| Photo: river campsite Following is some basic, introductory
information for visitors to Togiak National Wildlife Refuge. Much of the information
is directed towards float trips. If you do not find answers to your questions
here, please feel free to contact us or visit the Alaska
Natural History Association online bookstore. To see a "do's and don'ts" sheet
for quick reference, click here.
For specific information on regulations and
enforcement, see our regulations page. U.S.G.S. topographic maps
are available to plan and enjoy your refuge trip. Camping
Native Lands
Fishing and Hunting
River Conditions and Rangers
CAMPING: - There is a three day camping limit on
all the rivers throughout Togiak Refuge. After the third consecutive day in one
location, the group must move their camp at least one mile.
*For visitors
to the Kanektok River, be aware that there is a one day limit at the outlet of
Kagati Lake due to its frequent use.
- We ask that you please practice
low impact camping (meaning after you camp in an area, there should be nothing
left behind to show other groups that you were there). We specifically require
the following practices:
- Proper disposal of human waste:
bury 8-12 inches deep, at least 100 feet from the water, and burn or pack out
(do not bury) paper. On the lower rivers, where the uplands are privately owned
by Native corporations, the only way to avoid trespass is to pack out your waste
or to get a use permit from the appropriate Native corporation.
- Trash: Trash that will burn completely, such as paper, may be burned.
Make sure your fire is hot enough to burn the trash completely. All trash that
is not burned must be packed out. It cannot be buried! Buried trash can attract
bears and cause other problems for fellow campers. Be sure to check your campsite
for trash just before you leave it; pay special attention to any remnants of aluminum
or other trash in the fire ring. Rangers will check your campsites after you
leave!
- Fires: campfires are allowed, using driftwood or other fallen
wood. To preserve the wilderness experience, we ask that you leave no trace behind:
scatter your fire ring, wood and any other remnants from your fire and
collect any trash scraps left in it. Using stoves for cooking, rather than fires,
is more efficient, reliable, and keeps your cookware from turning black as well.
- For more detailed information on low impact camping, please visit the
Leave No Trace website.
- Be aware you are traveling in bear country. A large proportion of visitors
to Togiak Refuge see bears, especially those visitors on float groups (who tend
to travel quietly).
- The scent of food, especially fish, is
a strong attractant for bears. To avoid encounters, keep a clean camp, boat, etc.
and dispose of any fish parts by tossing them into flowing water so they are carried
away. You may wish to consider storing food scraps in your trash inside a sealed
ziploc-type bag, rather than attempting to burn it, which may create a smell of
food around your campsite.
- Please take time to view some of the following
information on bears. Even if you have heard about bear safety before, it is good
to have the information fresh in your mind in case you need to respond to a situation
quickly.
- ADFG's
"Bear Facts" Brochure has practices you should observe while in bear country
as well as basic information on bear behavior.
- Bears
and You is a publication of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division
of Parks and Outdoor Recreation which has basic bear safety guidelines as well
as tips on differentiating between brown and black bears.
- Living
In Harmony with Bears, produced by the Alaska chapter of the National Audubon
Society, takes a more in-depth look at bear behavior and what humans can do to
live and play safely around bears.
- Safety
in Bear Country is an ADFG publication for hunters in Alaska which details
bear safety in hunting situations.
- Bear
Deterrent and Repellent Products ranging from large, industrial systems through
backpacking equipment. List compiled by ADFG.
NATIVE
LANDS: - Please avoid trespass on Native lands. On the
Kanektok, Goodnews, and Togiak rivers, signs have been placed on the riverbank
to indicate to visitors the boundary between the Togiak Wilderness Area and the
non-wilderness portion of the river. On these rivers, all lands along the river
below the wilderness boundary are owned by Native corporations. All areas above
the high water mark (i.e. all vegetated uplands) are private property. Use gravel
bars for camping and walking. See our land ownership page
for more information.
- If you plan to use Native corporation-owned
uplands, you must obtain land use permits from the village Native corporations.
We recommend all visitors to the Arolik River obtain permits because even
the riverbed is Native conveyed land.
- Another type of Native lands
to look out for are Native allotments that belong to individuals. These
are scattered throughout Togiak Refuge, including within the Wilderness
Area. Fish racks, cabins, signs on trees, or any other alterations to the land
may indicate Native allotments. Native allotments are private property - no trespassing.
- No alcohol is allowed in, or within five miles of the following
"dry" villages: Quinhagak, Goodnews Bay, Platinum, Togiak, Twin Hills, and Manokotak.
Any alcohol brought on the trip should be consumed or disposed of prior to reaching
a village.
- You may see local residents using the rivers for subsistence
harvests; please be respectful. No fishing is allowed within 300 feet of a
subsistence gillnet.
FISHING AND HUNTING:
For information on subsistence hunting and fishing, visit the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Office of Subsistence
Management homepage. - Please educate yourself about current regulations
and ethical behavior. Visit the links available from our fishing
and hunting pages to learn more.
- You will need a current
license, available from retailers in Dillingham as well as online
through the Alaska Department of Fish & Game. You may need a specific tag
as well; for example, anglers fishing for Chinook (king) salmon are required to
have a current king salmon tag (or "king stamp") in addition to their regular
license. It is your responsibility to be sure you have all the necessary documents.
- Anglers:
- Please practice good catch-and-release techniques.
This will help to conserve the fishery and is also culturally respectful. Many
subsistence users do not agree with catch-and-release fishing, since their traditional
concept of respecting nature is to make use of a fish that allows itself to be
caught. Using the best techniques to avoid unnecessary mortality will help to
reduce conflicts and demonstrate your respect for the resources as well.
Photo: external fish tag location
- Fisheries biologists
are conducting several studies on Togiak Refuge that involve tagging fish with
both external tags and/or radio transmitters. External tags (sometimes referred
to as "t-bar anchor" or "spaghetti" tags) are small plastic tags usually attached
near the dorsal fin (see image). Some external tags may be a small plastic disc.
Tags may be various colors, and usually contain a code number for the fish as
well as the location of the agency office that tagged the fish (i.e. "486327 -
Togiak NWR, DLG 99576"). Fish that have been implanted with radio transmitters
will have an antenna extending from their belly and possibly an external tag.
To learn more about why fish are tagged, click here.
We ask that you report the catching of any tagged fish. Click
here to link to a printable fish report form. If you do catch a radio tagged
fish, we would greatly appreciate the release of that fish. However, if you do
choose to sacrifice it, please return the transmitter to Togiak Refuge.
- Accurate
reporting on creel surveys is essential to fishery managers in Alaska.
Creel surveys help managers approximate the impact of sportfishing. Various personnel
may survey you during your trip regarding catch and harvest information, or creel
surveys may be mailed to license holders. Please respond to and provide accurate
information in these surveys!
- Hunters:
- Game animals
are important to Alaskans, many of whom depend largely upon them for food. Respect
the animal you are hunting by preparing adequately for your hunt. Be aware that
Alaska's meat salvage regulations reflect the high value we place on game meat
and that wasting of meat is taken seriously.
- Hunt
Alaska is a comprehensive resource of hunting information produced by the
Alaska Department of Fish & Game.
- Hunting
for Trophy Meat will educate hunters who want quality food from their hunt.
- Moose, caribou, and other game animals are fitted with radio collars
as part of long term monitoring studies. Collared animals are tracked from the
air, and are important sources of information on life span, calf production, home
range, and other life history traits. When hunting, please avoid taking radio
collared animals. Although it is not illegal for you to do so, it is detrimental
to our management efforts, since each collared animal is an ongoing source of
data. If you do take a radio collared animal, please return the collar to Togiak
National Wildlife Refuge or the Alaska Department of Fish & Game.
RIVER CONDITIONS AND RANGERS: - There are seasonal
camps in place from June through early September on the Kanektok, Goodnews, and
Togiak rivers staffed by River Rangers from Togiak Refuge. Rangers perform
a variety of functions, including collecting information for angler surveys and
public use data and making sure you're practicing low impact camping. You will
probably encounter the rangers during your trip - feel free to ask them questions
or stop in at their camp. They are our best source of current knowledge about
the rivers. Learn more about the River Ranger program on the Public
Use page.
- Expect motorboats on the river, and if possible
please yield to motorboats in the area because they are often only able to travel
in certain channels and deeper water.
- There is no serious white water
on these rivers but there are many sweepers - overhanging or fallen trees,
etc. - pay attention and be prepared to navigate!
- For those traveling
to the Kanektok River, there is a weir across the river (used for
counting fish) you should be aware of:
- The location of the weir
(latitude/longitude) is: 59° 46.212`N, 161° 04.010`W.
- The weir's
hinged design can be crossed by boats & rafts.
- When you reach the weir, sections
suitable for passing over should be indicated with flags. The floating sections
of the weir can be traversed.
- The weir should be staffed during regular traveling
hours.
- The weir is made of plastic, so please avoid standing on it.
- Fishing
is prohibited within 300 feet of any weir, upstream and downstream, unless otherwise
indicated.
- For those traveling to the Middle Fork of the Goodnews
River, or the Kukaktlik River (flying in to Kukaktlim Lake), there
is also a weir on this river.
- Located approximately six
miles upstream from the confluence with the North Fork of the Goodnews River (latitude/longitude
59° 09.48`N, 161° 23.76` W).
- Floating weir design allows boats
to cross unassisted.
- Weir is staffed by the Alaska Department of Fish and
Game from late June to mid- September.
- Please avoid standing on the weir.
- Fishing is prohibited within 300 feet of any weir, upstream and downstream,
unless otherwise indicated.
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