Fishing on Prince of Wales Island

Prince of Wales Island and surrounding marine waters offer an excellent opportunity for bothsaltwater and freshwater Free Fishing Games. The extensive road system provides access to coastalareas, as well as many streams, rivers, and lakes.

Almost all fish present in the waters of Prince of Wales Island are "wild." However, there are acouple of hatchery programs on the island.

The Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association produces several runs of hatchery-bredfish. Coho salmon return during June/July to the short section of stream at the Neck Lake outlet, onthe northeastern portion of the island, near Whale Pass. Luck Falls Sockeye salmon also return tothis area. Summer-run chum salmon return to the Kendrick Bay area near the southeastern cornerof Prince of Wales Island.

The Prince of Wales Hatchery Association has a hatchery facility near Klawock. It produces bothcoho and sockeye salmon that return to the Klawock River.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulates all sport fishing. Be sure to check theregulations and purchase the necessary license before you fish. You can buy a license online fromAlaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), or purchase one at a tackle shop or convenience storein one of the larger communities. Often lodges and outfitter and guides do sell licenses. Note: Somestores close on Sunday, or are only open between 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, so plan accordingly.

Don'tforgetyourcamera,and remember to dress in layers with clothing, as hypothermia. The 859ci HD Combo incorporates asuper bright LED backlit 7" display. This wide screen 800H x 480V, 16: 9 Color provides bright,crystal-clear images for simple viewing in harsh sunlight. The DualBeam PLUS sonar withSwitchFire has 4000 watts PTP power output, GPS Chartplotting with built in Humminbird fishfinderContourXD map and Ethnernet Networking capabilities. Features a unit cover, dual card reader andImmediate Access preset buttons.can kill. Rain gear is a must, and hip boots and chest wadersshould be considered when fishing rivers and streams. When fishing in freshwater make sure youhave insect repellent and be aware of bears.

Please help us protect aquatic resources for future generations to enjoy and use by only harvestingwhat you really need.

Please don't litter, and remember "pack it in, pack it out."The Alaskan Office of Subsistence Management website has information on current Subsistenceregulations and use determinations for the harvest of fish and shellfish on federal public lands andwaters in Alaska by local residents.

Coho (silver) salmon, sockeye (red) salmon, pink (humpy) salmon, and chum (dog) salmon arepresent in freshwater, along with steelhead, rainbow and cutthroat trout, and Dolly Varden char.

King salmon do not spawn in streams or rivers on the island, but occasionally do stray into them.Most of the drainages on Prince of Wales Island contain spawning runs of either coho, pink, or chumsalmon, as well as cutthroat trout, and Dolly Varden char.

Steelhead(searunrainbowtr

out) and sockeye salmon are often present in drainages that have lakes. Generally, fish that peoplecatch and call rainbow trout are really young steelhead that migrate to saltwater. Barbecuesshouldn�t end up being employed

on boats - hot charcoal offers off

dangerous levels of CO as well as

blown embers could set the boat

alight.

� Maintain cabin ventilation obvious to be able to

prevent the construct -up of toxic CO.

� Attempt to maintain fabrics far from

cooking hobs to avoid all of them

from catching fire.

� Verify the actual flues involving coal and wood

burning stoves with regard to indications of leaks

and blockages.

� Merely utilize the gasoline recommended

by your heater manufacturer.

Other kinds could burn off also hot.

� Dispose associated with embers carefully.

If they�re still warm they might

cause any fire as well as build-up of CO.

� Ensure almost all hobs have got shut-off

or isolation valvesResident, freshwater dwelling rainbow trout are found upstream of falls that arebarriers to sea run fish and sometimes found in lakes.

Thorne RiverFreshwater fish species are typically sought after from March through Octoberdepending on the species. The timing of fish runs can vary from drainage to drainage, and from yearto year depending on rainfall and streamflow levels. Some drainages may deviate as much as amonth on either side of this schedule.

Most communities have lodge operations or outfitter and guide services for freshwater fishing, andinformation can be http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/regulations/ found on the internet.For the do-i--yourself angler, there are the choices of bringing your own vehicle to the island on the ferry system,or renting a vehicle on the island to explore the many rivers, streams, and lakes. Road turnoutsalong streams and rivers often have unimproved, primative trails leading to fishing holes. You couldbring your own canoe or kayak to fish from, or rent one in the larger communities. Forest Servicerental cabins are typically located on lakes, and a john boat with oars is generally included in therental fee.

Lures are generally used to catch salmon, trout, and char in freshwater. The use of bait is allowedonly from September 15 to November 15. Only unbaited (no scents), artificial lures may be usedduring the remainder of the year. In fall-run steelhead drainages and high-use cutthroat trout lakes,only unbaited, artificial lures may be used year-round; bait is prohibited.Spin fishing

Suggested gear:Species Rod Line weight Lures

Salmon  Medium to medium heavy 10-12 lb Size 3-5 spinners,>¼ oz spoonsSteelhead  Medium to medium light 8-10 lb Size 2-3 spinners,1/8-¼ oz spoonsTrout, char  Light 4-8 lb Size 0-2 spinners,¼ oz spoonsFly fishing

Suggested gear:Species Rod FliesSalmon   8-9 weight   Brightly colored, fluorescent, anddark colored flies (size 2/0-4)Steelhead   8-9 weight   Brightly colored, fluorescent, anddark colored flies (size 4-8)Trout, char   5-6 weight   Brightly colored to dark flies(size >10)

Sockeye salmon are notoriously closed-mouthed; however, smaller lures and flies will draw strikesfrom these finicky fish. Fly patterns for salmon, trout, and char can be found in numerous books andon the internet.

Whichever method you use to catch a salmon, trout, or char, you should consider having anadequate supply of tackle with you, as lures will be lost, and tackle shops may be great distancesfrom where you are fishing.

Marine waters surrounding Prince of Wales Island support all five species of Pacific salmon as wellas halibut, lingcod and rockfish. Common shellfish are Dungeness crabs and shrimp, with theoccasional Tanner or King crab found in the crab pot. Most communities have either skiff rentals, or

lodge and charter operations that offer saltwater day trips. Another option might be to try fishingfrom the shoreline along the coast or from a kayak. Saltwater fish species are usually pursued fromMay through September depending on the species. Dungeness crab and shrimp are taken year-round.

SaltwaterfishingforcohoM

ost anglers catch salmon in salt water while trolling bait (usually pacific herring). Another techniqueis to find a school of salmon and work a lightly weighted jig or bait in the water column using an up-and-down motion called "mooching." Fishing for halibut typically involves "soaking" a bait or jigginga heavier weighted lure just off the bottom of the sea floor. Lingcod and rockfish are also caught thisway, but often rockfish will intercept the bait or jig as it is dropping to the sea floor.