Upcoming Winter Fishing Events In Alaska

The following is courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Get Out and Fish! – Jewel Lake Jamboree on February 8

(Anchorage) – Anglers of all skill levels are encouraged to join the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), The Bait Shack, and the Alaska Sport Fishing Association from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Jewel Lake on Saturday, February 8, 2020, for the Jewel Lake Jamboree and Community Fishing Day.

Anglers may bring their own fishing gear if they have it, or may borrow equipment from ADF&G. Several hundred ice holes will be pre-drilled for the event, so bring your friends, family, and some warm clothing, and join us for a day of ice fishing.

“This event is a great opportunity for anglers of all skill levels to come out and go ice fishing,” said Ryan Ragan, Program Coordinator with the Division of Sport Fish. “We are excited to partner with The Bait Shack and the Alaska Sport Fishing Association to bring this community event together. The lake will have been stocked with around 5,000 fish and fishing should be good.”

The Jewel Lake Jamboree falls on the heels of a weeklong ice fishing event hosted by ADF&G that invites school age kids from both public and private schools to get out of the classroom and experience ice fishing. Over 2,500 local area students will have gone ice fishing at Jewel Lake prior to this event.

While the Jewel Lake Jamboree is free to the public, resident anglers who are 18 years of age or older and nonresident anglers who are 16 years of age or older will need a valid sport fishing license to fish. Anglers will be able to purchase a fishing license at the event. However, licenses can be purchased prior to the event through the ADF&G online store.

If you plan on retaining your catch, please bring a bag or cooler to bring it home. We will not have bags available.

For additional information, please contact the Sport Fish Information Center at (907) 267-2218.

Saltwater Fishing Opportunities in Prince William Sound

(Anchorage) – Long, cold days make us yearn for warm days out on the water. Prince William Sound (PWS) is just one area known for its spectacular coastal scenery and ample saltwater fishing opportunities. Are you interested in learning about the saltwater fishing opportunities that are available in PWS area? Join Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) staff at the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery (WJHSFH) on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for a “Saltwater Fishing Opportunities in PWS” seminar. This seminar will be held in the WJHSFH conference room, located at 941 North Reeve Boulevard, Anchorage, Alaska.

This is a free event for anyone interested in learning about fishing locations in PWS, the different fish species present, and what gear to use to target specific species. Staff will also demostrate how to use a deepwater release mechanism for rockfish, which is required by law as of January 1, 2020.

Advanced registration is required, and space is limited, so sign up early! To register, please visit the Hunting and Fishing Forum webpage.

For those anglers who are interested in fishing but aren’t quite ready to commit to the required fishing equipment, ADF&G offers a free rod loaner program throughout the year. For more information, please contact the Anchorage Sport Fish Information Center at (907) 267-2218 or the Palmer office at (907) 746-6300.