Bait and Fishing Methods
A documented Anchorage catch used a small piece of shrimp on the lake bottom. That is a supported example, not evidence that shrimp is the best bait everywhere. An artificial-lure recommendation was not verified for this profile.
Funnel traps placed beneath openings in ice are a traditional subsistence harvest method. This is cultural and historical context; check the current rules for the location and fishery before selecting equipment.
Size and Weight
Reported size figures include a common length of 10.8 centimeters, a maximum length of 33 centimeters and a maximum weight of 366 grams. These equal about 4.3 inches, 13 inches and 12.9 ounces.
Maximum length and weight are separate reported values. They need not describe the same fish, and the maximum weight should not be interpreted as an ordinary catch weight.
Habitat and Natural Food
Vegetated ponds, lakes and slow-moving waters provide habitat. Research in the Cook Inlet region found aquatic insect larvae, snails and small crustaceans among the foods eaten.
Fish sampled from a lake, stream and wetland did not all eat the same mixture. Local food availability matters, so the natural diet does not by itself establish the best fishing bait.
A Fish That Can Breathe Air
A modified esophagus absorbs oxygen from swallowed air. This helps Alaska Blackfish cope with oxygen-poor water, including under-ice conditions when access to air is available. Their cold tolerance is remarkable, but they cannot survive being completely frozen solid.
All Lakes With Alaska Blackfish
Browse lakes and reservoirs with documented Alaska Blackfish records, listed alphabetically. Records do not establish current abundance or public access. Check the evidence and managing authority for the water you choose.
Showing 1–11 of 11 lakes · Page 1 of 1
- Ballaine Lake Fairbanks North Star, AK
- Blind Luck Lake Yukon-Koyukuk (CA), AK
- Campbell Lake Anchorage, AK
- Chena Lake Fairbanks North Star, AK
- Chitanana Lake Yukon-Koyukuk, AK
- Geskakmina Lake Yukon-Koyukuk (CA), AK
- Goodnews Lake Bethel, AK
- Taku Lake Anchorage, AK
- Totek Lake Denali, AK
- Trap Lake Yukon-Koyukuk, AK
- Triangle Lake Yukon-Koyukuk (CA), AK