Alaska Fishing: Sitka Management Area (Remote Freshwater Fishing)map of Sitka Management District

The Sitka Management Area includes Baranof Island, Kruzof Island (and all islands west of Baranof) along with the western portion of Chichagof Island.

Baranof Island is a throwback to ancient times when it was one of a few pockets of fish and wildlife habitat poking up through a vast ice sheet that covered all of southeast Alaska. It's freshwater fisheries developed over thousands of years, and today, as your float plane soars through the crystal-clear blue sky you can see dozens of clear lakes nestled in spruce forests below, just waiting for the swish of your line through the air and the easy tempo of a day spent plying the shallows for rainbows, cutthroat trout, brook trout and grayling. The outflow of some of these lakes also hosts runs of king, sockeye, pink and chum salmon, along with steelhead, according to the seasons.

 Brook trout caught by Kellan S of Sitka

 

The Sitka Management Area is a large area consisting of the entirety of Baranof and Yakobi islands, along with the western portion of Chicagof Island. Freshwater fishing opportunities in this area are too numerous to mention, so we will focus on the major attractions in this section. These areas are typically accessed via float plane out of Sitka. 

Freshwater fishing map of Baranof Island, Alaska

The remote freshwater fishing opportunities out of Sitka are numerous and they offer opportunities at a variety of freshwater and anadromous species. Access is typically via floatplane out of Sitka, but in some cases boat access is possible. Here is a sampling of some of the opportunities.

Key to Amenities:

cabin icon = cabin

boat icon = boat

Yakobi Island

1. Surge Lake. Species: Sockeye, silver, pink and chum salmon, steelhead, cutthroat and rainbow trout, Dolly Varden. Access: Via floatplane 79 miles from Sitka.

Chichagof Island

2. Goulding Lake. Species: Cutthroat, Dolly Varden. Access: Via floatplane 60 miles northwest of Sitka.
Amenities: cabin icon boat icon
3. Klag Bay. Species: Sockeye salmon, cutthroat and rainbow trout, Dolly Varden. Access: Via floatplane or boat 45 miles north of Sitka. Note: There’s a weir at the outflow of Klag Lake, which is monitored by the Sitka tribe in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the US Forest Service, for the purpose of monitoring the sockeye run for this important sport and subsistence fishery.
4. Ford Arm Lake / River. Species: Sockeye, silver, pink and chum salmon, steelhead, cutthroat and rainbow trout, Dolly Varden. Access: Floatplane 45 miles north of Sitka, or by boat. The lake is a 1.5-mile hike from the beach.
Amenities: cabin icon
5. Suloia Lake. Species: Dolly Varden, rainbow trout. Access: Via floatplane 30 miles northeast of Sitka, or by boat to Suloia Bay and hiking a half mile to the lake.
Amenities: cabin icon boat icon
6. Sitkoh Lake / Creek. Species: Sockeye, silver, pink and chum salmon, steelhead, cutthroat and rainbow trout, Dolly Varden. Access: Via floatplane 30 miles northeast of Sitka, followed by a 4.3 mile hike up the creek to the lake. This is one of the best ways to fish the creek for salmon and steelhead. Alternatively, land at the lake and hike down.
Amenities:cabin icon boat icon

Baranof Island

7. Lake Eva. Species: Sockeye, silver, pink and chum salmon, steelhead, cutthroat and rainbow trout, Dolly Varden. Access: Via floatplane 27 miles northeast of Sitka.
Amenities: cabin icon boat icon
8. Little Lake Eva. Species: Cutthroat, Dolly Varden. Access: Via floatplane 25.7 miles northeast of Sitka.
9. Nakwasina River. Species: Silver and pink salmon, cutthroat, Dolly Varden. Access: Boat 20 miles north from Sitka. Lower two miles can be walked from the mouth.
10. Katlian River. Species: Silver and pink salmon, cutthroat, Dolly Varden. Access: Boat, 15 miles north of Sitka.
11. Sitka Sound. Species: King, silver, sockeye, pink and chum salmon, halibut, rockfish, ling cod. Access: Boat out of Sitka.
12. Baranof Lake. Species: Cutthroat and rainbow trout, Dolly Varden. Access: Floatplane 16.5 miles from Sitka, or by boat to the community of Baranof Warm Springs. Notes: Upper Baranof Lake has a cabin located on the southwest side, near the Baranof River. The cabin is very popular, so reserve it well in advance. The outlet of Baranof Lake consists of a whitewater cataract that enters Warm Springs Bay at the community of Baranof Warm Springs. The community sits at the site of seven warm water springs that are very popular in the area and are available for public use.
Amenities: cabin icon
13. Salmon Lake. Species: Sockeye, silver, pink and chum salmon, steelhead, cutthroat, Dolly Varden. Access: Short floatplane ride from Sitka, or 11-mile boat ride, followed by a 1.5 mile hike from Silver Bay.
Amenities: cabin icon boat icon
14. Redoubt Lake. Species: Sockeye, silver, pink and chum salmon, steelhead, cutthroat, Dolly Varden. Access: Floatplane 12.5 miles from Sitka. Notes: Redoubt is one of Alaska’s deepest lakes, at 870 feet. It’s also one of the continent’s largest meromictic lakes, meaning that the upper layer of water does not mix with the deeper layer. Redout’s top layer is freshwater, extending to 330 feet. Below that the lake is saltwater.
Amenities: cabin icon boat icon
15. Avoss Lake. Species: Rainbow trout. Access: Via floatplane 35 miles southeast of Sitka.
Amenities: cabin icon boat icon
16. Davidof Lake. Species: Rainbow trout. Access: Via floatplane 35.5 miles southeast of Sitka.
Amenities: cabin icon
17. Port Banks River / Estuary. Species: Silver, pink and chum salmon, steelhead, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden. Access: Via floatplane or boat, 35 miles south of Sitka.
18. Plotnikof Lake. Species: Rainbow trout. Access: Floatplane 45 miles southeast of Sitka.
Amenities: cabin icon boat icon
19. Rezanof Lake. Species: Rainbow trout. Access: Via floatplane 40 miles southeast of Sitka.
20. Redfish Bay. Species: Sockeye, silver, pink and chum salmon, halibut, rockfish, lingcod. Access: Boat out of Port Alexander.
21. Betty & Jetty Lakes. Species: Rainbow trout. Access: Just a short hop over from Port Alexander.


Be Bear-Aware!Bear danger sign in Alaska

Alaska is bear country! Anglers must be aware of the possibility of encountering bears along any salmon stream. Revillagigedo Island has a robust black bear population and due to heavy vegetation in many areas, encounters can happen at close range. In recent years there have been reports of brown bears on the eastern side of the island. Take the following precautions:

  1. Make plenty of noise while hiking or fishing.
  2. Don’t give bears a reason to associate people with food! Keep food and your catch in a backpack on your back.
  3. Protect yourself! Bring a firearm or pepper spray to use as a deterrent.

Taken as a whole, the remote fly-out freshwater fishery out of Sitka offers many amazing opportunities for anglers seeking solitude in a pristine wilderness experience. 

Sitka Road System Fishing | Sitka Remote Freshwater Fishing | Sitka Saltwater Fishing

 

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