1. Where can I catch a salmon?
There is very little opportunity in the park to catch salmon. The best place for kings and reds is the Gulkana River.
2. What kind of salmon are in the park?
King (chinook) salmon, silver (coho) salmon and red (sockeye) salmon. Kokanee salmon are also found in Copper Lake.
3. What are Kokanee salmon?
Kokanee salmon are actually red salmon that spend all their life in fresh water. All Pacific salmon normally spawn and hatch in fresh water, go to the ocean for 1-5 years, and return to fresh water to complete their life cycles.
4. What other fish are found in the park?
Grayling, whitefish, Dolly Varden, lake trout, and rainbow/steelhead trout.
5. What kind of fish are stocked in the park?
Rainbow trout and silver salmon. The silver salmon are stocked in landlocked lakes, and are not able to go to the ocean. Landlocked silver salmon mature (2-5 years) and die just like their ocean-going relatives. Landlocked silver salmon do not generally spawn successfully.
6. Where can I catch rainbow trout?
Van and Skulpin lakes are stocked with rainbow trout. Wild stocks of rainbow trout are found in the Hanagita and Tebay Lakes. There are also steelhead trout in the Hanagita Lake system.
7. What are steelhead trout?
Steelhead trout are a strain of rainbow trout that goes to the ocean to mature, much like salmon. However, they do not die after they spawn.
8. What are those worms in some of the fish?
Probably a species of round or tape worm.
9. Are these worms dangerous? Poisonous? Can we get worms in our system from eating the fish?
As long as you cook the fish, there is no chance of these worms harming you.
10. Can I go dip netting for salmon?
Only if you are a resident of Alaska and have a permit. The permits are free.
11. Can I run a fishwheel?
Only if you are a resident of Alaska and have a permit. The permits are free.
12. Where did the idea of the fishwheel come from?
It was used extensively in the U.S., and was introduced to this area about 1912.
13. What are the limits for fish for the Copper River Area?
Generally the bag and possession limit is 10 grayling, 10 Dolly Varden, 10 rainbow trout, 10 lake trout (less than 20"), 3 lake trout over 20", 1 king salmon, 3 other salmon over 16", and 10 salmon under 16". For specific details, check the Sport Fish office in Glennallen and the regulations.
14. When will the salmon be in the stream?
Red Salmon: June - September
King Salmon: June - July
Steelhead and Silver Salmon: September - November
15. What do I use for bait to catch fish?
Dolly Varden: eggs, corn, flies, small lures
Grayling: eggs, corn, flies, small lures
Lake Trout: lures
Rainbow Trout/Steelhead: egg clusters, lures, flies
King Salmon: egg clusters, lures and streamer flies
Red Salmon: streamer flies
Silver Salmon: lures and streamer flies
Burbot: bait such as whitefish flesh
16. Do salmon die after they spawn?
Yes.
17. When do the salmon spawn?
Reds and Kings: generally in summer and fall
Silvers: fall and early winter
18. When do steelhead trout spawn?
In the Copper River drainage, the adult steelhead come up in the fall and lay over until spring. Then they spawn and the adults return to the ocean. In other areas they come up in the spring, spawn and return to the ocean.
19. When do the young salmon go to the ocean?
Young salmon may spend from 1-3 years in fresh water. Adult salmon spend 1-4 years in the ocean before returning to spawn.
20. Do the adult salmon return to the same place that they were hatched?
Yes.
21. Where can't we fish?
All the lakes and streams in the Park are open.
22. What is the season?
Jan. 1-Dec. 31.
23. How big do the various species of fish get?
Grayling: Up to 17 inches - generally 9-12 inches
Lake Trout: Up to 20 pounds; generally 3-8 pounds
Rainbow Trout Up to 22 inches; generally 10-18 inches
Steelhead: Up to 32 inches; Average about 26 inches
King Salmon: Up to 45 pounds
Red Salmon: Up to 8 pounds
Silver Salmon: Up to 12 pounds
Burbot: Up to 20 pounds; average about 6 pounds
Dolly Varden: Up to 20 inches; generally 6-14 inches
Landlocked Silver Salmon: Up to 16 inches; generally about 12 inches
24. Does the Fish and Game stock lakes in the Park?
Yes. Sculpin, Van, Strelna lakes with rainbow trout and silver salmon.
25. How do I qualify for a resident fishing and hunting license?
Prior to buying a fishing license, you must have maintained a permanent place of abode within the state of Alaska for 12 consecutive months, and have continually maintained your voting residence in the state.
26. Are the rivers in this area dangerous?
All the rivers, especially the larger ones, are dangerous. The water is very cold and a person cannot last very long in the water. The speed of the current in most rivers averages about 11 mph.
27. How many salmon come up the Copper River each year?
Reds: 550,000
Kings: 15,000
Silvers: 15,000
28. How many kinds of salmon are there in Alaksa?
There are 5 kinds: king (chinook), silver (coho), red (sockeye), pink (humpies), and chums (dog).
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