sign in sign up
<<
Home , Arctic cisco, Burbot, Fish River (Alaska), Grand Central River, Interior Alaska, Koyukuk River

Freshwater Fishing

To Deadhorse More than 130,000 miles of streams cross BLM lands in Alaska. Below is a partial list of some of the better or more accessible fishing waters. N SCALE Fairbanks 5 0 Slope WATER BLM OFFICE LOCATION AC AG Bu DV LT NP RT K S C0 P CH SF WF NOTES r 5 10 15 20 25 MILES Mountain District Office ive 4010' u D H n J s v l ] yy Q t B w R S

Toolik a Teller g

rin a Dalton Highway (listed south to north) it v C uz a K Island Lake n D H s l yy t B A i Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 56 turbidity limits fishing in main stream; try tributaries and sloughs; r r k A RCTIC Galbraith Lake e D H s B v t Ray River Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 70 can boat from Yukon River bridge to mouth R i o NATIONAL

k

D s w Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 106 occasional ; access on SE side of bridge r WILDLIFE

R e Tea Lake

D w B e R REFUGE n

Fish Creek Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 114 Anchorage v i o i v

D w t MOUNTAINS Pump e s n Bonanza Creek, South Fork Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 124.7 access on SE side of bridge; some pike & burbot Glennallen r R N e C B Field Office u D w IK l R Station 4

O O Bonanza Creek, North Fork Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 125.7 occasional burbot & pike a UA b O g Field Office n IGL b K S i D w M K m t o Prospect Creek Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 135 occasional pike; undeveloped campsite at Mile 135.7 y Mt. Osborn i R A E o N G A n C D w E G r Jim River Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 135.7-144 occasional pike & burbot; best access near Mile 135.7 &144 r g C a l - D n i

d Salmon Lake P Grayling Lake Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 150.8 T r e C E e D k e Koyukuk River, South Fork Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 156 L n tr D w L al R Marion Creek Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 180 BLM campground at Mile 180 E r Y D N R e A Atigun Minnie Creek Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 187 iv R R Salmon Lake W Pass 4739' D 0 150 MILES O

Koyukuk River, Middle Fork Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 188.6 launch rafts or canoes near Wiseman; water often silty H A Campground D H J G Tea Lake Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 270 access west side near Pump Station 4 D I

H D H J w i v e r Galbraith Lake Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 274.7 D R

w A GATES OF THE ARCTI C u D J

Toolik Lake Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 284.3 no camping O N h h

R

O

D c

r

Kuparuk River Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 289 no camping i T

Key for maps: e

k K

NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE r

v L D H u t

O

Oksrukuyik Creek Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 298 i

A n e

Locator maps are for general planning purposes only; other i R

S i

D H n R D

Sagavanirktok River Fairbanks Dalton Highway MP 309 to Prudhoe Bay Dolly Varden fishing best in late summer A D

e

facilities may be available in the area. You can get detailed G MILE 211 U m

Fish advisory: north of the Yukon River, all rivers are closed to salmon fishing within 5 miles of the Dalton Highway (except for Ray River). Anglers may see king and in the Koyukuk and Jim rivers and Prospect Creek. O o information from the BLM, the Alaska Public Land Informa­ K e r N North of Atigun Pass, only catch-and-release fishing is allowed for lake within 5 miles of the Dalton Highway. v N i Travel advisory: be sure to park well off the Dalton Highway, but don’t block gates to pipeline. This is an industrial highway with high speed truck traffic; windshield damage from flying gravel is common. tion Center and sporting goods stores for your trip. R O Nolan Sukakpak R T Nome Solomon Mountain 4459' O N Other northern and northwestern locations S O Wiseman Find out more about fishing on BLM office or information dump station U N D H n s l yy t Anvik River Anchorage Anvik air or boat access only center Marion Creek BLM public lands in Alaska Coldfoot k Boston Creek Anchorage tributary of the Fish River D n l yy Q t air or boat access only u Campground www.blm.gov/ak D J Mile 175 Etivlik Lake Fairbanks 150 miles northwest of Bettles air access only SCALE N 539 Air Miles, Mile 180 D n s yy Q t BLM campground picnic area 1 1/2 Hours Fish River Anchorage tributary of Golovin Bay air or boat access only K o y u k Nonstop to Anchorage r Grand Central River Anchorage Kougarok Road MP 35 D n access via Kougarok Road or air 0 10 20 30 MILES v e Fairbanks District Office R i Kuzitrin River Anchorage Kougarok Road MP 75 D s yy Q t limited fishing for silvers and pinks A k 1150 University Avenue Nigu River Fairbanks 150 miles northwest of Bettles D n air access only o r Chapman F Lake D n l yy Q t d l e Fairbanks, AK 99709-3844 Nome River Anchorage Kougarok Road MP 4 road parallels river for 20 miles i d k u k Pah River Fairbanks tributary of the , east of Kotzebue D H s t B air access from Bettles, Fairbanks, Kotzebue M K o y u Grayling (907) 474-2251 Lake D n s yy Q t ver Pilgrim River Anchorage Kougarok Road MP 45-65 road parallels river for 20 miles Key to Fish Species Glacier Delta Junction Landmark Gap i k J www.blm.gov/ak/fdo 81 Miles r i

Salmon Lake Anchorage Nome-Taylor Highway MP 40 D n BLM campground; access to Pilgrim River Lake R m Lake o Pump v e

D n yy t F R i r ] Solomon River Anchorage Nome-Council Road MP 40 R 10 Mile 7 Mile Station 5 D n l ] yy Q t ock

**Unalakleet River Anchorage Unalakleet AC char Cre ek ta Tangle Lake Lake Anchorage Field Office 50-Mile l I e Campground Lake DENAL Solstice 4700 BLM Road Highway (listed east to west) AG arctic grayling D h Gobblers u t Point 2175' YUKON FLATS Y o Knob Anchorage, AK 99507 D H J ] A S Ten Mile Lake Glennallen MP 10 Bu burbot Cantwell HW D H J ] 100 Miles Delta National HIG (907) 267-1246 Big Swede Lake Glennallen Denali Highway MP 16 access via 3-mile primitive road Wild & Scenic Wayside Paxson Little Swede Lake Glennallen Denali Highway MP 16 J access via 3-mile primitive road DV Dolly Varden Tangle Little Swede www.blm.gov/ak/afo **Delta River Glennallen Denali Highway MP 21 D enter via Tangle Lakes, exit at Lakes Lake Mud 66° 33' LT Lake Arctic Circle Tangle Lakes Glennallen Denali Highway MP 23 D H J BLM campground and wayside r Olsons Lake e Wayside D J v *Landmark Gap Lake Glennallen Denali Highway MP 24.6 access via 4-mile primitive road NP i Big Swede Mile 115 Glennallen Field Office D R Rock Creek Glennallen Denali Highway MP 25 Lake D en KANUTI NATIONAL WILDLIFE Finger P.O. Box 147 AY Fiftymile Lake Glennallen Denali Highway MP 50 park on north side of road RT r Paxson REFUGE Caribou Mountain

la e r D W Mountain Glennallen, Alaska 99588

*Glacier Lake Glennallen Denali Highway MP 30.6 ac Lake i v 2000' M H

D J K salmon, Chinook Dickey R 3179' Sevenmile (Boulder) Lake Glennallen Denali Highway MP 40 access via 3/4-mile gravel road G K a n u t i (907) 822-3217

D Lake I

Crooked Creek Glennallen Denali Highway MP 47.2 S salmon, sockeye H www.blm.gov/ak/gfo Brushkana Creek Glennallen Denali Highway MP 104.5 D BLM campground Middle Sixty-Mile Mile 60 CO salmon, coho Stevens Village

Interior

Paxson Lake N BLM Public Information Center O e r D H s B P salmon, pink F r Campground y R i v put-in at Nome Creek Road off Steese Hy. MP 57; air pickup o S a R **Beaver Creek Fairbanks in White Mountains NRA, 60 mi. NE of Fairbanks k R E 222 W. 7th Ave, 1st floor

D H s B G D **Birch Creek Fairbanks in Steese NCA, 95 miles NE of Fairbanks put-in Steese Hy. MP 94.5, exit MP 140 and 147 u V CH salmon, chum l R I D H s l t B w k Anchorage, AK 9913 Black River Fairbanks 50 air miles north of Eagle air access only A R a H D H s n ** Fairbanks large drainage basin between Tok and Eagle BLM campgrounds at MP 49 & 82 SF sheefish N C Yukon Crossing (907) 271-5960 SCALE a I N D H v l ] R ** Glennallen Richardson Highway north of Glennallen also has steelhead trout; BLM campgrounds & boat launch 0 5 10 MILES Mile 56 Y U K O D H J v ] WF whitefish species R Paxson Lake Glennallen Richardson Highway MP 175 BLM campground & boat launch i To Fairbanks v Glennallen e 50 Miles *Adjacent lands managed by the State of Alaska **National Wild and Scenic Rivers managed by BLM B r C BLM Before you go While you’re there After you fish

License Requirements Public access Angler’s code of ethics Preserve Alaska’s Tread Lightly! and use The BLM would like everyone wild lands for recreational vehicles or to have a fun and safe fishing To fish in Alaska fresh waters, Before you recreate, check Keep in mind that established recreation equipment, experience for years to come. contact the Alaska Department land ownership through a fishing laws are designed to generations to and activities such as Please clean up after yourself of Fish and Game online at BLM office or BLM Public provide better fishing for every­ come. Leave No ATVs and watercraft when leaving fishing areas and www.admin.adfg.state.ak.us/li­ Information Center in Alaska. one, now and in the future. But Trace and Tread responsibly. Stay on campgrounds. Practice Leave cense/permit.html for sport fish­ In some places, you need there is more to fishing than Lightly! designated trails, follow no Trace® and Tread Lightly® F r e s h wat e r F i s h i n g ing licensing requirements and permission from private land obeying the letter of the law. trail or land use rules, cross principles. purchasing information. State owners or will need to use a Commit to respect Alaska’s The Leave No Trace Code of streams at designated crossing licensing requirements apply to public access road, trail, or a aquatic resources for quality Ethics: points, avoid sensitive areas, Prevent Spread of all sport fishing, personal-use, 17(b) easement across Native fishing opportunities now and • Plan Ahead and Prepare use existing campsites, pack in Aquatic Invasive Species and clam digging in Alaska. Corporation lands (look for in the future. • Travel and Camp on Durable what you pack out, keep dogs Take measures to prevent the markers) to get to where you Surfaces on leashes, avoid spooking ani­ spread of aquatic invasive Safety want to go. Contact the BLM The ethical angler: mals, and be prepared. plants. They cause serious, Public Information Center • supports conservation • Dispose of Waste Properly and people congregate irreversible harm to fish and Bears at 907-271-5960 and learn efforts • Leave What You Find Fisherman catching and releasing a arctic grayling. aquatic habitats in Alaska if along Alaska waterways dur­ more about 17(b) easements • properly recycles and • Minimize Campfire Impacts allowed to spread unchecked. ing the summer. Keep a clean at www.blm.gov/ak/st/lands_ Clip barbs off hooks on lures Always check State of Alaska Fishing Regulations guide for current disposes of trash Care for your catch camp. Minimize odors to avoid realty/17b_easements.html. • Respect Wildlife and flies; never use bait or attracting bears. Do not clean year bait, hook, and limit restrictions. They vary by water body. • practices safe angling and If you are keeping your fish, CLEAN-Rinse and remove • Be Considerate of Others Fishing for physically stainless steel hooks. Bring or cook fish or store other food boating proper handling begins as soon The BLM funds and operates a variety of fisheries and habitat visible mud, plant debris from Even though air temperatures Road vs. fly-in your catch in quickly so it is not near sleeping areas. Get a When to go challenged anglers as it is caught. The preferred management projects with the State of Alaska and federal agency boats, trailers, floatplanes, and are warm in the summer, • obeys fishing and boating exhausted. copy of Bear Facts from BLM Despite Alaska’s great size, method is to kill and immedi­ partners. This counting tower monitors returning salmon on the gear. Alaska waters are cold! Timing is everything in Alaska regulations ourdough Creek Camp­ Alaska offices or Alaska Public there are few roads in the S ately clean your fish in the field, Gulkana Wild and Scenic River. You may encounter such a facility Waders are recommended if sport fishing. For example, ground, located 33 miles north Keep fish in water. Cradle it Lands Information Centers or state. Popular road-accessible • respects rights of other then pack it in ice. This will where you are fishing, rafting or boating. Please do not touch or DRAIN-Empty coolers, bilge you want to get closer to the salmon return to freshwater of Glennallen, includes fishing gently under its belly and tail visit www.alaskabears.alaska. fishing spots are often crowded anglers keep the fish fresh until eating otherwise interfere with its operation. These facilities are used for pumps, buckets and wring action. during specific time periods. ramps, trails and other devel­ with your wet hands. Never gov. Know what to do in bear Contact BLM-Alaska or the in the summer, particularly on • respects rights of property touch the gills or squeeze the time. research, and monitoring, and provide vital information. out gear before leaving a encounters. Always stay alert the weekends. You may wish owners opments designed to provide waterbody. Alaska mosquitoes, flies and Alaska Department of Fish and accessible opportunities for fish. for bears while fishing and to plan a fly-in fishing trip to Fish should not touch one Take an auger or ice chisel, other are legendary. Game for detailed information • shares fishing knowledge Ice fishing fishing and hiking along the an ice skimmer, a tarp (for a DRY-Completely dry equipment camping in Alaska. Keep your about runs. a more remote area. Charter and skills Keep the fish underwater while another or be stored in melted Carry adequate repellent, head Gulkana River. When the lakes and rivers distance if you see a bear. operators can fly or take you to removing the hook quickly and ice water. Never carry or store windscreen), a heat source, and gear between visits to nets and bug jackets. • doesn’t release live bait into freeze, you don’t have to stop What to Bring uncrowded areas. gently with long-nosed pliers or a fish in plastic bags. It is illegal and a safety rope with you. fresh water systems. waters under State of Alaska regula­ fishing. The best time for ice Also bring extra clothes, boots Assume all waters carry para­ Catch and release a hemostat. If the fish is deeply References Prepare for anything and hope • promotes ethical sport tions to keep caught fish alive fishing is right after freezeup and gloves. Never release plants, fish, or sitic cysts of Giardia lambilia. hooked, cut the line off at the for a great day of fishing! Pack fishing In Alaska, many fish species on a stringer. while fish are still ctive.a Once other into a body of Boil water from lakes or streams hook. For licenses and sport safety gear including sun­ grow slowly or some may not the ice builds to a safe thick­ The leading cause of death in water. for at least five minutes before • supports conservation fishing regulations, screen, a first aid kit, hat, and reproduce annually. By releas­ ness, anglers seek Dolly Var- Alaska is cold water drowning. drinking. efforts by taking only the Point the fish into a slow contact the Alaska den, burbot, char, , Know all you can about cold life jackets (if boating). There fish needed ing your fish properly, you can current or gently move the fish Department of Fish and are few amenities at Alaska’s improve the odds of your fish sheefish, whitefish and trout. water safety and the signs of Alaska Even the sunniest of days can back and forth until the gills Game, Division of Sport rivers and lakes, bring litter surviving and help improve the hypothermia before you fish. end with a rapid drop in tem­ work properly. Release the fish Fish visit www.adfg. bags and portable toilet, while fishery for everyone. Before you ice fish, drill a test Learn factors for survival. perature, wind or rain. Carry when it attempts to swim away. alaska.gov practicing Leave no Trace® hole in the ice to check the protective clothing if venturing from thickness; 6 inches is a recom­ principles. Remember to pack Under State of Alaska regula­ Regulations require that you For information about away from your vehicle. Wear Crater Lake. mended minimum. Watch clothing layers, high-energy tions, it is illegal to remove a register with the Alaska STOP AQUATIC planning a sport fishing layers and avoid cotton. for overflows and be alert for food and extra drinking water. king salmon from the water for Department of Fish and Game HITCHHIKERS!™ trip to Alaska, timing of Check the current year fishing rotting ice as the spring thaw if you intend to leave a shelter Prevent the transport of nuisance species. Let someone know where photographic or other purposes runs, or river conditions, regulations for the waterway progresses. standing on the ice overnight in Clean all recreational equipment. you are going and when if you intend to release the fish. www.ProtectYourWaters.net contact any BLM office you plan on visiting to know Combining a fishing trip with the drainage. you will be back. Avoid Refer to specific king salmon (Left) Many lakes throughout in Alaska. what fishing tackle to use. a river float trip can enhance traveling alone. handling requirements for Alaska provide opportunities your recreational experience. Alaska rivers you intend to fish. (cover) Fisherman goes to grab for ice fishing. his catch on the . BLM Recreation Guide BLM/AK/GI-01/003+6500+912 Rev 2014 Common Freshwater Sportfish of Alaska Chinook Salmon ( tshawytscha)

Arctic Char ( alpinus) Burbot (Lota lota) Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (Oncorhynchus nerka) also known as King, Spring, Tyee and Blackmouth (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) also known as Alpine Char, Sea Trout, Arctic Salmon also known as Lawyer, Loache, Eel Pout, Methy, Lush, also known as Laker or Mackinaw also known as Rainbow also known as Reds, Kokanee also known as Pinks, Humpies, Humpback Lingcod, and Mud Shark. Physical Description: Irregular black spotting on the back Physical Description: Extremely variable color depending Physical Description: Lake trout have a deeply forked tail. Physical Description: Black spots on sides and back, and Physical Description: Sockeyes lack large spots on tail Physical Description: Smallest of the Pacific salmon in and dorsal fins and black pigment along the gum line. on size and habit; freshwater males have dark green backs Physical Description: A freshwater cod easily identified by Typically greenish grey in color, but can vary from silver to on dorsal and anal fins; reddish band along the side; smaller and back. They are generally smaller than Chinook, coho North America, pinks average 3 to 5 pounds and 20 to 25 Ocean chinook are bluish green on their back and silver to with silver or blue sides and scattered red or orange spots a whisker-like at the tip of the chin. Also has a large black. than the sea-run rainbows (see steelhead) or chums. Mature adults average 6 to 8 pounds. Spawners inches. They have silver sides and a bright steel blue on the white on their sides and belly. Then they spawn, they are (but some individuals completely lack spots). mouth, small scales, and dorsal and anal fins that extend turn brilliant red, with green heads and humped backs. top, with many large black spots. red, copper or black. Chinook typically measure 36 inches in from mid-body to the tail. Blotchy colors vary from olive/dark Habitat/Range: Lake trout have a broad northern and Habitat/Range: Freshwater lakes and streams from South- length and often exceed 30 pounds. Habitat/Range: Arctic char are found in lakes in the Brooks green to brownish green to gray, and most have some yellow southern distribution in Alaska, but they are absent from the east Alaska north to . Habitat/Range: Sockeye salmon range from the Klamath Habitat/Range: Pinks are widely distributed along the Range, Kigluaik Mountains, , Alaska blotches. Mature fish range from 18 to 45 inches and weigh Yukon River basin of central Alaska River in Oregon to Point Hope in northwestern Alaska. Sock- coast, with only a few in the Copper River delta and none in Habitat/Range: In Alaska, Chinook are abundant from the Peninsula, , Kodiak Island, and in a small 1 to 18 pounds. State Record: 42 pounds 3 ounces (1970) eyes can be found in the Gulkana, Klutina, Sinuk and Pilgrim the upper Copper River drainage. southeastern panhandle to the Yukon River. Major popula­ area of near Denali National Park. State Record: 47 pounds (1970) rivers, lakes and streams in , and on the tions return to the Yukon, Kuskokwim, Nushagak, Susitna, Habitat/Range: Burbot occupy most large, clear, and glacial . Largest sockeye salmon populations are State Record: 12 pounds 9 ounces (1974) Kenai, Copper, Alsek, Taku, and Stikine rivers. Important State Record: 27 pounds 6.5 ounces (2002) rivers as well as many lakes throughout most of Alaska. Other: Lake trout are susceptible to overfishing because in the Kvichak, Naknek, Ugashik, Egegik, and Nushagak riv- runs also occur in many smaller streams. However, burbot are absent from . The they have low reproductive potential, grow slowly, and are ers that flow into Alaska’s Bristol Bay. Other: Develop to maturity in only two years. Other: Arctic char are closely related to Dolly Varden, it’s largest sport fisheries for burbot are in the Tanana River and easily caught. Catch and release fishing is desirable, particu­ Rainbow Trout State Record: 97 pounds 4 ounces (1985) difficult to tell them apart. Can be anadromous or remain lakes in the upper Tanana, Upper Copper, and Upper Susitna larly for the spawners that weigh 5 to 20 pounds. State Record: 16 pounds (1974) permanently in freshwater. river drainages. Other: Yukon River spawners travel more than 2,000 river Other: Sockeyes return to their home stream after spending miles in 60 days to reach headwaters in the Yukon Territory. State Record: 24 pounds 12 ounces (1976) 1-4 years in the ocean. Kokanee are a landlocked, freshwa- They use stored body fats for energy instead of eating along Pink Salmon ter variety of sockeye. Up to 20 million sockeye are caught the way; possibly Alaska’s most highly prized sport fish. male, spawning in Bristol Bay each year.

Burbot

Sockeye Salmon female, spawning Arctic Char Chinook Salmon female, spawning

Dolly Varden

Lake Trout

Sheefish

Coho Salmon male, spawning Arctic Grayling Arctic ( Autumnalis) and (Coregonus Laurettae) Also known as White Trout, Whitefish

Physical Description: Both Arctic and Bering ciscoes have a metallic silver body with a brown to dark green back; pale, Northern Pike almost colorless fins, and no spots. Their teeth are on their tongue. They do not spawn in Alaska, but can spawn several times. They may reach 20 inches in length and can weigh up Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) to two pounds. also known as Dollies, Golden Fin, Sea Trout, and Red Spotted Trout Habitat/Range: are in the , lower reaches of the Colville River, and freshwater drainages east Generally mottled olive-brown color, Physical Description: Steelhead of the Sagavanirktok River and west of Point Barrow. Ber- but the sea variety tends to be dark blue or green on the Northern Pike (Esox lucius) Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) ing cisco are in the drainages of the Seward back with silver sides. Both varieties have a red side stripe also known as Northern, Pike, Jack Fish, Hammer Handle, also known as Steelies, Kelt Peninsula, , and Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers. and red, orange or yellow spots on its back and sides. Dolly Water Wolf Sheefish (Stendous leucichthys) Bering cisco migrate and have been observed 1,200 miles up Arctic Grayling ( arcticus) Vardens weigh an average of 2 to 3 pounds (anadromous Physical Description: Generally Steelhead’s top of the also known as Iconnu, Tarpon of the North, Shee the Yukon River and 600 miles up the . also known as Grayling varieties weigh up to 24 pounds). Physical Description: Long, flattened jaw with many rows Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) head, back, and upper sides are dark blue to green or brown of sharp teeth. Pike have a single towards their also known as Silver and its lower sides are silver, white or pale yellow with a Physical Description: Sheefish have a streamlined body. Other: The Arctic cisco is the most important commercial Physical Description: Distinguishing characteristic is its Habitat/Range: Dolly Varden are one of the most widely- tail. white to gray belly. Steelheads get a reddish band when They are silver with darkening on the back and a strong, and subsistence fish species for people of the North Slope large dorsal fin. Grayling are a wide array of colors, includ- distributed salmonids in Alaska. Found throughout coastal Physical Description: Bright silver with black spots on the they return to freshwater, making it difficult to distinguish extended lower jaw. villages. ing silver/purple iridescent colors. areas from Southeast Alaska across the and Habitat/Range: Range from the Alaska’s Interior to the Arc- back and upper end of tail fin and gray gums. Mature adults them from rainbow trout. the Bering Sea into the Beaufort Sea to the Mackenzie River tic coast, from the Canadian border to the Seward Peninsula, average 8-12 pounds and 24-30 inches long. Habitat/Range: South of the and north of Individual fish identification Habitat/Range: In Alaska, grayling have the largest natural in northern Canada. Dolly Varden also live in streams in and southwest to the Bristol Bay drainages. There is a small, Habitat/Range: Steelhead are found in the coastal streams in the Kuskokwim, Selawik-Kobuk, and Yukon range of any sport fish. They occupy nearly the entire state, Interior Alaska and the Brooks Range. isolated population near Yakutat. Northern Pike are consid- Habitat/Range: Coho are found in coastal waters of Alaska of Alaska, from Dixon Entrance northward, and west around river drainages. This poster is a brief introduction to the most commonly with the exception of the Aleutians, Kodiak Island, or South- ered invasive species in southern Alaska. from Southeast to Point Hope on the Chukchi Sea and in the the Gulf of Alaska down to Port Heiden and Cold Bay areas sought sport fish in Alaska. Material has been adapted from east Alaska (except for a few stocked lakes). State Record: 27 pounds 6 ounces (2002) Yukon River to the Alaska-Yukon border. Coho are extreme- on the . State Record: 53 pounds (1986) Game Fishes of Alaska by Laurie Weidlich, the Alaska Wild- State Record: 5 pounds 1 ounce (2008) State Record: 38 pounds 8 ounces (1991) ly adaptable and occur in nearly all accessible bodies of life Notebook series, and other publications of the Alaska Other: At one time there was a bounty on Dolly Varden, as fresh water in Alaska, from large trans-boundary watersheds State Record: 42 pounds 3 ounces (1970) Other: Largest whitefish and a unique trophy fish. Unlike Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish. Other: Grayling grow very slowly in northern environments. they eat young salmon in streams. They were once classi- Other: Relatively long-lived (greater than 20 years). Pikes to small tributaries. most Arctic species, sheefish have rapid growth rates and a They overwinter in deep holes in rivers and lakes. Their fied as a subspecies of arctic char, but are now considered a are sometimes called “water wolves” because of its aggres- Other: Steelhead are rainbow trout that spend part of their 50-pound spawning female can contain up to 40,000 eggs. Illustrations courtesy of Alaska Department of lifespan is 32 years. separate species. sive predatory habits. 26 pounds (1976) lives at sea. They will spawn more than once. Sheefish will live to spawn again. Fish and Game, used with permission. Coloration State Record: of fish will vary with sex and season.

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management in Alaska