Alaska Outdoor Digest

The source for important, timely news on hunting, fishing and the outdoors in Alaska.

Most Valley king fisheries closed or limited
2018 King Salmon Sport Fishing Catch-and-Release Only for Deshka and Yentna rivers and Remaining Susitna River Drainage Closed (Palmer) – In favor of protecting returning king salmon and increased fishing opportunities in the future, Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing regulation restrictions... Read more
Game Fish Advisory Committee meetings this month, elections next
There’s often considerable debate about the mix of sport fishermen versus commercial fishermen on the state’s Advisory Committees.  This week is an ideal time for all parties to have a say in the composition of their local boards, by attending and voting at the annual election meetings listed below.... Read more
Kenai king salmon forecast down significantly for 2018
ADF&G says run falls within escapement goals Alaska Department of Fish and Game is forecasting Kenai king salmon runs to be down markedly from summer’s very encouraging runs, the best in at least a decade on the most popular salmon fishery in Alaska. The department report cautioned that a... Read more
Meeting on removal of pike from Tote Road
(Soldotna) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) invites you to attend a public meeting about a proposed project to remove invasive northern pike from a cluster of lakes in the Tote Road area South of Soldotna. The ADF&G project biologist, the area sport fishery manager, and the... Read more
Kids ice fishing events this month
The Alaska Sports Fishing Association is recruiting volunteers to held ADF&G hold two kids ice fishing events. Dates and times are:  Mirror Lake – Feb. 7 8:45am-2:45pm (kids there fishing from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.) Jewell Lake – Feb. 12–16 -Feb. 12 will just be drilling holes from 10:00-2:00PM -Feb. 13–16 the kids fish from 10:00am–2:00pm but we will be... Read more
Rockfish deep water release, limits coming for SE
As Board of Fish testimony continues in Sitka this week, the focus shifts to new rules for rockfish. The tasty bottom fish have received dramatically more fishing pressure in the past decade as tighter limits on charter halibut and salmon have sent fishermen looking for new options. Rockfish are... Read more
Still Cold Open ice fishing tourney kicks off
Today is the deadline to enter a new ice fishing tournament series that’s grabbing lots of attention from Valley and Anchorage anglers.  First day of fishing will be Saturday on Big Lake. Ice fishing has always been a favorite winter pasttime for winter Alaskans who don’t want to wait... Read more
Board of Fish asking for proposals to change regs
Proposal deadline April 10, 2018. The Alaska Board of Fisheries (board) is issuing its 2018/2019 Call for Proposals for changes in the subsistence, personal use, sport, guided sport, and commercial fishing regulations for the Bristol Bay finfish, Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim finfish, Alaska Peninsula-Aleutian Islands-Chignik finfish, and Statewide finfish general provisions. The... Read more
ADF&G predicts horrific Southeast king salmon runs for 2018
There’ll be nothing but coal in the stockings for Southeast Alaska salmon fishermen this year. Friday’s update on forecast king salmon runs is bad, really bad or just terrible, depending on the drainage.  This portends little or no fishing opportunity for SE anglers in 2018. Here’s the release from Alaska... Read more
Advisory meetings good start to 2018 fishing plans
While most anglers are either digging the ice augers or putting off thinking about fishing until April, there are some important discussions this month that could affect Alaska fishing for the coming season. A number of fish and game advisory committees will meet this month to discuss and consider... Read more