1. Where can I catch a salmon?

2. What kind of salmon are in the Park?

• All 5 species of Pacific salmon are found within the Park; king (chinook) salmon, silver (coho) salmon, red (sockeye) salmon, pink (humpy) salmon and chum (dog) salmon. Kokanee salmon are also found in Copper Lake.
• Click HERE for a salmon I.D. Poster

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 the life cycle.

4. What other fish are found in the Park?

• Grayling, whitefish, Dolly Varden, lake trout, rainbow/steelhead trout, cutthroat trout, sculpin, burbot, lamprey, smelts, suckers.

5. What kind of fish are stocked in the Park?

• The State of Alaska has traditionally stocked the Rainbow trout and silver salmon*. The silver salmon are stocked in landlocked lakes. They 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. *The National Park Service does not stock any fish species in the park.

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 rear (catadromous), 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?

• There is no chance of these worms harming a human being when you cook the fish properly.

10. Can I go dip netting for salmon?

• Only if you are a resident of the state and have the proper subsistence permit. The permit is free.

11. Can I run a fishwheel?

• Same as for dip netting..

12. Where did the idea of the fishwheel come from?

• It was used extensively in the U.S. and was introduced to this are 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". Check the Sport Fish office in Glennallen and the State regulations for specific details.

14. What sport fishing area is this?

• Upper Copper - Upper Susitna River area, and Arctic-Yukon Area. Click here for a regulation book.

15. When will the salmon be in the stream?

• Red Salmon: June - September
• King Salmon: June - July
• Steelhead and Silver Salmon: September - November
• Click for Salmon ID Poster

16. 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

17. Do salmon really die after they spawn?

• Yes.

18. When do the salmon spawn?

• Reds and Kings: generally in summer and fall
• Silvers: fall and early winter

19. When do steelhead trout spawn?

• In the Copper River drainage the adult steelhead com 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.

20. 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.

21. Do the adult salmon return to the same place that they were hatched?

• Yes

22. Where can't we fish?

• All lakes and streams in the Park are open.

23. What is the season?

• Jan. 1 - Dec. 31

24. How big do the various species of fish get?

• Grayling: Up to 17" - generally 9-12"
• Lake Trout: Up to 20# - generally 3-8#
• Rainbow Trout Up to 22" - generally 10-18"
• Steelhead: Up to 32" - Average about 26"
• King Salmon: Up to 45#
• Red Salmon: up to 8#
• Silver Salmon: up to 12#
• Burbot: Up to 20# - Average about 6#
• Dolly Varden: Up to 20" - generally 6-14"
• Landlocked Silver Salmon: up to 16" - generally about 12"

25. Does the Fish and Game stock lakes in the Park?

• Yes. Sculpin, Van, Strelna lakes with rainbow trout and silver salmon.

26. How do I qualify for a resident fishing and hunting license?

• You must have maintained a permanent place of abode within the state for 12 consecutive months and continually maintained your voting residence in the state prior to buying a resident license.

27. 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. Most rivers average about 11 mph.

28. How many salmon come up the Copper River each year?

• Based on a sonar located in the lower Copper River its know that since 1978 the average escapement of sockeye is 600,000.

• Click HERE for current sonar counts

29. How many kinds of salmon are there in Alaska?

• There are 5 kinds: Kind (Chinook), silver (coho), red (sockeye), pink (humpies), and chums (dog).

30. What is the difference between a Hooligan and a Eulachon?

• There is no difference they are the same fish but have two different names to identify them by.