5 AAC 52.023. Special provisions for seasons, bag, possession, and size limits, and methods and means for the Upper Copper River and Upper Susitna River Area

Unless otherwise specified by an emergency order issued under AS 16.05.060 , the following are special provisions to the seasons, bag, possession, and size limits, and methods and means provisions under 5 AAC 52.022 for the Upper Copper River and Upper Susitna River Area:

(1) in Ahtell Creek, sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be taken or possessed;

(2) in Chokosna River, sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be taken or possessed;

(3) in the Copper River drainage, in that portion of the mainstem of the Copper River downstream from the confluence of the Copper River and the Slana River,

(A) bait and artificial lures may be used;

(B) the bag and possession limit for burbot is five fish; burbot may be taken with more than one line and hook only under the following conditions:

(i) with sport fishing gear, as defined in 5 AAC 75.020, ice fishing gear, as defined in 5 AAC 75.021, or a set line, as defined in 5 AAC 75.995;

(ii) the aggregate number of hooks may not exceed five hooks;

(iii) only single hooks with a gap that does not exceed three-fourths inch between the point and shank, may be used;

(iv) if using a set line, each hook must be set to rest on the bottom, and each line must be identified with the angler's name and address on a tag or label attached to the shoreward end of the line or above the ice; unattended set lines are prohibited and must be physically inspected at least once every 24 hours;

(4) in the Copper River drainage, in that portion of the flowing waters of the Copper River tributaries downstream of the Richardson Highway and Glenn Highway (Tok cutoff) on the west bank tributaries and the flowing waters of the east bank tributaries, excluding the Gulkana River, set lines with bait may be used;

(5) in Crosswind Lake,

(A) the bag and possession limit for lake trout 24 inches or greater in length is one fish;

(B) lake trout less than 24 inches in length may not be retained or possessed and must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(6) in Fish Creek (tributary to Mentasta Lake), sport fishing for salmon is closed;

(7) in all clearwater tributaries of the Gakona River, sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be taken or possessed;

(8) in the Gilahina River, sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be taken or possessed;

(9) in the Gulkana River drainage,

(A) from June 1 - July 31, only single-hook, artificial flies, with a gap that does not exceed three-quarters inch between the point and shank, may be used in that portion of the Gulkana River downstream from the Richardson Highway Bridge to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 500 yards downstream of the confluence with the Copper River; additional weight may only be used 18 inches or more ahead of the fly;

(B) from June 1 - July 19, bait and artificial lures may be used in that portion of the mainstem of the Gulkana River upstream from the Richardson Highway Bridge to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately at an unnamed creek flowing into the Gulkana River about seven and one-half miles upstream from the confluence with the West Fork of the Gulkana River;

(C) in waters upstream of Paxson Lake, and those waters of Paxson Lake within a 100-yard radius of the mouth of the East Fork at the north end of Paxson Lake, upstream to Summit Lake,

(i) sport fishing for salmon is closed; salmon may not be taken or possessed;

(ii) rainbow/steelhead trout may not be retained or possessed; all rainbow/steelhead trout caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(iii) the bag and possession limit for Arctic grayling is two fish, of which only one may be 14 inches or greater in length;

(D) in all flowing waters from 100 yards upstream from the narrows at the Paxson Lake outlet downstream to the confluence with the Middle Fork,

(i) sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be taken or possessed;

(ii) salmon, other than king salmon, may be taken only from September 10 - December 31; the bag and possession limit for salmon, other than king salmon, greater than 16 inches in length is three fish; the bag and possession limit for salmon other than king salmon, 16 inches or less in length is 10 fish;

(iii) rainbow/steelhead trout may not be retained or possessed; all rainbow/steelhead trout caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(iv) the bag and possession limit for Arctic grayling is five fish, of which only one may be 14 inches or greater in length;

(E) in all waters of the Middle Fork of the Gulkana River from the outlet of Dickey Lake to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately three miles downstream, including Hungry Hollow Creek and Twelvemile Creek,

(i) sport fishing is allowed only from June 15 - April 14, except that sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be taken or possessed and must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(ii) rainbow/steelhead trout may not be retained or possessed; all rainbow/steelhead trout caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(iii) the bag and possession limit for Arctic grayling is five fish, of which only one may be 14 inches or greater in length;

(F) in all other waters of the Middle Fork of the Gulkana River not specified in (E) of this paragraph,

(i) sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be taken or possessed and must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(ii) rainbow/steelhead trout may not be retained or possessed; all rainbow/steelhead trout caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(iii) the bag and possession limit for Arctic grayling is five fish, of which only one may be 14 inches or greater in length;

(G) all waters downstream of the confluence of the Middle Fork,

(i) rainbow/steelhead trout may not be retained or possessed; all rainbow/steelhead trout caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(ii) the bag and possession limit for Arctic grayling is five fish, of which only one may be 14 inches or greater in length;

(H) in all flowing waters of the West Fork of the Gulkana River upstream of an ADF&G regulatory marker located one-half mile upstream of the confluence of the West Fork and mainstem of the Gulkana River,

(i) salmon, other than king salmon, may be taken from January 1 - July 31, with a bag and possession limit of three fish for salmon, other than king salmon, greater than 16 inches in length and a bag and possession limit for salmon, other than king salmon, of 10 fish, 16 inches or less in length;

(ii) sockeye salmon may be taken from August 1 - December 31, with a bag and possession limit of six fish;

(iii) rainbow/steelhead trout may not be retained or possessed; all rainbow/steelhead trout caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(iv) the bag and possession limit for Arctic grayling is five fish, of which only one may be 14 inches or greater in length;

(10) in Hudson Lake, the bag and possession for burbot is two fish, with no size limit;

(11) in Indian Creek, sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be taken or possessed;

(12) in the Klutina River drainage, bait and artificial lures may be used;

(A) in Klutina Lake,

(i) sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be taken or possessed;

(ii) salmon, other than king salmon, may be taken only from January 1 - July 19, with a bag and possession limit of three fish greater than 16 inches in length, and a bag and possession limit of 10 fish 16 inches or less in length;

(B) in all flowing waters upstream of Klutina Lake,

(i) sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be taken or possessed;

(C) all flowing waters upstream of the ADF&G regulatory markers located at Mile 19.2 on the Klutina Lake Road, excluding Manker Creek, salmon, other than king salmon, may be taken only from January 1 - July 19, with a bag and possession limit of three fish greater than l6 inches in length, and a bag and possession limit of 10 fish 16 inches or less in length;

(D) in Manker Creek,

(i) sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be taken or possessed;

(E) in all flowing waters downstream of the ADF&G regulatory markers located at Mile 19.2 on the Klutina Lake Road, king salmon may be taken only from January 1 - July 31, with a bag and possession limit of one fish 20 inches or greater in length, and a bag and possession limit of 10 fish less than 20 inches in length;

(F) in all other lakes, salmon, other than king salmon, may be taken only from January 1 - July 19, with a bag and possession limit of three fish greater than 16 inches in length, and a bag and possession limit of 10 fish 16 inches or less in length;

(13) in Lake Louise,

(A) repealed 3/30/2006;

(B) repealed 3/30/2006;

(D) the bag and possession limit for lake trout is one fish 24 inches or greater in length; lake trout less than 24 inches in length may not be taken or possessed and must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(14) in the Mendeltna Creek drainage,

(A) in all flowing waters, including all waters within one-quarter mile of Mendeltna Creek's confluence with Tazlina lake,

(i) sport fishing for salmon is closed; salmon may not be taken or possessed;

(ii) Arctic grayling may be taken only from June 1 - March 31, with a bag and possession limit of two fish, which must be greater than 12 inches in length;

(B) in all lakes, sport fishing for salmon is closed; salmon may not be taken or possessed;

(15) in Moose Lake,

(A) sport fishing for salmon is closed; salmon may not be taken or possessed;

(B) the bag and possession limit for burbot is two fish, with no size limit;

(16) in Natat Creek, and the unnamed creek immediately upstream from Natat Creek that flows into the Slana River from the southeast, sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be taken or possessed;

(17) in Our Creek,

(A) Arctic grayling may be taken only from June 1 - March 31, with a bag and possession limit of two fish;

(B) the bag and possession limit for burbot is two fish, with no size limit;

(18) in Paxson Lake,

(A) in the waters 100 yards upstream from the narrows at the lake outlet to within a 100-yard radius of the mouth of the East Fork of the Gulkana River at the north end of Paxson Lake,

(i) sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be taken or possessed;

(ii) salmon, other than king salmon, may be taken only from July 20 - December 31, with a bag and possession limit of three fish greater than 16 inches in length, and a bag and possession limit of 10 fish 16 inches or less in length;

(iii) rainbow/steelhead trout may not be retained or possessed; all rainbow/steelhead trout caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(iv) the bag and possession limit for Arctic grayling is five fish, of which only one may be 14 inches or greater in length;

(v) the bag and possession limit for lake trout is one fish, with no size limit;

(B) in the remainder of Paxson Lake, not specified in (A) of this paragraph,

(i) sport fishing for salmon is closed; salmon may not be taken or possessed;

(ii) rainbow/steelhead trout may not be retained or possessed; all rainbow/steelhead trout caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(iii) the bag and possession limit for Arctic grayling is five fish, of which only one may be 14 inches or greater in length;

(iv) the bag and possession limit for lake trout is one fish, with no size limit;

(19) in the Slana River, whitefish may be taken using a spear or a bow and arrow from January 1 - December 31;

(20) in the Summit Lake drainage,

(A) in Summit Lake from its outlet to within a 100-yard radius of the mouth of Gunn Creek,

(i) sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be taken or possessed;

(iii) rainbow/steelhead trout may not be retained or possessed; all rainbow/steelhead trout caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(iv) the bag and possession limit for burbot is two fish, with no size limit;

(v) the bag and possession limit for Arctic grayling is two fish, of which only one may be 14 inches or greater in length;

(vi) the bag and possession limit for lake trout is one fish, with no size limit;

(B) in all waters of the Gunn Creek drainage and all waters within a 100-yard radius of the mouth of Gunn Creek at Summit Lake,

(i) sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be taken or possessed;

(ii) salmon, other than king salmon, may be taken only from August 1 - December 31, with a bag and possession limit of three fish greater than 16 inches in length, and a bag and possession limit of 10 fish 16 inches or less in length;

(iii) rainbow/steelhead trout may not be retained or possessed; all rainbow/steelhead trout caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(iv) the bag and possession limit for burbot is two fish, with no size limit;

(v) the bag and possession limit for Arctic grayling is two fish, of which only one may be 14 inches or greater in length;

(vi) the bag and possession limit for lake trout is one fish, with no size limit;

(21) in Susitna Lake,

(A) the bag and possession limit for burbot is two fish, with no size limit;

(B) the bag and possession limit for lake trout is one fish 24 inches or greater in length; lake trout less than 24 inches in length may not be taken or possessed and must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(22) in the Tazlina River drainage,

(A) in all flowing waters entering Tazlina Lake, except for a quarter-mile radius around the mouth of Kiana Creek, sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be retained or possessed;

(B) in Moose Creek, artificial lures and bait may be used;

(23) in the Tebay River drainage,

(A) in Summit Lake,

(i) sport fishing is allowed only from July 1 - May 31;

(ii) the bag and possession limit for rainbow/steelhead trout is 10 fish, which must be 12 inches or less in length;

(B) in the Hanagita River drainage, and the Tebay River downstream from the confluence with the Hanagita River, rainbow/steelhead trout may not be retained or possessed and must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(24) in Tolsona Lake,

(A) burbot may not be taken or possessed and must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(B) the bag and possession limit for rainbow/steelhead trout is 10 fish, of which only one may be 20 inches or greater in length;

(25) in the Tonsina River drainage,

(A) in all flowing waters downstream from the outlet of Tonsina Lake, bait and artificial lures may be used;

(B) in Tonsina Lake, sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be retained or possessed;

(C) in all flowing waters entering into Tonsina Lake, sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be retained or possessed;

(D) in all tributaries to Tonsina River, including Little Tonsina River and Bernard Creek, and all flowing waters within a one quarter-mile radius of their confluence with the Tonsina River, sport fishing for king salmon is closed; king salmon may not be retained or possessed;

(26) in Tyone Lake,

(A) repealed 3/30/2006;

(B) repealed 3/30/2006;

(27) in the Tyone River drainage,

(A) in all flowing waters,

(i) repealed 3/30/2006;

(ii) the bag and possession limit for burbot is two fish, with no size limit;

(B) in all lakes,

(i) repealed 3/30/2006;

(ii) repealed 3/30/2006;

(iii) repealed 3/30/2006;

(iv) the bag and possession limit for burbot is two fish, with no size limit;

(28) in stocked lakes, the bag and possession limit for rainbow/steelhead trout, Arctic char/Dolly Varden, landlocked salmon, and Arctic grayling is 10 fish in combination, of which only one may be greater than 18 inches in length; for the purposes of this paragraph "stocked lakes" include Arizona Lake, Buffalo Lake, Connor Lake, Crater Lake, Dick Lake, DJ Lake, Gergie Lake, John Lake, Junction Lake, Little Crater Lake, Little Junction Lake, North Jans Lake, Old Road Lake, Peanut Lake, Pippin Lake, Round Lake, Ryan Lake, Sculpin Lake, Silver Lake, Strelna Lake, South Jans Lake, Squirrel Creek Pit Lake, Tex Smith Lake, Three Mile Lake, Tolsona Mountain Lake, Town Lake, Two Mile Lake, and Van Lake.

(29) in the Susitna River drainage, upstream from the confluence of the Oshetna River, sport fishing for salmon is closed; salmon may not be retained or possessed; all salmon caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed.

History: Eff. 5/11/2003, Register 166; am 5/19/2004, Register 170; am 3/30/2006, Register 177

Authority: AS 16.05.251

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