The Sixmile Creek Drainage from its mouth upstream to Lower Six Mile Lake is closed to sport fishing; in the remainder of the Sixmile Creek Drainage, including Lower Six Mile Lake and Upper Six Mile Lake, only unbaited, artificial lures, may be used. This restriction goes into effect Monday, April 21, 2008, for the remainder of the year. Anglers may not keep rainbow/steelhead trout from the Sixmile Creek drainage or from Lower Six Mile and Upper Six Mile Lake, and must return rainbow/steelhead to the water unharmed.

This Emergency Order does not affect other Anchorage area stocked lakes where the rainbow trout bag limit currently remains 5 per day, 5 in possession with only 1 per day, 1 in possession 20 inches or longer.

In 2006, due to the loss of warm water at state hatcheries, the rainbow trout stocking goal for the Anchorage Management Area was reduced by 66%. Upper Six Mile Lake, normally stocked with 2,000 rainbow trout, was stocked with only 480 rainbow trout. In 2007 due to pathology concerns at Elmendorf Hatchery, Upper Six Mile Lake was not stocked and will not be stocked in 2008.

The Sixmile Creek Drainage, including Lower Six Mile and Upper Six Mile Lakes, has excellent access and nearby recreational facilities, making them very popular sport fisheries. Therefore, it is necessary to prohibit the harvest of these fish in order to insure their availability in the future, and to protect the native populations of rainbow trout that reside in both streams.

For more information on the pathology concern, see the news release posted at http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/eonr/nr.cfm?id=767

For more information about this Emergency Order, contact Chuck Brazil, Fishery Biologist in Anchorage at (907) 267-2186.

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For additional information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Area Management Biologist, (907) 267-2153.