The Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports that bag and possession limit of Arctic char/Dolly Varden in Stormy Lake is one fish, less than 16 inches in length. Fish that are 16 inches or greater in length must be released immediately. This restriction is effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, January 1 through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, December 31, 2022.
Stormy Lake was successfully treated with rotenone to eradicate nonnative northern pike in September 2012. Prior to the treatment, eggs were taken from native Arctic char and reared in the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. During the summer of 2013, Alaska Department of Fish and Game staff released the resulting Arctic char fingerling into Stormy Lake.
Post-treatment surveys of Stormy Lake to determine if the native Arctic char restoration project was successful are encouraging. Arctic char where first restored to Stormy Lake are now age nine. Sampling events through the fall of 2019 and 2020 have shown Arctic char have reached maturity and spawning activity has been identified through ADF&G surveys.
Arctic char is a species with slow growth rates and low population densities and prohibiting retention of fish 16 inches or greater in length will preserve about 89% of mature fish as the population continues to reestablish within the lake.
Considering the positive indicators of a sustainable population of Arctic Char in Stormy Lake, it was deemed appropriate to provide limited harvest opportunity on this stock.
Photo credits – courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website Arctic Char Photo Gallery.