Fishing Report: Stocked lakes bring opportunity and access to anglers

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Accessibility is one of the many reasons Alaska is a prime fishing state, and the number of stocked lakes just a short drive away from the center of the state’s largest city makes the opportunity even greater.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s William Jack Hernandez Hatchery is responsible for stocking more than 4 million fish of varying species across hundreds of bodies of water.

“As a co-worker says, we’re in the happiness business,” said Summer Woods-Tunney, ADF&G Sport Fish Stocking Coordinator. ”We provide this to diversify and provide angling opportunities for all Alaskans and non-residents.”

From rainbow trout to Arctic char, there are databases on Fish and Game’s website that can tell you when, where, what type and how many fish have been stocked – or not stocked – at specific locations.

“Trying to spread the love, trying to have enough species and fish out there available for fishing,” Woods-Tunney added. “Hopefully, also, we’re aiming to place fish in a biologically sound way to take pressure off our wild stocks.”

At Campbell Point Lake, Fisheries Technician Don Bee poured in more than 3,500 rainbow trout last week, just a few of the millions of fish he has stocked as a member of Fish and Game since 1977.

”Often when you get to the lake, it is like pulling up in an ice cream truck,” Bee said. “I’ll be 71 in a couple of days — long past normal retirement age — but I enjoy this and the hatchery crew makes me feel like I am making my time worthwhile to them.”

Updated regulations, guidelines and stocked lakes can be found here.

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