho fishing at tributary confluences should be improving with coho fishing peaking during the second and third week of August. With a strong and early run of coho salmon, anglers fishing in Kuskokwim waters can expect superb coho fishing opportunities during the remainder of August into early September.
Chum salmon will begin spawning in earnest during mid August. Angler should be cautious near salmon spawning aggregations at this time of year; the bears are searching for spawn out salmon. A number of bears have been destroyed recently in the Kuskokwim area, be aware of your surroundings while you are fishing and keep a clean campsite.
Resident Species Excellent to good catches of grayling, Dolly Varden and rainbow trout has been reported in area streams. Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden fishing can be exceptional while salmon are spawning. Anglers will find grayling, Dolly Varden and rainbow trout picking up drifting salmon spawn behind spawning salmon. As spawning intensifies resident fish will become more particular with the bounty of food. A wide selection of egg and flesh patterns is essential for successful fishing during the peak of salmon spawning. The hiatus between chum and coho spawning often provides the best fishing of the year because these fish have been feeding heavily and as the food availability dwindles the bite improves until coho salmon begin spawning towards the end of September. Many of the upper reaches of Kuskokwim tributaries are designated as catch and release waters for rainbow trout and sport fishing is permitted with single-hook artificial lures.
Other species such as pike and sheefish can be located near ambush locations, try shallow waters near deeper cover waters or weedy areas for pike. Weedless lures or surface plugs are a good selection for pike and a bright spoon seems to work best for sheefish. With the changing of the season, pike will begin feeding more heavily during the early stages of the whitefish migration. Fall fishing for pike is often a bonus to the prepared moose hunters. Don't over look local high elevation lakes, they can provide excellent fishing opportunities for char/lake trout and Dolly Varden. Anglers will find these fish near outlets, inlets and or points that are adjacent to deep waters during the early morning or late evening hours. Kuskokwim Bay Tributaries
Salmon Fishing: The Kanektok coho run is just beginning to pick up in the lower area of the river. Mid August is the peak timing of coho entry into the lower Kanektok and Arolik Rivers. Coho salmon in the Goodnews drainage have a slightly delayed entry timing of approximately 5-7 days later than the Kanektok stock. By late August or early September coho salmon will be distributed throughout these drainage. Anglers are reminded that flowing waters of the Kanektok and Goodnews Rivers are designated as single-hook artificial lure waters to protect rainbow trout.
Chum and sockeye salmon will begin spawning in earnest during mid August. Angler should be cautious near salmon spawning aggregations at this time of year; the bears are searching for spawn out salmon. A number of bears have been destroyed recently in the Kuskokwim area, be aware of your surroundings while you are fishing and keep a clean campsite.
Resident Species Fishing: Anglers have reported good to excellent catches of Dolly Varden and rainbow trout recently. Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden fishing can be excellent just before and during salmon spawning. Anglers will find Dolly Varden and rainbow trout trailing behind spawning salmon picking up drifting salmon spawn. As spawning intensifies fish will become more particular with the bounty of salmon spawn and salmon carcasses. A wide selection of egg and flesh patterns is essential for successful fishing during the peak of salmon spawning. The hiatus between chum and coho spawning often provides exceptional fishing for Dolly Varden and rainbow trout. These fish have been feeding heavily on salmon spawn and as this food supply dwindles the bite improves until coho salmon begin spawning towards the end of September. Don't forget your camera, as we progress into fall, many of the Dolly Varden will be displaying spectacular spawning colors. Anglers are reminded that in flowing waters of the Kanektok and Goodnews Rivers only single-hook artificial lures are permitted and catch and release regulations for rainbow trout in the Kanektok River continue through October 31.
Many of the high elevation lakes will continue to offer excellent fishing opportunities for char/lake trout and Dolly Varden particularly as salmon carcasses collect nearby many of the small streams outlets along the lakes. Local Perspectives
Anglers visiting western Alaska are encourage to respect the rights of private property owners and to respect traditional perspectives. Many local residents are concerned about catch and release fishing practices. Yupik people feel these practices are disrespectful to fish and are in conflict with their traditional ethics. These ethics teach that when animals are mistreated, the natural order becomes disrupted and people risk future food shortages. If disrupted, the fish will move away and may never return to the river. It is important that visitors acknowledge and respect these traditions by respecting their catch and observing careful catch and release practices. [ul] [li]Keep the fish in the water, [li]Use single hook lures or flies, [li]When taking pictures, cradle the fish with both hands, [li]Pinch your barbs down and [li]If you can not remove the fly easily, consider cutting the line or the hook. [/li][/ul]
Enjoy these western Alaska fishing opportunities, operate boats in courteous manner, pack out your waste and only leave your footprints.
This fishing report will be updated as conditions warrant.

[tubeN2]

[size 2]Tanana Area
No new information.



End of Reports [url "javascript: addTag('cool')"][cool][/url][/size]
[signature]