Alaska has been the poster child of the United States government’s conservation efforts since it was acquired in the 1860s. Endless acres of untouched wilderness span the state, including several pristine lakes. Lake Becharof is in the middle of a vast tundra plain with mountains looming in the distance. This massive lake covers more than 300,000 acres (121,405 h) of land and can be as deep as 600 feet (183 m) in some areas.
The lake is home to several resident and migratory fish species, and it plays a critical role in salmon migrations and the lives of Alaskan wildlife. During the annual salmon migrations, vast groups of brown bears (Ursus arctos) congregate around the lake and the streams that feed it to feast upon the abundance of fatty fish. Piscivorous birds, like bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and cormorants (family Phalacrocoracidae), also take advantage of the salmon runs.
Becharof Lake belongs to the Bristol Bay area and is managed with those drainages. A complete list of rules and fishing regulations can be found here.
Fish Species in Becharof Lake
1) Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus)
One of the most abundant and popular sportfish in Alaska is the Arctic char. This species is a member of the genus Salvelinus, a salmonid group containing the chars. Arctic char appear similar to the Dolly Varden trout (S. malma), but the two species can be easily told apart during the breeding season. Arctic char have forked tails and large spots on their bodies, whereas Dolly Varden trout have blunt tails and small, more numerous spots.
The range of the Arctic char encompasses subarctic waters, meaning that they occupy waters just south of the North Pole. They consume aquatic invertebrates and small fish, such as other salmon species and sticklebacks. Feeding occurs at night and during the day.
The season for Arctic char and Dolly Varden lasts year-round, but there are different limits for the two distinct seasons. From June 8th to October 31st, anglers may harvest up to three Artic char and Dolly Varden combined. From November 1st to June 7th, anglers may harvest up to ten.
2) Dolly Varden trout (Salvelinus malma)
This next char is a close relative of the Arctic char and can be found throughout most of Alaska. Dolly Varden trout are freshwater salmonids with green dorsal surfaces and light bellies. They also possess numerous spots along the body. The Dolly Varden and Arctic char ranges overlap and they are often confused. In Dolly Varden, breeding adults have hooked lower jaws, deep green dorsal surfaces, and striking red bellies. Their tails are slightly forked, and they have smaller spots.
Dolly Varden seems to prefer insects and other aquatic invertebrates over fish. There are also two forms of this species. There are two forms of the Dolly Varden, a northern and a southern form which differ slightly in appearance and have different numbers of chromosomes. On average, a northern Dolly Varden may grow 30 inches (76.2 cm) in length and live up to 16 years. Conversely, the southern form grows to about 28 inches (71 cm) and lives for eight years.
The Dolly Varden is one of the most popular sport fish in Alaska. With their large size and tasty filets, they are sure to delight any angler willing to brave the cold wilds of Alaska.
3) Pygmy whitefish (Prosopium coulterii)
This next species is one of the smallest salmonids in North America. Pygmy whitefish are small, silver fish with large eyes. They look like small minnows but are more closely related to trout and salmon. This species is small, usually between 4 and 5 inches (10 – 13 cm). Pygmy whitefish are difficult to study due to their small size and ability to fit through the mesh of sampling nets. They are found in the northwestern United States and Canada, as well as Lake Superior.
This species is primarily found in deep, cold-water lakes and the streams that feed them. Adults take 2 – 3 years to reach sexual maturity. Then, they migrate from lakes to these streams to spawn in the winter.
As a small species, they are prey items for larger fish. They also predate upon nuisance insect species like mosquito larvae. During the winter breeding season, adults consume a hefty amount of fish eggs, including eggs from their own species.
There is no limit on pygmy whitefish in Alaska.
4) Threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)
A relative of seahorses, the three-spined Stickleback is an exciting and unique fish species. They are small fish with slender tails and three distinct spines along their backs. The posterior spine (the spine closest to the tail fin) is short and might be difficult to notice. They can thrive in various habitats, including oceanic and freshwater habitats. Some populations are even anadromous, regularly transitioning from freshwater to saltwater; others remain in freshwater. Additionally, they have developed a wide range of ecotypes, distinct forms adapted to specific environments.
This species primarily consumes invertebrates and zooplankton. Additionally, they are prey for various species of perch, pike, salmon, birds, and predatory aquatic insects like dragonfly larvae. Sticklebacks can be found worldwide and vary substantially by locality due to high levels of genetic diversity and rapid mutation rates. As a result, they are used as model organisms to study differences in rapidly evolving and morphologically diverging fish populations.
Male sticklebacks, especially freshwater individuals, exhibit stunning red coloration during the breeding season. Males then build a nest from a protein secreted by their kidneys called sprigging. A female stickleback then lays her eggs in this nest, and the male protects them until the fry leave.
There is no limit on threespine stickleback in Alaska.
5) Humpback whitefish (Coregonus pidschian)
“Whitefish” describes many species of silver fish with white flesh. The humpback whitefish is unique in that it possesses a large hump beginning just behind the eyes. This species is common in rivers throughout Alaska and is commercially harvested for its filets which can be quite large since this fish can grow up to 20 inches (50.8 cm), although they are more commonly found at around 13 in (33 cm).
The diet of the humpback whitefish includes bottom-dwelling mollusks, crustaceans, and the larvae of aquatic insects. They are abundant where they occur and are a vital food source for other wildlife species.
While not mandatory, specific populations of humpback whitefish in streams connected to the ocean will migrate to the sea as juveniles like salmon. Once they mature, they return to freshwater to reproduce. Adult females produce plenty of young, as many as 50,000 eggs. They return to the same spawning grounds each year.
There is no limit on humpback whitefish in Alaska.
6) Slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus)
Sculpins are a demersal or bottom-dwelling species of fish with large, fan-like fins and bodies that are rugged in appearance. They have large mouths and upward-facing eyes on the tops of their head that help them see potential predators or prey items swimming above them. Their rugged appearance and diver colorations make sculpins masters of camouflage. Slimy sculpins are small, averaging just 3 inches (8 cm) in length. Slimy sculpins are grey or brown with dark, mottled patterns. This species is generally abundant where they occur, but they are difficult to spot due to their small size and cryptic nature.
Slimy sculpins can be found amongst rocks and debris in cold freshwater lakes and rivers. They hide here from predators and hunt prey along the bottom of the water body. Their prey items include insect larvae, crustaceans, and even small plants. Generally, this species stays in freshwater, but sometimes they travel into brackish water.
During the breeding season, males turn dark brown or black. Then, they select a nesting site and protect eggs laid by females in this nesting site until the young leave the nest. This reproductive strategy is similar to small catfish species like madtoms (Noturus spp.) and bullheads (Ameiurus spp.).
This species is not a sportfish and are rarely used as bait. Occasionally, they are kept as pets. There is no limit on slimy sculpin in Alaska.
7) Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
The Chinook salmon is the largest Pacific salmon species, with an average length of around 36 inches (91 cm) and a maximum length of 58 inches (147.32 cm). As a result, this species is the most expensive at fish markets; this fact, coupled with its rarity (compared to other salmon species), earns it the title of “King Salmon.” The filet from Chinook salmon is more melt-in-your-mouth than different types of salmon due to its higher fat content.
From May to July, adult Chinook salmon between three and seven years travel upriver from the sea to spawn. Typically, individuals travel back to their natal streams, using their keen sense of smell and nearly all their energy reserves to get there. Once they arrive at the appropriate spawning grounds, females dig nests or redds into the substrate and lay their eggs. After this spawning event, the adults die, having used all their energy to make the remarkable journey from the ocean to the spawning grounds. This reproductive strategy is shared among all salmon species. Hatchlings will either migrate immediately to salt water within their first year of life or spend an entire year in freshwater, after which they migrate to the ocean.
In Alaska, Chinook salmon may be harvested from May 1st to July 31st. During this time, anglers may take up to 5 Chinook salmon per year and must keep detailed fishing records to account for where they took their salmon. Of those taken, only three may be from a freshwater source, and only one may be longer than 28 inches (71.1 cm). Also, anglers must keep any Chinook salmon removed from the water. They may not return any Chinook salmon removed from the water.
8) Burbot (Lota lota)
The burbot is a carp species commonly referred to as ling. This fish tends to be long and snake-like with smooth skin and a chin barbel. The average size of burbot is between 16 and 24 inches (40 – 60 cm). The second dorsal fin and anal fin run almost half the length of its body. While it can live in the ocean, the burbot is remarkable because it is the only cod species that is almost exclusively freshwater.
They prefer cold water, including large rivers, lakes, or reservoirs, and are a bit reclusive, hiding amongst rocks and vegetation. Burbot are primarily nocturnal, so a fisherman looking to catch one should aim to do so at night. Young burbot consume invertebrates, while adults are aggressive carnivores.
Although this fish is not the most popular sportfish, it is still commonly caught and consumed. There is no limit for burbot in Alaska.
9) Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus)
Arctic graylings come in various colors, but their most distinctive feature is their large, sail-like dorsal fin. Despite their odd appearance, they are members of the salmon family. They are common in Alaska and found in Becharof Lake and connected streams. This species reaches maturity between 4 and 7 years of age. Adults will migrate from lakes into streams to spawn. Arctic graylings are most active in the summer.
The winter is a time of energy conservation for many animals, the Arctic grayling included. They have several behavioral and physiological adaptations that allow them to survive when water temperatures are freezing, and food is scarce. They can also tolerate low oxygen conditions, enabling them to survive in frozen lakes. They are aggressive predators that primarily consume aquatic insects, but they eat just about any type of prey item.
This species is not endangered but are sensitive to human disturbance and pollution. They are also interesting to sportfish! Anglers may not keep any Arctic grayling from Becharof Lake.
10) Northern pike (Esox lucius)
When sport fishers think of a pike, they most often think of the northern pike. This species is an aggressive piscivore and an ambush predator that hides amongst dense vegetation waiting to ambush prey. It is such a voracious predator that it is known to extirpate smaller fish species from isolated lakes and rivers, causing severe problems for conservation.
This species is common in lakes and reservoirs and migrates to streams to spawn. Eggs are broadcast over weed beds between March and May. During the breeding season, it is best to target northern pike in streams and shorelines; otherwise, they are commonly found near areas with dense submerged vegetation. They are incredibly aggressive, so care should be taken when handling them. In addition, the northern pike hosts a suite of parasites, some of which can infect humans, so they must be thoroughly cooked before eating.
White or yellow lures work best for northern pike, and anglers can use a variety of bait, including whitefish and sticklebacks. Anglers may harvest up to five northern pike per day, only one of which may be over 30 inches (76.2 cm).
11) Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)
The characteristic bright red-bodied, green-headed salmon most often seen in media is the sockeye or blueback salmon. Compared to other species, this species’ range does not extend as far south as the coho or Chinook salmon. Additionally, sockeye salmon are among the smallest salmon species at around 18 inches (46 cm) in length on average, but they are still delicious!
Sockeye salmon come in two forms, the anadromous sockeye salmon and the landlocked kokanee salmon. Sockeye fry spend about a year or two in lakes before migrating to sea in their native range. Kokanee salmon have evolved independently from sockeye salmon, although there is occasional mixing between the two subgroups. In many states, kokanee salmon have been intentionally introduced as a sport or forage fish for more desirable sportfish.
Anglers may harvest up to 5 sockeye salmon from Becharof Lake daily, although this species’ bag limits may change based on population trends.
