The Kenai Peninsula Stocked Lakes Program

• Introduction
• Kenai Peninsula Stocked Lakes
• 2003 Managed Lakes Stocking Program Fish Count
• Rainbow Trout Stocked Lakes
• Coho Salmon Stocked Lakes

The division of Sport Fish of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has maintained a lake stocking program on the Kenai Peninsula since the early 1960s. At the present time there are 25 managed lakes in production. These managed lakes provide recreational opportunity for the sport angler where fishing would not otherwise occur, or in some cases, supplement a popular existing fishery. The majority of the lakes presently stocked are relatively small and have no inlet, outlet or natural spawning area. Fish stocked in this environment are unable to reproduce and periodic stocking is required to maintain a lake's fishery.

Stocking occurs during the summer months when the salmon or trout fingerlings have attained a size of one to two grams which is about two inches in length. The fish are usually transported directly to the lake via hatchery truck. However, in situations where the truck cannot be driven to the lake, fish may be backpacked up to a mile. If the lake is too remote for this method, fish may be planted using specially designed aircraft.

Most lakes on the Kenai Peninsula are managed for rainbow trout. These fish are hatchery reared from the eggs of parent stock which originate in the Swanson River. These trout have displayed good survival rates in our local lakes. The remaining managed lakes are stocked with coho salmon, which are preferred by some anglers.

Salmon in landlocked lakes grow at about the same rate as trout. They may reach a weight of more than five pounds, but most do not exceed two pounds before reaching sexual maturity and dying. This occurs two to three years after stocking. While rainbow trout do not die after attaining sexual maturity, four years is the maximum age attained by most stocked trout. A few live longer and anglers occasionally report catching trout of 10 pounds or larger from managed lakes. The maximum size attained by either a trout or salmon varies from lake to lake and is dependent on the productivity of a given body of water. Periodic test netting by management personnel is a tool used to monitor fish populations in these stocked lakes.

Some lakes which have been stocked were previously inhabited by a competitor species (usually Stickleback) or contained a stunted salmonid population. To alter this undesirable situation and eliminate fish that would compete with newly stocked fry, the lake was rehabilitated. During rehabilitation, all fish species present were eradicated with rotenone which affects only fish and not other aquatic life such as mammals or insects. Salmon and trout fry introduced in rehabilitated lakes display excellent growth and survival. However, rehabilitation is an expensive management tool and its use is presently restricted to small lakes which receive greater than average fishing pressure.

Although there are numerous lakes on the Kenai Peninsula, only a small percentage qualify for the managed lake program. Many lakes are quite shallow and will not support fish during the winter months. Others may not have public access while still others may contain a natural population which already supports a fishery. To qualify for the stocking program a lake must be biologically capable of supporting a salmon or trout population, public access must be assured, the lake should be landlocked to preclude the egress of stocked fish, and it should establish a fishery in an area desired by the angling public.

Fish stocked on public lands are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service and the Alaska State Parks. A majority of the land which is adjacent to many stocked lakes is, however, in private ownership. When this occurs, public access is limited to a narrow corridor. Vandalism and littering have resulted in lost access and therefore the loss of public fisheries. Please help preserve these corridors by respecting the rights of private property owners.

Information listed below is to aid you in identifying managed lakes. A brief description of public facilities is also provided as is the species the lake was stocked with and the stocking schedule. Fish stocked as fingerlings will enter the fishery the following year, having reached 7 to 10 inches in length by late summer. An excellent map for reference to these lakes is the Kenai Peninsula Southcentral Alaska map published by Alaska Road and Recreation Maps and is sold in many retail stores throughout the Peninsula communities.

Please note that this information is of a general nature and that fishing success rates vary from day to day and season to season. There are periods of the year when fishing is generally more productive. One of these periods is just prior to lake "turnover" in the fall immediately prior to freezing, and again in the spring just after "ice out." For the ice fishing enthusiast, that period of time from ice formation to the first part of January is generally best. In late winter, the dissolved oxygen content of shallow lakes is low and fish do not "bite" or feed readily. Similarly, late summer fishing is usually slow due to warmer water. Also remember that because natural reproduction does not occur in managed landlocked lakes, fishing conditions will also depend on stocking frequency and fishing pressure.

When fishing or in planning your trip, please remember:

1. Respect private property.
2. Keep the lake, access sites, campgrounds, etc. free of litter.
3. Obey applicable sport fishing regulations.
4. Feel free to contact the Division of Sport Fish at the Soldotna office, (907) 262-9368, if you have any questions or comments regarding the managed lake program.

Kenai Peninsula Stocked Lakes

2003 Managed Lakes Stocking Program Fish Count