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Sport Fishing
Information Courtesy of TravelAlaska.com
Fish Facts
All of the seven Pacific salmon species die shortly after spawning. Atlantic salmon are capable of surviving and spawning again.
A kokanee, or silver trout, is actually a landlocked subspecies of a sockeye salmon. The kokanee spends its entire life in fresh water and usually does not get as large as a sockeye.
The oldest known ages of salmon are seven years for kings and sockeye, four years for silver, six years for chum and two years for pinks.
The oldest known age of a steelhead trout is 8 years.
Salmon produce anywhere from 2,500 to 7,000 eggs, depending on their species and size. Kings are known to produce the most and largest eggs.
There are more fish species than there are bird species in the world — an estimated 28,000.
The 2002 commercial fishing harvest and vessel value for Alaska is estimated at $955 million. This includes fishing for salmon, herring, halibut, groundfish and shellfish.
Urban Fishing
In cities from the Inside Passage to the Interior, business travelers sneak out of afternoon meetings and parents enjoy furtive engagements with some of the world’s finest fishing. No matter what town or city you go to in Alaska, great fishing isn’t far away.
The key to making the most of your urban experience is knowing where to go and when. Check in at the local Fish and Game office or at a fishing supply store and you’ll find Alaskans willing to jaw all day about the many local hot spots.
Top fishing destinations: SOUTHCENTRAL
Lake Louise lies roughly 30 miles west of Glennallen and is home to grayling, burbot and lake trout, among other species. It is recommended that you fish by boat as the lake can get rough at times. Lake Louise is said to have 20-plus pound lake trout, with a minimum catch length of 24 inches. Nearby Susitna Lake is the same.
Also in the Southcentral region is Silver Lake, which is on the McCarthy Road past Chitina. Silver Lake is a stocked lake with walk-in access, a private campground and rainbow trout over 24 inches long, making it a regional favorite. Blueberry Lake, just 20 miles north of Valdez, has great grayling fishing for those fly fishermen who prefer casting from shore.
Other popular areas include the Matanuska- Susitna Valley’s Bull and Chulitna lakes, the Kenai Peninsula’s giant Kenai Lake, and Grayling Lake just north of Seward.
Southcentral Information
For more information, contact either the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau at 524 W. Fourth Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501, (907) 276-4118, online at www.anchorage.net or email info@anchorage.net; or the Kenai Convention and Visitors Bureau at 11471 Kenai Spur Hwy, Kenai, AK 99611, (907) 283-1991, online at www.visitkenai.com or email info@visitkenai.com.
- Kenai River
- Ship Creek
- Kachemak Bay
- Deep Creek
- Ninilchik
Mat-Su Valley Information
For more information, contact the Matanuska-Susitna Convention and Visitors Bureau at HC01 Box 6166 J21, Palmer, AK 99645, (907) 746-5000, visit the bureau online at www.alaskavisit.com or email info@alaskavisit.com.
- Mouth of the Deshka
- Alexander Creek
- Little Susitna River
- Big Susitna River
- Willow Creek
Top fishing destinations: INTERIOR
Alaska’s Interior region features some uncommonly good fishing.Try your luck at landing a trophy-size pike while fishing East Twin Lakes, about 85 miles southwest of Fairbanks. Or go to Minto Flats, where pike as large as 20 and 25 pounds are not unheard of.
Harding, Birch and Quartz Lakes are great destinations as are Tangle Lakes off the Denali Highway and nearby Paxson and Summit Lakes.
Interior Information
For more information, contact the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau at 550 First Ave, Fairbanks, AK 99701, (800) 327-5774, online at www.explorefairbanks.com or email info@explorefairbanks.com.
- Upper Chena River
- Salcha River
- Chatanika River
- Quartz Lake
- Harding Lake
- Birch Lake
Copper River Valley Information
For more information, contact the Copper Valley Chamber of Commerce at P.O. Box 469, Glennallen, AK 99588, (907) 822-5555, visit the chamber online at www.traveltoalaska.com or email chamber@alaska.net.
- Klutina River
- Gulkana River
- Copper River (dip netting)
- Moose Creek
Far North Information
For more information, contact the Nome Convention and Visitors Bureau at P.O. Box 240 H-P, Nome, AK 99762, (907) 443-6624, online at www.nomealaska.org/vc/ or email tourinfo@ci.nome.ak.us or contact the Alaska Travel Industry Association at 2600 Cordova Street Ste. 201, Anchorage, AK 99503-2745, (907) 929-2200 or email info@alaskatia.org
- Anaktuvak River
- Kobuk River
- Noatak River
- Round Lake
Top fishing destinations: SOUTHEAST
Most anglers opt for saltwater fishing while in Southeast Alaska. After all, the region has countless protected coves, bays and inlets that make coastal fishing an expedition of beauty as well as bounty. Still, there are many lake-fishing opportunities. A group of lakes on Admiralty Island offer cutthroat trout fishing and are equipped with U.S. Forest Service cabins for comfortable yet rustic lodging. Hasselborg Lake and Lake Florence are two options, as well as a series of smaller lakes that are lumped together as Jims, Davidson, Distin and Guerin lakes.
On the northern end of the Inside Passage, the historic town of Skagway is home to several salmon and trout lakes. Some are accessible by plane or boat, while Upper and Lower Dewey lakes are just a short walk from town.
Southeast Information
For more information, contact the Southeast Alaska Tourism Council at P.O. Box 20710, Juneau, AK 99802, (907) 586-4777 or visit the website at www.alaskainfo.org.
- Tutshi Lake (Skagway)
- Elfin Cove
- Glacier Bay/Icy Strait
- Fly-fishing on ABC Islands
- Lynn Canal
Top fishing destinations: SOUTHWEST
Lake Iliamna is not the only place in Southwest Alaska to find memorable lake fishing. Trophy-sized rainbow trout can be had throughout the entire region.
Kodiak Island is a good choice for rainbow trout. Just four miles east of the town of Kodiak are Woody and Long Island lakes, which are accessible by boat or small plane and are popular for year-round access to rainbows and good hiking and sightseeing opportunities nearby.
Afognak Island, located slightly north of Kodiak Island, is also home to legendary rainbows, which can be coaxed from the waters of Afognak, Portage and Malina lakes.
Southwest Information
Unalaska/Dutch Harbor
For more information, contact the Unalaska/Port of Dutch Harbor Convention and Visitors Bureau at P.O. Box 545, Unalaska, AK 99685, (877) 581-2612 or (907) 581- 2612, visit the bureau online at www.unalaska.info or email updhcvb@arctic.net.
- Akutan Pass
- Volcano Bay
- Chuitna River
Kodiak
For more information, contact the Kodiak Island Convention and Visitors Bureau at 100 Marine Way Suite 200, Kodiak, AK 99615, (907) 486-4782, visit the bureau online at www.kodiak.org or email kicvb@kodiak.org.
- Buskin River
- American River
- Karluk River
- Ayakulik River
- Uyak Bay
General Information
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
- In Soldotna, call (907) 262-9368
- in Anchorage, call (907) 267-2318
- in Juneau, call (907) 465-4270
- in Fairbanks, call (907) 459-7385
- in Glennallen, call (907) 822-3309.
