Sport Fishing

Sport fishing on the Chuitna River

The Chuit River supports all 5 species of wild Alaskan salmon, as well as Dolly Varden, Steelhead and Rainbow trout.   From May through late September, the Chuitna has given our families and friends some of the greatest sports fishing on the west side of Cook Inlet. The Chuitna is the perfect river for teaching grand kids to fish.

Many anglers from the Kenai Peninsula and from Anchorage, fly over, some even landing on the beach at the mouth of the Chuitna, to try their luck.  With the faster river current, 60 pound. King Salmon fight like they weigh a 100 pounds.  By the end of July, the Silvers have returned along with the Dollies.  Dollies are as much fun to catch with small gear as any big fish.

In 2009, the Chuitna was the only river on the west side of upper Cook Inlet where it was legal keep hooked king salmon.  The nearby Lewis and Theodore Rivers have been closed  since 2000 for all but “hook and release” king salmon fishing. Unfortunatly, catch and possession limits have not brought up the count.

Bounty of the Chuitna River

PacRim’s proposed coal strip mine project is a major threat to the beauty, splendor and productivity of the amazing Chuinta its watershed.  Even more troubling is PacRims plan to remove (i.e destroy) 11 miles of a main tributary of the Chuit River. Middle Creek, or Stream 2003,  produces 16-18 thousand Silver fry each year. PacRim claims they can restore the salmon streams when they finish mining. They can fill in a giant hole and dig a ditch, but they can’t recreate the hydrology that nurtures and sustains wild salmon (see: why you can mine through salmon streams).

The Chuitna is one of the great sports fishing rivers in Alaska and needs to be protected for future generations.