(Fairbanks) –The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is reducing the bag and possession limit for northern pike in all lakes and flowing waters of the Minto Flats area, including the Chatanika and Tolovana River Drainages and Minto Lakes (Figure 1). Effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 1, the bag and possession limit for Minto Flats northern pike is reduced from five to two fish, only one of which may be 30 inches or longer. This bag and possession limit reduction for Minto Flats northern pike will remain in effect through 11:59 p.m. Monday, October 14, 2024.

Under direction of the Minto Flats Northern Pike Management Plan (5 AAC 74.044), when the annual subsistence harvest, from January 1 until ice out, in the Chatanika River drainage upstream of the confluence of the Chatanika River and Goldstream Creek exceeds 750 fish, the sport fish bag and possession limit for northern pike is reduced to two fish, only one of which may be 30 inches or longer. From January 1 through April 5, the subsistence harvest of northern pike within that area was 1,454 fish.

“The Minto Flats Northern Pike Management Plan provides guidance to manage the Minto Flats northern pike population for sustained yield, while providing reasonable opportunity for the priority subsistence harvest and providing sport fishing opportunity,” Tanana Area Management Biologist Andy Gryska said. “This emergency order is meant to protect the population from overharvest while still providing fishing opportunity for sport anglers during the open season.”

For additional information contact Andrew Gryska, Tanana Area Management Biologist, (907) 459-7339, or Brandy Baker, Assistant Area Management Biologist, 907-895-4637.

Figure 1.- The reduced bag limit applies to the entire Tolovana River and Chatanika River drainages including Minto Lakes highlighted on this map.

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