Steve Totten with colorful 32-inch Arctic Char out of Big Lake
A True Gem Is About to Be Lost
Contributed by Steve Totten
The photo to the right shows a colorful Arctic char, also known as the Unicorn of the Arctic, highly sought after by avid sport fishermen. Many fishermen spend thousands of dollars attempting to catch such a beautiful fish. Here in the state of Alaska, we are blessed to have such a gorgeous fish right in our own backyard, namely the Mat-Su Valley, and more specifically, Big Lake.
Since my first encounter with these fish in 1981, I have witnessed several highs and lows in productivity over the years. In 1996, the Miller’s Reach Fire wreaked havoc in the Big Lake area. Several tons of fire retardant were dropped by planes around Big Lake to deter the fire from spreading. Some of that retardant eventually made its way into the lake. Since that event, I believe from personal experience that a large decline in Arctic char productivity has occurred. To my knowledge, there has been no research done to prove, one way or another, if that is fact.
To date, the Arctic char fishery on Big Lake is only open to catch & release. This mandate is due, in large part, to the decline in catch numbers reported by sport fishermen on a questionnaire sent out randomly by the Department of Fish & Game each year. To my understanding, there have been no scientific studies involved in the department’s decision to close this fishery to anything other than catch & release. It’s obvious there is a problem, but what that is has not been determined. Unless something happens soon to change this, the Big Lake Arctic char fishery will be lost forever. So, what can we, as sport fishermen, do about this problem?
The first task is to encourage our local Department of Fish & Game to initiate a study to determine the reason for the lack of production. Secondly, to promote the feasibility of such a study, we should encourage our local legislators to appropriate the funding for it. Thirdly, let’s get the word out that this situation is too important to our economy and the health of our sport fishery to turn a blind eye.
Local businesses depend on the revenue generated by the opportunity for anglers to catch such a highly sought-after fish. Sport fishermen, both local and visitors from around the world, spend millions of dollars to acquire the needed gear and supplies to support their ambition. Add to that the many local guides hired to “show them the ropes” on how catching a char is done. This is a highly valued economic driver for the valley as well as the state. I encourage anyone who enjoys our Big Lake fishery to jump in and share your concerns. Many voices speak louder than one.