07-24-2004, 03:28 PM
Kuskokwim Area
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.
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.
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.
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.